Celebrating 100 Years of Welcome
On February 1, 1924 the International Institute of Boston first opened its doors. A century later, IINE’s Boston office has grown substantially to serve more than 7,000 refugees and immigrants in Greater Boston annually, leading the field in the number of immigrant individuals and families supported and in the breadth of services provided, which span resettlement, adult education, workforce development, pathways to citizenship and much more.
As IINE celebrates 100 years of support, we are preparing for the second century of welcoming displaced and persecuted individuals from all over the world.
Life-changing support to refugees and immigrants in Greater Boston
The International Institute of Boston was founded on a simple but radical idea: to welcome and support people from all around the world and to celebrate the diverse heritages they bring with them.
From the start, the mission of the International Institutes was to uphold the value of a pluralistic culture based on immigrant integration—the belief that the unique cultures and customs of new community members should be preserved—rather than assimilation or “Americanization,” the belief that new community members should conform to the majority culture.
This commitment was in direct opposition to the popular sentiment of the time. The same year of IIB’s founding, the U.S. adopted a highly restrictive law that curtailed immigration to the country for decades. The political tone in the country did not deter the leaders of the International Institute of Boston; they were determined to help immigrants settle and thrive in Boston. That passion continues to guide the work today.
Looking back and ahead
IINE’s work of welcoming newcomers into the Commonwealth, while valuing and preserving their unique cultural contributions, is integral to the city’s growth, success, and identity as a city of belonging.
Today, 28% of Boston residents are immigrants, and many more are children of immigrants. For the thousands of individuals who come here each year—having fled persecution, war, famine, and climate disasters, and often arriving with little more than the clothes on their backs—Boston is a popular destination. They come here because of the family and friends that have already put down roots in Boston and because the city has affirmed its commitment to welcoming immigrants – by establishing the Mayor’s Office of New Bostonians—now the Mayor’s Office for Immigrant Advancement—to uplift the critical work of welcoming and supporting newcomers in 1998, and by electing Boston’s current mayor, Michelle Wu, the daughter of Chinese immigrants.
Providing refugees and immigrants with a strong foundation of support means new arrivals have the opportunity to integrate into our communities, achieve self-sufficiency, and meaningfully contribute to Boston’s culture and economy.
IINE is proud of the critical role the organization has played in building Boston into the welcoming, diverse city it is today. We invite you to join us in celebrating this legacy. Explore our blog and video series “100 Years of Welcome: Commemorating IINE’s Boston Centennial,” and stay tuned for events throughout the year, including an interactive “Centennial Walk” journeying through 100 years of service and the Centennial Golden Door Award Gala in 2025, a time-honored celebration which will for the first-time honor the IINE community for its contribution to American society and to shaping Boston’s vibrant diversity.