From Our Executive Director

The majority of these arrivals were reunited with family or friends already living here, aligning with one of the Institute’s core values that families belong together. To support these families, we launched Side by Side, a program that pairs small groups of volunteers with newly arrived refugee families, combining our resettlement expertise with the warmth of community support that makes Minnesota welcoming.

Of course, after families find stability, we prioritize their long-term success. Our commitment to providing education, college prep, job training and advancing careers means New Americans can support their families, pursue dreams and give back to the community. With the launch of our Business Careers Pathway last year, more people than ever benefited from our Professional Leadership Training and our new Entrepreneurship Class — which helps aspiring business owners take the first steps of planning.

The Institute’s Medical Careers Pathway continued growing enrollment in its Nursing Assistant Training, while also celebrating the incredible accomplishment of placing internationally-trained physicians into residency programs, addressing the critical shortage of rural physicians.