Unsheltered Immigrants in MA: Unpacking the State of Emergency | 1.5 CEUs

Thursday, September 28 @ 6:00 - 7:30pm EST

Speaker: Alexandra Weber, LICSW

Virtual on Zoom

On August 8, 2023, Governor Healey announced a state of emergency due to the rapid increase in the number of newly arriving immigrant and refugee families without the means to secure safe shelter in the Commonwealth. Join me on September 28 to learn more about new arrivals resettling in our communities and their backgrounds, needs, and gifts. Learn why they are arriving. Also better understand the state’s shelter crisis and what is being done to address the shelter needs of so many unhoused families. Finally, learn what you can do to support new immigrants both professionally and personally.

The goal of this webinar is to improve understanding of the circumstances of arriving displaced populations representing racial, ethnic, gendered, cultural, and sexual diversity and diversity of ability. We will discuss ways to support the integration of diverse immigrant communities.

• Better understand the push factors behind forced migration and the circumstances of individuals and families currently resettling in Massachusetts.

• Learn more about Massachusetts’ state of emergency, shelter laws, and current housing crisis, and what is being done to support the basic housing needs of thousands and new immigrant arrivals.

• Deepen your understanding of the many ways to support new immigrants as they journey through the resettlement and integration process.

Price: NASW member FREE / non-member $35

Webinar Zoom Meeting link and course evaluation form details will be shared a day before the conference.

Speaker: Alexandra “Xan” Weber, LICSW is Chief Advancement Officer and Senior Vice President at the International Institute of New England (IINE), responsible for resource development, advocacy, and community engagement. Xan oversees the organization’s fundraising, institutional partnerships, advocacy initiatives, and community engagement. Xan spent her first 14 years at IINE in program roles—developing its continuum of service and tripling its program size and impact—before shifting in 2021 to grow IINE’s resources. A Licensed Independent Social Worker in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Xan holds degrees from Georgetown University and the University of Iowa, where she received her Master’s in Social Work. Xan lives with her husband and two children in Jamaica Plain, MA.