Connecticut Institute for Refugees and Immigrants

Hope is medicine. It grows in classrooms, in kitchens, in offices where someone feels safe. At CIRI, care can look like housing, legal aid, English lessons, and job support, but beneath it all, it’s about restoring peace of mind. The belief that life can begin again. Your support helps make that hope possible every day. On #WorldMentalHealthDay, we’re reminded that wellness grows in community. It’s built through connection — when neighbors reach out, when stories are shared, and when compassion becomes a daily practice. We see the power of community in every act of care and kindness that surrounds our clients. Healing doesn’t happen alone. It happens together. Take good care of yourself this weekend. Rest, reconnect, and remember that the same compassion you share with others is worth giving to yourself too.

Help us ensure that every child & client can travel safely! 🚗🎒 As kids head back to school and the autumn season rolls in, CIRI is working to hard ensure that everyone can get where they need to go safely and reliably. We're collecting car seats and booster seats to transport children to a preschool program and other critical appointments. 📍Donations can be dropped off at: 670 Clinton Avenue, Bridgeport, CT. We're also looking for volunteer drivers to support families by providing rides to and from programs, and critical services. 🚙 If you're interested in driving clients and/or have any questions regarding the donation effort, please contact Julia Perkins at jperkins@cirict.org Together, we can keep our community connected, safe, and moving forward. 🤝

This week, we’re proud to honor the start of National Hispanic Heritage Month! (Sept. 15 - Oct. 15) Hispanic culture is deeply rooted in a history of resilience and an ongoing pursuit of equality. The Chilean author, Isabel Allende's words, "we all have a reserve of unsuspected inner strength that arises when life tests us," remind us that collectively, we can build stronger, more connected communities that reflect the strength and contributions of all. CIRI takes great pride in serving and working with the Hispanic community in Connecticut. Together, we're celebrating shared traditions and cultural roots, from Latin America to Spain and the vibrant Latino community in the United States, and honoring the contributions that continue to enrich our communities every day.

At CIRI, 2024 marked a year of collective progress and strength, as well as unwavering unity. We collectively supported nearly 6,000 individuals across our Refugee, Project Rescue, Immigration, Economic Empowerment and Youth Services departments. The mutual benefit this has had on our community remains profound and immeasurable. Without you, this level of impact could not be sustained. We are deeply appreciative of your continued commitment and invite you to reflect with us on all that was accomplished last year. Click here to read our 2024 Annual Report. https://lnkd.in/eXUbV-8t We're grateful to have you with us every step of the way.

For many, the end of summer marks a period of transition. Together, we can ensure that the immigrant and refugee community's basic needs are met, so they can feel prepared and confident in moving forward. Whether it's sending children back to school or feeling prepared in the workplace, secure access to toiletries makes a meaningful difference. With your generosity, we can help the community to thrive. How You Can Help: 🎁 Drop off donations at our office:  670 Clinton Ave, Bridgeport, CT 06605 🚚 Shop our Amazon Wish List and have items sent directly to us: https://lnkd.in/ddTBSmD2 For any questions, please contact Julia Perkins: jperkins@cirict.org Thank you for helping us bring stability and strength to the families and clients we serve.

CIRI’s 2025 Annual Soirée Black Rock Yacht Club, Bridgeport, CT Sunday, October 19, 2025 4:30 pm to 8:00 pm We are excited to invite you to an inspiring evening of celebration and community, accompanied by handcrafted cocktails and elegant small plates. We'll share in meaningful moments as we welcome Govenor Ned Lamont, our guest of honor, to receive the Strength in Leadership Award. We will also celebrate inspiring contributions to our community with the Resilience in Community Award and the Enduring Impact Award. We are also honored to have two CIRI clients share their personal journeys, offering a powerful glimpse into what Still Thriving means to them. We hope you can join us. To purchase tickets, click here: https://lnkd.in/eGsF2Kei

Back-to-school season is here, and thanks to our incredible community, CIRI families are starting off the school year supported and prepared! 📚 This August, your donations and time helped make two amazing events possible — a summer giveaway where families picked up food, diapers, clothes, and household goods, and a school supply drive that provided over 170 backpacks for refugee youth. Your generosity helped us go beyond what we imagined. To our dedicated volunteers, student supporters, faith partners, and donors: these moments are possible because of you. Wishing you a weekend filled with the same warmth and kindness you’ve shared with others! ❤️

August 17th was National Nonprofit Day, a time to reflect on the work that brings communities together and changes lives. At CIRI’s Summer English Academy in Bridgeport, we saw the true meaning of that day come alive through six weeks of learning, creativity, and community. In partnership with Blossom Hill Foundation, students experimented with science in playful and hands-on ways. Through projects like paper binoculars and CD case greenhouses, students found new ways to explore the world and celebrate their accomplishments. By the end of the program, seedlings sprouted in the greenhouses and went home with students, a reminder of how even the smallest discoveries can grow into something lasting. We are grateful to Blossom Hill for making these moments possible. This summer, the Academy welcomed 90 young participants representing Haiti, Venezuela, Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan, Jordan, Syria, Afghanistan, Guatemala, Burundi, Egypt, Zambia, and Turkey. Together they spoke Haitian Creole, Spanish, Kinyarwanda, Swahili, Dinka, Nyanja, Arabic, and Dari. Every culture and language brought into the room became part of our shared story at CIRI. 📝❤️

CIRI was honored to join partners from across the country at U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI)'s Annual Directors’ Retreat, working together to strengthen our collective impact for displaced people and refugee communities, including Afghan and Ukrainian families. With more than 120 million people forcibly displaced worldwide, the need for coordinated, compassionate, and long-term support systems has never been greater. While traditional refugee resettlement remains on pause, CIRI and the USCRI network remain deeply committed to building systems of welcome. Drawing on more than a century of experience, we continue to create pathways that help newcomers heal, rebuild, and thrive. “At CIRI, we believe that welcoming newcomers is not just a program. It is a promise,” said Susan Schnitzer, President and CEO of CIRI. “In the face of unprecedented global displacement, we are proud to stand alongside USCRI and our national partners to ensure that every individual seeking safety and opportunity has the support and dignity they deserve. Together, we are building inclusive, resilient communities, one welcome at a time.” No matter where someone’s journey begins, CIRI is here to welcome them home. ❤️

📢 UPDATE 8/14/25: Registration is closed. Class is full. Thank you! Starting this September, CIRI is offering a comprehensive immigration law training in collaboration with the Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC). This intensive course is designed for attorneys, legal staff, and nonprofit professionals seeking a foundational understanding of immigration law. The training fulfills the DOJ education requirement for accreditation and provides a certificate of completion from the ILRC. It also meets Connecticut CLE requirements. Dates: Fridays – September 5, 12, 19, 26, and October 3, 2025 Time: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM + 1.5 hrs/week of self-study Format: Live webinar + self-study Cost: $880 (plus discounted ILRC manual) Learn more or register by visiting our website under “events,” or clicking this link: https://lnkd.in/enawVuwa