Immigration Policy & the Stories Behind it:
Refugees
October 11th, 2023
6:00 - 7:00 pm
Salon Rooms, Hospitality Center, SNHU
2500 North River Road Manchester, NH 03106
Online at wacnh.org
"Refugees are mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, children, with the same hopes and ambitions as us—except that a twist of fate has bound their lives to a global refugee crisis on an unprecedented scale." - Khaled Hosseini, author of "The Kite Runner"
Against a backdrop of global displacement, this event offers audience members the opportunity to hear expert insight and a personal narrative of the refugee experience, offering a rare insight into the challenges they've overcome, the dreams they continue to pursue, and the realities that are faced in the immigration process. By delving into the intricate tapestry of resilience that threads through the lives of refugees, we seek to foster understanding and meaningful conversations that transcend borders.
Join the World Affairs Council with the NH Fulbright Association, with our speaker Jeffrey Thielman, President and CEO of the International Institute of New England for an event on discussing U.S refugee policy and first-hand accounts of what it means to be a refugee in the United States.
This is part two of three in our Fall T. William & Patricia Ayers Global Tipping Points Series - ""Immigration Policy & the Stories Behind it"" where we unravel the complex interplay between policies and the lived experiences of migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers, shedding light on the challenges they face and the resilience they embody. From the corridors of power to the journeys of those seeking a new home, this event series uncovers the inspiring stories that remind us of the shared humanity that binds us all, transcending borders and shaping the discourse of our time."
About the Speaker
Since becoming the President and CEO of the International Institute of New England in 2015, Jeff Thielman has been a leader in the effort to preserve the U.S. refugee resettlement program and to protect the rights of immigrants in New England. Under his direction, IINE has expanded services to more refugees and immigrants, reinstated its legal services program, and expanded career services to more cities and towns in the region.
Prior to joining IINE, he co-founded the national Cristo Rey Network and spent nearly two decades creating schools that today serve 13,000 low income and immigrant students in 24 U.S. states and boast of more than 21,000 graduates. Jeff oversaw the start-up of the first 24 Cristo Rey schools and served as President of Cristo Rey Boston High School.
Early in his professional career, Jeff was a trial attorney in Boston and worked in the financial services industry. Between college and law school, he served as a Jesuit International Volunteer in Tacna, Peru, where he was a teacher and founder of a program for street children called the Center for the Working Child, which has been replicated in several cities in Peru. He is co-author of Volunteer: With the Poor in Peru, holds undergraduate and law degrees from Boston College, and is fluent in Spanish.
Jeff lives with his wife and three children in Arlington, Massachusetts, where he serves on the town’s School Committee.
In Partnership with:
