The International Institute of St. Louis provides opportunities for immigrants and refugees to thrive in order to create a welcoming, prosperous, and healthy region for all.
International Institute of St. Louis
129 Employees | 104 Years
129 Employees | 104 Years
The International Institute of St. Louis provides opportunities for immigrants and refugees to thrive in order to create a welcoming, prosperous, and healthy region for all.
The International Institute of St. Louis provides opportunities for immigrants and refugees to thrive in order to create a welcoming, prosperous, and healthy region for all.
Serving as the St. Louis region’s only refugee resettlement agency, the International Institute provides a welcoming place for new arrivals into the area. The year 2022 saw 1,055 new arrivals make the St. Louis region their new home destination. These families and individuals came from all areas of the world including Afghanistan, Ukraine, Congo, Cuba, Syria, Iraq, Sudan, Haiti and beyond.
The organization provides adjustment services and programs for new arrivals to assist in their transitions such as basic needs upon arrival such as housing, food and other resources, education programs, economic development support in employment, and beyond. https://www.iistl.org/annual-reports/
Throughout the long-standing relationship between the Dana Brown Charitable Trust and the International Institute of St. Louis (IISTL), funding for the IISTL’s After School Program and Youth Mentoring Program have proven integral to the programs themselves, as well as their success.
Throughout the pandemic years (2020-2022), funding from the Dana Brown Charitable Trust helped ensure that our high-school aged students and clients received additional support. The Education department staff members served nearly 400 students by meeting them either on the campus’ parking lot or at their homes to distribute learning packets, install apps on devices, or assist in completing additional paperwork needed by the organization. Regular meetings occurred over WhatsApp, Microsoft Teams or lessons provided over YouTube. The International Institute of St. Louis was an academic lifeline for the teen students enrolled in these programs.
In addition to support for Education services, funding was instrumental in helping staff positions within the Workforce Solutions department. Because we had the financial backing to maintain staff members, we were able to better assist those who were laid off due to pandemic-related issues, as well as help individuals access unemployment benefits. We also were able to continue to assist in new-hire job placements.
