A word from our new Executive Director | |
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Greetings! I'm thrilled to join this remarkable organization, where we're making a real difference for immigrants and refugees, as well as serving all members of our diverse community. Leading us into a new era fills me with delight and anticipation. Together, we're committed to collaboration with stakeholders from all backgrounds and beliefs, united in our mission to impact lives positively. I'm honored to work alongside our dedicated staff as we continue to provide vital support and resources to those in need. Our doors are open, we're here to serve you.
-Faisal Khan, Executive Director
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The return of warmer days means the return of our beloved community concert series, 'New Mainers on Stage' (NMOS). This season, not only can you enjoy a lineup of free performances that showcase the incredible talents and musical traditions of our community, but you'll also see our team out and about engaging with attendees. Join us for great music (and company) in the beautiful Maine weather! | |
Last Call: "The Oud: Three Distinct Styles/Three Exceptional Musicians" | |
Have you gotten your free ticket yet for our first NMOS Concert of the season? Tomorrow (Wednesday, May 1st) we’ll be at One Longfellow Square to experience the vibrant music of world renowned Oud players, Hadith Bani-Adam, Jawad Al Fatlawi, and Amos Libby. Doors open at 6pm, with the show starting at 7pm. Tickets are going fast, so reserve your spot here! | |
New Mainers on Stage Presents: African Summer 2024 | |
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We’re thrilled to announce African Summer, a three-concert series of performances in Congress Square by musical heroes from across the continent, with a special focus on artists representative of recent immigrant communities in Maine.
Friday, June 7: Kick off the summer with Rwandan superstar Clarisse Karasira. Experience the heart of Rwanda through her captivating music right here in Portland.
Friday, July 5: Dive into the rhythms of the Congo with Nkumu Katalay & the Life Long Project Band from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The evening will be further electrified by a special performance by Brazzaville's (and IWC’s!) own Mister Trecy.
Friday, August 2: Close the series with a bang featuring Tony Amado, known as the King of Kuduro, all the way from Angola. Get ready to dance to the energetic beats that have taken the world by storm.
All concerts are FREE. All concerts begin at 6:00pm at Congress Square Park in downtown Portland. Rain dates are the following Saturdays. A splendid time is guaranteed for all! Click here for more information.
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Here's a closer look at what our programs are achieving, empowering our community through essential services—from language and career training to business support and leadership development. Our core initiatives, Business Hub, Women Lead, iEnglish, and Community Integration, are crafting pathways to success and integration for New Mainers. Dive into the latest news from our dedicated teams: | |
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On April 22nd, Women Lead launched their second Job Readiness cohort, welcoming 16 dynamic women from Angola, Congo, DRC, Ghana, Zimbabwe, and China. This program focuses on equipping participants with essential skills for employment readiness.
The initial session emphasized orientation, team building, and goal setting, allowing participants to explore their personal values and career aspirations. The insights shared highlighted the program's profound impact and the potential contributions these women will make to their communities. Over the next 10 weeks, we look forward to a journey of learning and inspiration. Join us in welcoming this next incredible group of Women Lead-ers!
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Join us on May 16th as Stella, our Business Hub Director, takes the stage as a panelist at the Maine Center for Entrepreneurs’ Workshop: "Supporting New Mainers Towards Entrepreneurial Success."
This exciting event will take place at the Abromson Center on USM's Portland campus, from 1:30pm-8pm. Registration is still open, so whether you're eager to participate or simply keen on hearing some inspiring pitches, click here to secure your spot.
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Our iEnglish team is busier than ever! Initially starting with just two in-house English classes, the program has now expanded to twelve classes and continues to grow.
Currently, they're serving close to 400 students weekly through a variety of formats including in-person English classes, Conversation classes, and tailored digital language learning via EnGen. The schedule for next month’s English classes can be found here. Stay tuned for more exciting news from iEnglish as they continue to expand!
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On April 15th, the Community Integration team, in collaboration with Bangor Savings Bank, hosted the second installment of their Intro to Financial Wellness series, a financial literacy class tailor-made for New Mainers.
The Bangor team shared insights on budgeting and the steps for opening a bank account in the U.S., with live translation and a Q&A session ensuring the class was accessible and interactive for all attendees. The next class in this series will focus on the crucial topic of credit scores—a three-digit number that plays a significant role in financial well-being.
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Contribute to IWC Today!
Your support transforms lives at the Greater Portland Immigrant Welcome Center! Your donation empowers us to provide essential resources like English language classes, job training, and civic initiatives, enabling immigrants to thrive and contribute meaningfully to our community. Join us in building a more inclusive and vibrant city by donating today. Thank you for being a part of our mission.
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