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June has been a busy month, like always, and we all know how busy life can get. So, without further ado, it’s time to let your hair down, chill, and breathe with our African Summer series. I’d like to personally invite you to join us for our upcoming show that will be held in Congress Square Park on July 5th.
This particular show, called Congolese Extravaganza, is extra special to me because I will be performing in the show and making my debut as an artist here in the United States. I hope you will join us for this event, only together can we make it memorable.
-Marcel Kombo, performance artist (Mister Trecy) and IWC's Digital Literacy Instructor
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We hope you’ve marked your calendars for 6 PM on July 5th, because our next African Summer Series concert is just around the corner. Join us for an evening of world-class music right in Congress Square Park.
The lineup features incredible Congolese artists, including Nkumu Katalay & the Life Long Project Band, along with our very own Mister Trecy.
This is a free event, so bring your friends and family! If the weather doesn't cooperate, we have a rain date set for Saturday, July 6th—same time, same place. We can't wait to see you there for an unforgettable night of music and community celebration.
Be sure to keep an eye on our socials for more info about our August African Summer show.
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Our Next Soccer Saturday is on July 6th! | |
It was great seeing everyone at June's Soccer Saturday, and we’re excited to share some of our favorite photos from the day below. ⬇️ | |
If you couldn’t make it to the last Soccer Saturday, not to worry! There's another one coming up on July 6th. Join us in Kennedy Park starting at 10 AM. | |
Financial Wellness with Bangor Savings Bank | |
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On July 31st, from 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM, we will be hosting part three of our Financial Wellness series facilitated by Bangor Savings Bank.
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. As always, refreshments will be provided as well as a Portuguese translator.
This workshop will be hosted on the third floor of our office at 24 Preble Street. You can RSVP by emailing us at info@welcomeimmigrant.org.
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Thank you to everyone who came to our World Refugee Open House on the 21st! It was wonderful to have so many supporters, partners, and members of the community come together in honor of World Refugee Day.
Attendees had the chance to tour our new first-floor space, meet our Executive Director Faisal Khan, enjoy live music, and sample some truly delicious food.
We hope to continue building upon the relationships we forged that night and encourage you to get in touch with us anytime at info@welcomeimmigrant.org.
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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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June was an action-packed month for our Women Lead-ers. They perfected resumes, crafted cover letters, and honed interview skills with community volunteers for an upcoming job fair specifically designed for the current Job Readiness cohort.
On Juneteenth, they paused for self-care with activities like dancing, drawing, and journaling, honoring this important holiday with rest and community.
Next stop for our current cohort of Women Lead: Job Readiness is graduation! We’ll be sure to share some impactful moments from this exciting occasion.
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The Business Hub has been busy this spring and early summer helping clients in many different ways, including creating business plans, developing financial projections, sharing workshop & training opportunities, and more.
The Business Hub is always looking for ways to provide the services immigrant business owners need to succeed. In order to learn more about what services are the most helpful to clients, they've created a short survey. Please use the link below to access the survey and let them know your thoughts!
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Starting in early July, our English conversation classes will move to the newly acquired first floor of the IWC office. Our iEnglish team is very excited to utilize this new space, which will accommodate a variety of class activities, group work, and make room for additional students, volunteers, and teaching assistants. This expansion will also allow the iEnglish team to offer a greater number of classes later this summer and fall! | |
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We’d like to give a special shout-out to our Digital Literacy Instructor, Marcel Kombo, who has taught basic digital skills to more than 500 clients since the beginning of this year. Marcel began volunteering in the iEnglish Program this past October and has quickly become a vital part of the team.
He offers digital skills group sessions four days a week in both French and English, and he also supports the Computer Language Lab. Marcel is charismatic and always ready to brighten up his group lessons with a joke.
Thank you, Marcel, for your dedication and enthusiasm!
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Last Saturday's Juneteenth Community Wellness Clinic went off without a hitch! We saw a 45% increase in the number of clients served compared to our first wellness event, and we hope to see even more growth in future events.
A big shout out to our event partners, MaineHealth, who provided clients with referrals for free health care, and AAPHD UNE for conducting dental screenings, making referrals, and providing free dental supplies.
We'd also like to thank our friends at Food For All Services for the wonderful snack donations!
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This year, we were fortunate to have two exceptional Cape Elizabeth High School seniors, Eliza Green and Zoe Burgard, join us as interns. Their dedication and enthusiasm have made a significant impact on our community, and we will miss them as they head off to college shortly.
Eliza assisted across our programs through administrative work, canvassing events, and performing outreach. In the fall, she will be attending The University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Zoe coordinated digital literacy students and supported our programs with her stellar organizational skills. She will be attending Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Thank you, Eliza and Zoe, for all of your amazing work and dedication. You have truly made a difference here at IWC!
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Could you be our next Deputy Director of Finance and Administration? Learn more about this role below! | |
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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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