International Institute of St. Louis 2009 Annual Report

2009Annual Report

Immersion • Investment • Inclusion

On the cover, left: In 2006, Emir Dzaferagic, Firelane Graphics owner, got small business loans and technical assistance to expand his business.Today,Firelane has 4 employees: 2 Bosnian and 2 American-born. (Right) Beautiful Korean dancers are always a highlight of the annual Festival of Nations.

Photos by Wayne Crosslin/International Institute

2009 Year in Review

Our activities were many and varied, forming three “pillars”

of service: Immersion, Investment and Inclusion. In all, our

80 staff provided services to 7,274 clients.1,000+ volunteers

provided almost 25,000 hours of volunteer service valued at

$527,400. Our service capacity was greatly expanded in August with

the addition of five VISTA volunteers. They were assigned to us

full-time and subsidized by government grants for one year each.

In the spring, I was appointed to Governor Nixon’s Complete Count

Committee to help find ways to improve the immigrant census count in

Missouri. And, in the spring and fall, Erica Fendler, our NEI Emerging

Leader, and I attended several weeks of leadership development

training courtesy of Bank of America’s Neighborhood Excellence

Initiative. We received our second check from BoA as well— for a total

financial contribution of $200,000!

“Wish You Were Here!” our biennial gala was held at the end of May.

The lovely event recognized two very important occasions — our

upcoming 90th anniversary and the debut of the William K.Y. Tao

Family Refugee Resettlement Fund.

In July we hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony at our North Urban

Garden near Skinker Blvd. and Hodiamont. For the second year, the

Monsanto Fund provided gardening funds so our clients could raise fresh vegetables to improve their diets.

More than 125,000 visitors attended Festival of Nations at the end of August. The annual event would not

have been possible without the support of nearly 100 ethnic organizations, performance troupes, businesses,

and hundreds of volunteers.

In October, the International Institute was recognized with the Mayor’s Award at the St. Louis Development

Corporation’s Annual Recognition Lunch at America’s Center.

And in November I was privileged to accompany the St. Louis Stuttgart Sister City delegation to Stuttgart,

Germany. There I presented for St. Louis at Stuttgart’s Annual Twinning Conference.

In all, 2009 was a challenging but productive year. Kudos to the many St. Louisans who continue to believe

in our mission and support us in countless ways!

Anna Crosslin

President & CEO

International Institute 2009 Annual Report 1

2009 marked the International Institute’s 90th anniversary as well as our 10th anniversary in ourGrand Blvd. headquarters facility. Photo by WayneCrosslin/International Institute

English Classes for Adults

Counseling & Social Work

Crisis Intervention

• Elderly

• Mental health

• Victims of human trafficking

• Domestic violence

Job Training & Placement

Refugee Resettlement

Immigration Assistance

Some refugees have been abruptly uprooted from their homes as a result of war or unforeseen hostility. Mired in legal limbo, othershave been languishing in refugee camps for a decade or more.Regardless of their circumstances, refugees are uniformly trauma-tized and in need of a helping hand when they arrive in St. Louis.

In the first hectic months after resettlement, we focus on meetingbasic needs for the refugees we sponsor. Essential support includesfood, housing, clothing, transportation and interpretation alongwith medical assistance and even trauma therapy.

But refugees quickly begin to transition toward independence as they learn about andacclimate to their new surroundings. Theirresiliency and ability to survive in the face ofsometimes horrific conditions enables most of these new arrivals to adapt to their newenvironment in a surprisingly short time.

Soon, these new arrivals join programs withthousands of other clients determined to learnEnglish, support their families, and to event-ually take their places as fully participating St. Louisans of immigrant heritage.

They attend English classes day after day or,frequently, evening after evening after a long day at work! Here, they get customized training to develop English skills for the workplace and everyday life.

For instance, some students aren’t literate intheir native language. So, we’ve developedindividualized literacy instruction provided bytrained volunteer tutors.

Most new arrivals also attend job readinessclasses while concurrently learning English.They must understand American workplace culture to obtain and keep a job. Our 10-weekstate-certified vocational training programtransitioned from patient care assistant train-ing to certified nurses training.

As students progress, they can begin studying for US Citizenship. We even offer a special citizenship class for elderly immigrants.Computer training, Michigan testing services, and pronunciation instruction are also available.

This year, our Education Department stafflaunched the St. Louis Citizenship Project, oneof only 13 projects across the nation to beselected by the US Citizenship and Immigration

2 International Institute 2009 Annual Report

Pillar I: ImmersionEducation and Social Services for Newcomers

Refugees must start working a few short months after arrival in St. Louis. Here Burmese arrivals learn about the American world of work. Photo by Wayne Crosslin/International Institute

continued on page 4

Right: An Iraqi refugee operates computerized embroidery machines at Vantage, a local small business that provides customized logo

and design work. Photo by Wayne Crosslin/International Institute

Services (USCIS) from nearly 300 applications. With the award, weare strengthening and expanding our naturalization assistance andcitizenship preparation services.

The new services are geared to help adult Legal PermanentResidents (LPRs) with special application challenges. Barriers caninclude lack of literacy, limited English and/or knowledge of UShistory and government, elderly age, lack of resources, as well asmedical or mental health impairments.

New program services include literacy-level US Citizenship prepa-ration; a telephone-based “Citizenship Telephone ConversationPartner” program; guided online preparation practice; a 6-weekintensive summer citizenship preparation course; Jury Duty andVoter Registration workshops; and expanded case managementservices.

We are also working more closely with the USCIS office staff,increasing understanding among our respective staff but also in the larger community. As part of the grant project, the Institutehosted a Path to Citizenship event in December. The session drewmore than 140 LPRs of 29 ethnicities.

Management staff also focused on a variety of capacity-buildinginitiatives, most notably the development and installation of acomputerized client services and case file system. In the next several years, the division will move toward eliminating hard-copyfiles and to become largely paperless. Additionally, with fundingfrom the Missouri Foundation for Health, the services of a profes-sional consultant were arranged to help staff identify ways tostreamline messages and services, eliminate duplication and other-wise improve the quality and quantity of division services.


• 637 refugees were sponsored from Somalia,Afghanistan, Iraq, Nepal, Congo, Burma andelsewhere.

• 2,077 immigrant students received Englishinstruction.

• 227 adult immigrants attended US Citizenshippreparation classes. 80% of those who attended for at least 20 hours demonstratedprogress toward their goal of becoming naturalized.

• 892 clients received job services, including404 placed in jobs at 95 companies. 65% ofjobs included medical insurance. The averagewage for all placements was $8.15.

• 333 immigrants were seen by therapists and social workers; 39 individuals were seen in counseling and 247 received social work services. Of clients in therapy, 68% increasedtheir GAF scores within 6 months; 95% ofclients receiving social work interventionaccomplished some or all of their service plan goals.

2009 Lead Charitable Support Job Training facility

Emergency Client Needs - William T. Kemper Foundation-Commerce Bank, Trustee

Women’s Textile Training Program

Client Database Software

Client DatabaseSoftware

Capacity-Building

Financial Education

Community Gardens

2009 Accomplishments

Refugee students and volunteers share a fun moment while learning and workingtogether. Photo by Wayne Crosslin/International Institute

continued from page 2

5International Institute 2009 Annual Report

Pillar 2: InvestmentEconomic Security for Immigrants and All St. Louisans

Small Business Center

• Business loans to $35,000

• Technical assistance

Financial literacy & asset-building

• Home buyer & other seminars

• IDA (Matched savings program)

• Credit counseling

Peer Lending Circle

II Community Development Corporation

After a few short years in St. Louis, manyimmigrants are ready to set their sights to thefuture. They realize that household financialstability can frequently depend on savingenough money to start a business or buy ahome or a dependable car.

We use a combination of public and privatefunds to help immigrants achieve their financial dreams. The purpose of our economicdevelopment services is to improve the economic stability and future potential ofimmigrants, especially recently arrivedrefugees, generate positive economic impactto strengthen St. Louis (job creation & salesincreases), and leverage public dollars by creating public-private partnerships

First, we offer matching savings accountsknown as the IDA Program. With the matchedsavings, immigrants can buy a home or a reliable car, enroll in post-secondary educa-tion, or start or expand a small business.Funding sources include the Office of RefugeeResettlement, Department of Health & HumanServices (ORR), as well as a grant from theUnited Way of Greater St. Louis.

Fati, a refugee from Mauritania, poses in front of her hair-braiding business onChippewa. Cissie’s was launched with loan from our small business center and technicalsupport. Photo by Wayne Crosslin/International Institute

October 2009 began the fifth of a five-year IDA federal funding cycle. A total of 148 accounts were opened thus far in the cycle, namely:

Entrepreneurship 22%

Education 16%

Home Purchase 54%

Vehicle 8%

As a result of two funding cycles in the past decade, we have helpedmore than 100 refugee families buy homes at an average purchaseprice of $120,000. That’s more than $12 million in economic contribu-tions that participating immigrants have made locally. They are help-ing to stabilize previously declining neighborhoods and otherwisestrengthening our community as well.

Additionally, we provide hands-on technical assistance and micro-loansto immigrant entrepreneurs, also with federal and local support.Immigrants need sound business plans and linguistically and culturallysensitive technical assistance to successfully start, strengthen, andexpand businesses.

Micro-loans, up to $15,000 per loan, have been provided through agrant from the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), DHHS. ORRLoans may be supplemented or new loans made with a maximum of$35,000 through pooled loan funds in the II Community DevelopmentCorporation. Program services were supplemented in 2009 by a grantfrom the United Way of Greater St. Louis.

continued on page 6

The second year of a two-year $100,000 per year capacity-buildinggrant from the Bank of America Neighborhood Excellence Initiativeenabled us to further build our program’s capacity. NEI also provid-ed leadership training the agency’s president, Anna Crosslin, and an emerging leader, Erica Fendler.

We were also fortunate to send our entire department staff to the Association for Enterprise Opportunity (AEO) conference inWashington DC in May. Underwriting was provided by NationalCity/ PNC and the NEI of Bank of America.

In March, we hosted the annual IDA workshop for ORR contractors.The two-day on-site program drew representatives from more than20 agencies from around the US. A reception was sponsored byNational City/PNC. There four volunteers were formally recognizedfor their dedicated service to our program.

In all, 304 income tax returns were prepared for agency clientswith a total federal refund of $251,205 and state refund of$62,983. We are grateful to Volunteer Income Tax Assistants (VITA)volunteers for their assistance with this service.


In March, we hosted a national Individual Development Accounts (IDA) conferencefor participants from around the US. Photo by Wayne Crosslin/InternationalInstitute


• Sales Impact of IDA Asset-Building Program

• Amount spent on purchasing assets with ORR IDA funds, $1.4 million

• Additional attributable sales in the community, $1.04 million

• Economic impact (total of assets purchasedand additional sales), $2.44 million

• Total additional sales in the community during a decade of operation, more than $14 million

Job Creation by Small Business Center• Through various business start-ups and

expansions, 60 jobs were created resulting in 76 total jobs in the economy

• The 60 jobs produced $1.5 million in wages

• Total revenue created from the 60 jobs, $4.1 million

• Total economic impact, $6.19 million

• Total economic impact after a decade ofoperation, more than $100 million

Support from Local InstitutionsBank of America Foundation - $200,000 total incapacity-building funds during 2008-09 throughthe Neighborhood Excellence Initiative (NEI)

Summer Intern Program

Multiple Project Support

Peer Lending Circle



In 2006, the International Institute incorporated another not-for-profit corporation called the International Institute Community DevelopmentCorporation (IICDC). The IICDC, a separate 501(C)(3) organization, wasfounded to broaden micro-lending opportunities for St. Louis’ immigrantentrepreneurs. The IICDC utilizes additional tax opportunities only avail-able to community development corporations for banks to build the loanfund pool.

In April 2008, an agreement was reached with four banking partners tocontribute a total of $180,000 annually for five years to a pooled micro-lending fund. The banking partners were National City/PNC, Pulaski Bank,Southern Commercial Bank, and Southwest Bank/M&I. The IICDC fundenables staff to serve immigrants as well as refugees and expands themaximum loan from $15,000 to $35,000. At the end of 2008, SouthwestBank/M&I changed its status to that of a supporting organization ratherthan continuing as a partner bank.

The IICDC provides services through a Memo of Understanding with theInstitute. The Institute’s Small Business Center staff serves as loan officersfor the IICDC pooled loan fund and the Institute’s Senior VP for Financeand Business Development Services also serves as Director & President ofthe IICDC.

In the summer of 2009, the IICDC’s by-laws and memorandum of under-standing with the International Institute were revamped to clarify theIICDC’s position as a supporting organization of the International Instituteparent.

IICDC is certified as a CFDI/CDE by the US Department of Treasury.

In the 2009 calendar year, the IICDC had made 16 micro-loans for a total of $180,000.

IICDC Board of Directors

David L. Kirkland – ChairFrederick J. Berger, Esq. – Vice ChairLinda Eggleston – SecretaryRyan Clark, MBA, CPA, CVA – Treasurer

International Institute CommunityDevelopment Corporation

IICDC Statement ofFinancial PositionYear Ending December 31, 2009*

ASSETS 2009Current assets

Cash and cash equivalents $250,364

Current portion of notes receivable 89,088

Total current assets 339,452

Long-term notes receivable 96,848

Total assets $436,301

Liabilities and Net AssetsCurrent liabilities

Accrued interest 12,768

Notes Payables to Banks 80,000

Total current liabilities 92,768

Net assets

Undesignated, available for operations 193,533

Equity equivalent investments 150,000

Total net assets 343,533

Total liabilities and net assets $436,301

* Unaudited. 2009 audited statement will appear as a portion of the International Institute’s consolidated audit. Please direct any questions to the Institute’s accounting office (314) 773-9090 ext. 126.

2009 IICDC banking partners:

Joseph S. StockIbro TucakovicLynette Sledge Watson

Jane Allen JonesPatrick NaabienPari Sheth, Esq.

Ihssan (“Al”) AlyasiriEzezew BiruGonzalo Corvera


Left: Festival of Nations is a fun-filled weekend for all ages.Here a young Latin American dancer balances a basket on herhead during a traditional dance that delights the audience.Photo by Wayne Crosslin/International Institute

Students are mesmerized by the formal ceremony accompanying the inauguration of BarackObama as President. Photo by Wayne Crosslin/International Institute

Festival of Nations

Resources & Links

• Community Calendar

• Culture Links: St. Louis Directory

Ethnic Mediation Council

II Business Solutions Center

• Interpretation & Translation

• Consulting & Training

As new Americans become integrated in the broader community, they want to preserve their arts and present them to all St. Louisans. Among the mostpopular venues is our annual Festival of Nations, the largest, most diversemulti-ethnic event in our region. This fun-filled annual late-summer celebrationpromotes the many cultural traditions of St. Louis, those of newcomers andlong-timers alike.

This year, Festival of Nations was held on August 29 and 30. More than125,000 visitors crowded into Tower Grove Park. There they delighted inmusic and dance on three stages, shopped at dozens of ethnic gift booths,and dined on ethnic cuisine from the four corners of the world. Hundreds of ethnic organizations and volunteers continue to make this magnificentcelebration possible.

In the fall, festival leadership transitioned as Anna Crosslin returned to her previous role as Festival Director in preparation for the retirement of

Pillar 3: InclusionAppreciation and Acculturation for Immigrants and all St. Lousians

continued on page 10

• International Institute’s Festival of Nationsdrew 125,000 visitors to Tower Grove Park,August 29 and 30. The festival audience wasdrawn from more than 100 zip codes.

• 50% of the festival visitors were first-timers.70% were under 40 years old. 45% were of Hispanic, Asian, African or Mid-eastern heritage.

• 5,883 fee-based interpreter appointmentswere provided by the Language Services program, a 26% increase from 2008.

• 1.7% of non-emergency appointments werevoided due to lack of an available interpreter.

• Increase in interpreter jobs in:• St. Louis City and County – 25%

• St. Charles – 163%

• 98% of Language Services customer feed- back was positive.

Festival of Nations Lead Sponsors


long-time Institute staffer, Ann Rynearson. Ann had been ably servingas director of the festival and as its arts coordinator since 2006.

We worked with HEC-TV to provide more opportunities for schoolchildrenaround the US to interact online with immigrants. During the programs,students learned about culture and asked questions to raise theirawareness and understanding of immigrants with whom they might notnormally have a chance to meet.

And we helped prepare KETC Channel 9 staffers and a production crew for a major immigration project they will undertake in 2010. The Institute’s president served in a leadership role providing extensiveorientation to KETC staff about immigration and immigrants in ourregion. Our student interns shared information and their thoughts onFacebook, Twitter and many other social media sites. We also hostedthe Leadership St. Louis and CORO Women in Leadership classes again.

We cancelled our classes on January 19 so all of us could watch theinauguration of Barack Obama as US President. Students listened intently, clapping when appropriate and cheering as well. Most knewthat Obama was the son of an immigrant, and it gave them hope thattheir children would succeed as well.

In early October, more than 50 contracted interpreters and translatorsattended a Friday evening reception to recognize our language supportservices in the past year. Many of the guests gave high marks to ourstaff who operate our Language Services Program so skillfully.



Supporters, Collaborators & Partners3D Police Partnership

AARP Foundation

Advantage Capital Company

African Mutual Assist. Assoc. of MO

African Presbyterian Church

AmerenUE

American Association for Retired Persons(AARP)

American Eagle Credit Union

Americorps STL

Armstrong Teasdale LLP

Assistance League of St. Louis

Bank of America

Better Family Life

Beyond Housing

Bilingual International Assistant Services

Bosnian Chamber of Commerce

Bryan Cave LLP

CANA Network/STL Mental Health Board

Catholic Charities Refugee Services

Center for Survivors of Torture & War Trauma

Chaminade High School

Christian Friends of New Americans

Citi

Coalition of Asian Pacific Americans

Commerce Bank

Community Alternatives

Consortium of Care

Daughters of Charity

DeSmet Jesuit High School

Family Health Care Centers

Family Support Division, State of MO

Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Five Star Senior Center

Gateway Earned Income Community Coalition

Gateway Greening

Harrah’s Hotels & Casinos

HEC-TV

Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

Hispanic Leaders Group

Refugee family poses for a photo at our annual Children’s Holiday Party. Photo by ClaudiaMarin/International Institute


Human Development Corporation

Husch Blackwell Sanders LLP

Immigrant & Refugee Women’s Program

Inspired Life & Work

Institute for Family Medicine

JVS – Kansas City

Kansas City Center for Urban Agriculture

KETC-TV, Channel 9

Lead Safe St. Louis

Leadership St. Louis - FOCUS

League of Women Voters

Legal Services of E. MO-Immigration Law Project

LIFT – Missouri

Literacy Roundtable of Metro St. Louis

MasterCard Worldwide

Mercy Neighborhood Ministry

MERS/Goodwill

Missouri Career Centers

MO Foundation for Health

MO Immigrant & Refugee Advocates

Monsanto

National City Bank/PNC

National Park Service

Nerinx Hall High School

New City Fellowship

Office of Jury Commissioners of St. LouisCity Courts

Operation Food Search

People’s Health Center

Professional Latino Action Network

Pulaski Bank

Refugee and Immigrant Consortium of St. Louis

Regional Health Commission

Shakespeare Festival of St. Louis

SLOEN

SLPS – Adult Education & Literacy Program

SLPS – K – 12 Bilingual / ESL Program

Social Security Administration

South Grand Community Improvement District

Southern Commercial Bank

Southwest Bank/M&I

St. John’s Mercy Medical Center

State of Missouri, Dept. of Higher Education

Stephen Novack

STL Catholic Charities Community Services - Southside

STL City Health Department

STL Community Colleges

STL Community Credit Union

STL Community Foundation

STL Convention & Visitors Bureau

STL County Business Assistance Center

STL County Dept. of Workforce Dev.

STL County Economic Council

STL Development Corporation

STL Diversity Awareness Partnership/KMOV-TV & Emmis

STL Enterprise Centers

STL Lead Prevention Coalition

STL Mental Health Board

STL Police Department

STL Police Explorers

STL Public Library

STL Rescue & Restore Coalition

STL University

STL University High School

Tower Grove Park

US Citizenship and Immigration Services -STL Field Office

United Way of Greater STL

Univ. of MO Extension East Central Region

Urban League

US Attorney’s Office – Eastern MO

US Bank

Vatterott Foundation

VECTOR Communications

Wachovia/Wells Fargo Foundation

Washington U – School of Medicine,Department of Psychiatry

Washington U –GWB School of Social Work

Washington U-Gephardt Institute for Public Service

Washington U-Olin Business School

Webster University

Webster University Graduate School of Communications

Whitfield High School

World Affairs Council of St. Louis

Youth in Need

Dancers from Hui Hula ‘O Punahele Hula Halau perform at Festival of Nations. Photo by WayneCrosslin/International Institute

$100,000Bank of America, NEI

$40,000Kemper Foundation

$10,000-$24,999Citigroup FoundationEnterprise HoldingsMasterCard WorldwideMonsanto FundThe Pettus FoundationThe Wachovia

Wells Fargo Foundation

$5,000-$9,999Enterprise HoldingsFoundationNational City BankNeilsenPNC FoundationJane & Bruce RobertSpoehrer Family

Charitable TrustThe Boeing CompanySandy & George TsaiWebster University

$2,500-$4,999Ameren UEAT&TAshok ChawlaDaughters of Charity

FoundationEdward JonesStacey GoldmanJane Allen JonesMary Lou PudlowskiSev-Rend CorporationJanice & Edgar SmartSt. Louis Community

CollegeHelen & Jonathan S.TurnerUS Bank

$1,000-$2,499Center for InternationalStudies UMSLJohn ColwellEliot Cori & Richard K.TaoCovidienEugene V. DeFeliceRachel EidelmanErnst & Young, LLPEventive Marketing, LLCHarrah’s St. LouisMyra & Bill HartMary & Bob HegerLaurie & Ted HellmuthHelen Lee & Peter TaoAnne & John F. McDonnellGayle & Randal NarikeNestle Purina PetCareCompanyPfizer Foundation

Volunteer Program

Beth RadtkeRynearson, Suess,

Schnurbusch & Champion LLC

Stacey & Scott SiftonRuth & Al SitemanSouthwest BankSuburban Journals

Old NewsboysFarzad WafapoorGrace & Frank Chi-Pong Yin

$500-$999Anna & Walt BeckFred BergerEzezew BiruLisa BradleyPeter ChangHarriet Switzer

& David Cronin Anna E. CrosslinJoan Beer & Donald Damask Tina DeeljoreRick EssenCynthia Tao & James Fong Ladan ForoughiMartha & Robert GaddyHarrah's Casino & HotelsJeff Smith for MissouriCarol & Ward M. KleinPhillip KlevornGrace Yin Lo & Frank LoNatasha Merchant-Pappu

& Rohit PappuLinda & James MoriceNerinx Hall High SchoolArif PyaraliAnn & Sam RynearsonSeltzer & Associates, L.C.Karen & Richard SemsSt. Louis Mennonite

FellowshipDr. & Mrs. William K.Y. TaoPat & Bob TeakTrinity Presbyterian ChurchGina WilliamsChris & Mike ZambranaWubing Zong & Tong Gao

$250-$499Mary BardPatti & Tony Bou SamraLili & John BruerDebbie Champion-Snyder

& Jeff SnyderSam CharringtonJulie & Charles CobaughCommerce BankJeffrey CraverTatiana & Igor Efimov Laura & John EllisJudy & Wayne FailoniFriends of Taiwan

Greater St. LouisElaine & Roberto GillGravois DentalCharles GrbeichCheryl Griffin

& Steven Stone

James C. GuyolLinda & Mark HaltonKaren JordanNancy KalishmanDavid L. KirklandPeggy & Jim LaddBetsy & Edward LawlorKathy LeonardM & M ManagementChristina & Lei-Hoo MakKim MartinKeia & Derek MaysMetropolitan Taxi Cab

CorporationLisa & Tony MoiseSusan & George NewmanMelody O'BrienOrganization of Chinese

AmericansVirginia G. PasewarkTeri & Joel PesapaneKathy & Tom ReevesMr. Tony Samra

& Mrs. Patti Bou SamraDaniel ScheschSlay for MayorK. SnoeMaria & Tyler SteinbachThe Epoch Times -

Mid-US BranchLily & Lihong WangEileen & Dan Wolfington

$100-$249Dinorah & Edgar Aguilar Deborah & Malik AhmedBeth & Dan AlbesAll Souls Christian

Action GroupAmer Al-YasiryKathy AokiAnita & Tim BarkerLinda BearmanCarrie BeckerLaura BeckmanDean BerryAyitevi BoccoviPeggy BoschenSenator Joan BrayChristine A. BrochtrupDebby CarpenterSara & Ryan ClarkBetsy & Bruce Cohen COR ProductionsAnn M. CorriganJohn CowellCuddles Day CareDr. William H. DanforthJulie DeGraafBree DeGrawPamela DeVoe

& Ronald MertzDavid DickmanNgoc DoanCarol & Irl DonJean & Joseph R. DuganNancy DurbinLinda EgglestonKevin T. Eiler


2009 Wish You Were Here! Auction Donors

In 2009 our Refugee Resettlement Fund was named after theWilliam K.Y. Tao Family. Bill and Anne Tao and their family are recognized at our biennial “Wish You Were Here!” Gala in May.Photo by Wayne Crosslin/International Institute

2009 Honor Roll Donors

A. Bommarito Wines Aalim Belly Dance AcademyArakaBank of AmericaBARcelona Tapas RestaurantBaxter Gardens of ChesterfieldBentley Studio, Ltd.Blanche M. Touhill Performing

Arts Center Casa Loma BallroomCasablanca MarketContemporary Art Museum St. LouisBarbara & Gonzalo CorveraCraft AllianceAnna CrosslinAnne & Larry DillFarshid EtniKoDuff's RestaurantFrazer's Restaurant & LoungeFriends Image DesignGifted ProductionsGrand South GrandHealing Arts CenterKaren IsbellHameed JafriK. Hall DesignsRenata KellyJanet Kelly-HarmonKemp Auto MuseumKennelwood Pet ResortsKitchen ConservatoryGregg LemleyJimmy LiuGrace Yin & Frank LoLos FlamencosLu Lu Seafood RestaurantAnna LumMandarin HouseAmal MansuriMark Twain Home Boyhood Home

& MuseumMasterCard International

Mavrik JewelryMax & Erma's RestaurantLeslie McKinneyMitchell-James SalonModesto Tapas Bar & RestaurantRandal NarikeKiku ObataPaint Me Pottery Plowsharing CraftsManuel PradoRacketmanBeth RadtkeJane & Bruce RobertSameem's Afghan RestaurantSchlafly BeerPhyllis SiegelStacey & Scott SiftonSix Flags FriendsEdgar SmartSouthern Commercial BankSt. Louis Business JournalSt. Louis CardinalsSt. Louis Science CenterAnn & Robert SteckStraub's MarketSunset Tennis CenterTan-Tar-A ResortMr. & Mrs. William K.Y. TaoRichard TaoPat & Bob TeakThe Magic HouseThe Repertory Theatre of St. Louis Tiffany & Co.Sandy & George TsaiHelen & Jonathan TurnerUnion Avenue OperaUzmaQ BoutiqueSally Van DorenWapangoWoodard Cleaning and RestorationY.S. Rho Martial ArtsMargarita Zhukova


Sara & Fred EpsteinLaurie & William FalkJune & Flint FowlerLinda FriedGannett Foundation, Inc.Graham Academy of Irish DanceSusan Meryl GreenbergSue HahnDonna HecklerKay HenryAnne & Robert HetlageJennifer & Matthew HoffmanAlan W. HopeflJeri J. HornKate HowellBeth HunsickerHY-C Company, Inc.Islamic Community CenterWendy & Neil JaffeWilliam JenkinsChristina JohnsonEmma KafalenosKay L. Gabbert & AssociatesMarcia & Robert KernKathryn Koch & Arnold MarkAmpy Kollman-Moore

& Ron MooreKatherine KornfeldJanet KourikLadue Chapel Women's

AssociationFlery & John LangholzJanice LauerHelena & Harold LawL'Ecole CulinaireKatherine & Gregg M. LemleySheryl & Andrew LockLucy LopataDana LorbergRose LuhMr. & Mrs. Antonio MaldonadoAmal & Shariq MansuriLisa & Ray MayseMargaret W. McCalpinBrigid & Mathew McCauleyKevin McDevittJane & Kent McNeil Mekong RestaurantJennie MeresakMerrill Lynch & Co.

Foundation, Inc.Michael J. Sommers

& AssociatesMidTown Printing Co.Steven MillerValerie MuddDale NavratilNew City Fellowship Linda NodiffStephen NovackThe Hon. & Mrs. Robert

V. OgrodnikDana O'MalleyPadilla Personnel ProfessionalsShanta Pandey

& Gautam Yadama Dimple PatelGarie & Ken PerryManuel PradoCheryl & Robert ReanyAlderman Lewis ReedLisa & Mohammed RiadKathleen & John C. Rorris

Maureen Ross-Lang & David Lang

Stephanie SachsJoAnn & Theodore SanditzRosa & Luis SchwarzLily & Bruce SeymourBarbara & Nathan SimonGeorge SpiesSt. Louis Chinese JournalSt. Louis UniversityAnn & Robert SteckStinson Morrison Hecker LLPAnn & Richard R. Stith Jr.Lakshmipriya Subbaram

& Alagendran SundararajanMr. & Mrs. William SullinsLaura TabatJason TangMary & Austin P. TaoThe Rome Group, Inc.Laura ToledoJacqueline & William TungUHY Advisors MO, Inc.University of MissouriMrs. William Van CleveNorma Jean VavraPatricia Verschueren

& Chris VogeleerWachovia Foundation

Matching Gifts ProgramJanie & Herb WalkerAnne & Gregory WalterWebster UniversityJill WehmerSuzanne & Robert Whitman Janet & J.R. WilliamsonKathy & Ralph WoodsMark WynCileia & Andrew YuenSandra Zak & Mark Mowrey

Up to $100Marylin AbbottMedina AbdaliMichael AckermanAfrican Mutual AssistanceAssociation of MissouriAshok AgrawalMarla AldrichAaron M. AllisonYvette Anderson-Chesson

& Jehu Chesson Kathleen Avenevoli-JohnsonMarjorie BaierNancy & Daniel BaileyCatherin e & Rich BarnesRobert BarraleJohn BarthLindsay BayhamMichelle BeechJanet & James BehnkeSarah BekemeyerLorraine T. BemisAndrea BerdugoDaniel BergVicki Berg-RussellHerbert BilgramAmy BlaskiewiczJohn BlumfelderVicki & Michael J. Bolger Robert BrauchTeresa BrauchJoan & Dennis Breite

Shawna BrinsonBasak & Benjamin S. Brown Carol BrownsonTimothy S. BrueningHelen S. CadoretAneta S. CamposAngela CeerriCharles ChappelleMary ChavezKelly ChildressJanet ClendeinNorman CobbJudy CopusDavid CostiganNancy & Rex A. CoutureSusan CrawfordTheresa DamesMary & Quang Dang Lisa DaySusan & Jaymes DearingCarmen & Joseph DenceBonita & Douglas DillardAmy DimaggioTara & Simon R. DixPatricia DolsonLaurie DonnellPatrick DoughertyAnita DraperSarah & Robert C. Dunn Jr.Kristin Jane DurantClaudia EadsMarjorie Eddy Sheilah Clarke EkongKari EllisJill Coakley &

Christopher Emert Daphne & Marcel EsubiDebbie FaulknerRobert FaulknerDee Ann & Steven FonesMichard ForbisJoe GabbertAnna GarwoodArnulfo GarzaPam GempelRick GingerAren GinsbergSusan Glassman & Peter StraussRonald J. GlossopAllison & Dan GluckJohn P. GoodwinWilliam GrivnaEugene E. GuttinJean-Paul HalsberghenJanet & Geoff HamillMark HamiltonMartha & John M. HanleyHarambee InstituteMaryenne HarveyJulie HasenstabGhazala & Sultan HayatVirginia HaydenMelinda R. HayesPhyllis HendersonMatthew HillebrandSharon & Warren L. HoffmannNatalie HornsbyCarol IglauerKaren J. IsbellChristine Jett & Jim PearsonElise & C. Dennis JoergerSummer JohnsonLucille Long Joiner

Frances H. JonesNeil JonesCarol Kaplan-LyssSusan Kashubeck-WestShelli KastinRebecca KellerJoanne M. KellyElena Garcia KenyonKelly KindleDeborah KingNicole KleinWallace KleinKatie KnebelsbergerJacqueline & Daniel KoenigSusan & Ed KoobMarlene KrusePaula & Todd KurlowskiSinie & Robert La CourCarolyn LamasLisa & Steven LangeRyan LarserJoseph LavianaLaw Offices of Pari Sheth, LLCHedva & Donald LevyJanice & Paul M. LoewensteinYvonne & Joseph P. LoganMarsha LoganAnne & Jeffrey LowellJeralyn MadisonAnnabelle & Scott MarshallIvan MartinBetty MarverJoan MassPat MatthewsGina McClaineMary McGlaughlinB. McKeithanJudith G. McLachlinJanelle MesselLaura & John S. MeyerDebra MisuracaCindy MitchellRoxana MixcoLynne & David MooGwen MooreNitt MoowBarbara MorrisDavidson MullgardtAnne MurphyLena & Patrick NaabienRose NaglMaurice NoellschDenise Jaquet NolandValentine ObzldoDan O'ConnorMary & John S. OlssonGnanasiuam PalaniappanGeorgia PalmerLeigh PalmerNathaniel PalvyeJames ParkerJoyce PattonErik PawarPatrick PedanoJudith PeerMary Kathryn PetersonChris PetranoffShannon PhelpsWilliam R. PiperHenry Podgorny

& Michael MullaneTodd PorterAllison C. Prabhakar

Sanborn PumphreyJames RabbDenice C. RacineAlex RamosEmily C. RandallMarilyn & Gary RatkinDaniel ReedSusanne ReimerKim ReynoldsFaye RezaieWalter E. Roberson Jr.Flordeliz & Milton RossSameem Afghan

Restaurant, LLCKathleen & David SandknopDolores A. SanthaBart SaracinoDave SasenburyJohn ScariotKay SchecterDeborah & Steven SchmidtAl SchmoekerLeanne & Harvey G.SchneiderAdeline & Mark Z. SchraierWinona Jean. SchrieberDorothea & Egon SchwarzLinda SchweighoferJackie ScottLoretta & Arthur SeltzerCynthia SeltzerBrooke SensmeyerPhyllis SiegelAlison SieloffJanet SimmonsAnn SmartChasma SmithLinda SpinaSt. Margaret ParishT. StaffordGary StallingA. StanleyShauna StapletonBrian StephensonRita SteppTricia & Joseph StockLauren StorrMatthew TaoThomas TemplemanChad TennesenThe Salvation ArmyHeather Lynn ThomasLisa TroglioAdele & Dennis J. TuchlerBruce & Frederick TuttleJacquelyn M. UnserSamia Van HattumJeffrey VillmerCalista & Kevin VitaleChris VogelBonnie W. WadeLynette S. WatsonDara WebbJoseph WegescheideKathleen M. WieseLatariss WilliamsKeus WimbleyKim WinklerBryan WumanMr. YabloKelly J. ZabelBenjamin ZackAnna & Ferenc ZahoranMark Zaydman


OfficersChairAshok Chawla

Vice ChairEdgar Smart

SecretaryRichard Tao

TreasurerPhillip Klevorn

Immediate Past ChairHelen Turner

President & CEOAnna E. Crosslin

Board MembersAshok ChawlaCommunity Volunteer

Gene DeFeliceSr. VP, General Counsel & Secretary, SAAVIS, Inc.

Donna HecklerBrand Strategy LeadMonsanto

Mary HegerVP Information Technology & Ameren Services CenterAmeren

Debra HollingsworthVP, External AffairsAT&T-Missouri

Jane Allen JonesIndependent Consultant

Karen JordanAssociateSonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal

Phillip KlevornPrivate Client AdvisorUS Trust, Bank of AmericaPrivate Wealth Mgmt

Ampy Kollman-MooreIndependent Consultant

Gregg LemleyManaging ShareholderOgletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, PC

Kathy LeonardVP Public RelationsGeile-Leon MarketingCommunications

Grace Yin LoCommunity Volunteer

Amal MansuriIndependent Consultant

Derek MaysAssoc. General CounselMaritz, Inc.

Randal NarikeSr. VP, Canadian OperationsEnterprise Holdings, Inc.

Jane RobertCommunity Volunteer

Richard SemsPresident & CEO, MissouriBanking, National City/PNC

Stacy SiftonCompliance CounselEdward Jones

Edgar SmartSr. Business LeaderMasterCard Worldwide

Richard TaoIndependent Consultant

Robert J. TeakIndependent Consultant

Sandy TsaiCEO, Deli Foods Mfg.

Helen TurnerCommunity Volunteer

Michael ZambranaPresident, Pangea, Inc.

Advisory CouncilRobin CarnahanMO Secretary of State

David KirklandPresidentHallmark Sr. Housing, Inc.

Linda Morice, Ph.D.Asst. Prof.Dept. of Educational LeadershipSIU-Edwardsville

George NewmanAttorneyStinson Morrison Hecker LLP

Kiku ObataPresidentKiku Obata & Company

Ellen SherbergPublisherSt. Louis Business Journal

William WillertPresidentWillert Home Products

2009 StaffAs of December 31

Administration

Anna Crosslin-President & CEO

Kathleen Delpha-Sr. VP Finance& Economic Development

Suzanne LeLaurin-Sr. VP Individuals & Families

Ann Rynearson -Sr. VP Culture & Community

Cesar Figari-VP & Director of Operations

Marisa Echevarria-Accounting Mgr.

Christina Juelfs-Administrative Services Mgr.

Kate Howell-Community Relations Mgr.

Sarah BekemeyerEmsada BilkanMary HarrisTim NiehoffRosa PuertoJorge RinconGeorge Williams

Economic Development

Erica Fendler -Sr. Business Specialist

Jasmina Jakupovic -Sr. Business Specialist

Julie Mauchenheimer -Sr. Business Specialist

Mohamed MohamedNha NguyenNiloufar Safariyeganeh

Education

Anita Barker-VP & Director

Sarah Barnard-Asst. Director

Mary Hemmen Kuziel-Educ. Office Sup.

Anita AgicAna BetancourtNate BrinsonAngela FolkesCharlene GlassHyrije HoxhaMirsada KaradzicEric KramerMarlene KruseSevil KyazimovaBenigna MarchiukaitisDaniel McGowanLeslie MyersKelly O’Donnell

2009 Board of DirectorsAs of December 31

Anna Crosslin accepts FOCUS St. Louis’ Leadership Award at its “What’sRight with the Region” program in May. Deborah Patterson (right), FOCUS Board chair and President of the Monsanto Fund, presents theaward. Photo by Wayne Crosslin/International Institute

Mary OwensRichard RashBrian RyanRodney SmithMaryska Suda

Client Services

P. Ariel Burgess-VP & Director

Lara Fallon-Social Work Coord.

Booker Gilliam-Housing Mgr.

Spogmai Hashmi-MG Coordinator

Kathy Tucker-Area Team Leader

Khadra Bashir-Area Team Leader

Kathy Wiegard-Adm. Sup.

Zaenab AbdaliHussein Hassan AliAhmad BarekzaiZemka Basic-DogicNsengiyumba BertrandZlata BilkanApril BuckHazira CausMarilou ConnoyerSemere DesuT.J. EisenstienAbdulahi HajiBlake HamiltonSaad HusseinBluena KhatriVarasteh KhazaeliUmar MamakmovLany Van L. MaasKam SingAnna WagnerBasia Yeziorna

II Language ServicesAndrea Wren-Supervisor

Aida AvdicSarah Graber BarekzaiTim Niehoff

Quality Assurance,Program Development & Training

Paul Costigan-VP & Director

Kelly Patterson MooreKaren HeitzmanJane KnirrRene KreiselVanessa LoydRhonda McKenzieAsmira OgresevicMarybeth Smith

VolunteersBrooke AdamsPier AlsupMelissa AndersonEvan ArmstrongJohn BaumgartnerMichael BaumgartnerAlex BayerShawn BellJustin BennettDean BerryDavid BetzNancy BirgeDena BirkenkampDanielle BondAlex BornElla BrownTuyen BuiPatricia ClementsJulia CobaughMichael CockmanPatrick ConnersHannah Costigan-CowlesKevin CrookshankMichelle CuartasBethloy DaleyGinny Daugherty

Jacqlyn DavenportPepper DeeYolanda DeGrangeBree DeGrawJessica DillenderCharles DonnellyNancy Durbin

Mary DurbinMike EgglestonBryan EvansLinda EvansEdward FalkJennifer FantroySheila FazioKevin FlemingGhazaleh FouladiLinda FriedDebra GarciaBarbara GerliJohn GordonHelene GottesmannSarika GuptaSharon GutowskiAngela HakimPierre HakimBrian HallKeegan HamiltonJessica HansesJoe HarterLaurie HellmuthTed HellmuthPaul HinojosaKate HolleyMaria HummerBeth HunsickerAngelique JavaudinBob JuergensJeremy KillmerJane Kim

Edward KindleyIllian KlausBob KrekelerDonald LachowiczBeatrice LadenMalinda LeeEllen LeuchtmannGwen LiebmanTreina LindClaudia MarinJeanine MarkleyMartha MarkleyTina MarlowManal MawlaLaura MeintsAnton MikhlinMillicent MoonDarko MruckovskiJasna MruckovskiBruno MruckovskiProscovia NabunyaLaura NaccaratoRobert NewmarkLinda NodiffStephen NovackDan O'ConnorPatricia O'ConnorBrigid OddyDena O'MalleyMary OwensDimple Patel

Michelle PennHelen PeppinGarie PerryMary PetersonDaniela PetkovaLaura RadcliffSharon RyanStephanie SachsDaniel SandersBen SandlerJennifer SchwesigEna SelimovicBarbara SimonMary Jo Sokol CancilaKate StrobleJoan SuntrupHelen TurnerJackie UnserMichael WeeksLaura Wehmer-CallahanLaurence WesselKathy WeyhrichJanet WilliamsonJames WiseKathleen WiseRichard WymoreVerona XhixhiJoshua YardleyAl YasiryJessica YochesAlexandra Zylka


Warner Baxter, AmerenUE President and CEO, conducts a press conference at the Inter-national Institute in December where he announces their 100 x 100 Program. The programbenefitted the Institute by providing energy assistance for clients.

Volunteers help provide critical educational and social services. They makea meaningful difference in the lives of our clients and in our community by working one-on-one in small groups and classes and at special events.

In 2009, 1,000+ volunteers dedicated almost 25,000 hours of time for a value of $527,403. What an amazing and admirable feat! More than 500 volunteers made our 10th Annual Festival of Nations our most well-attended to date. Volunteers distributed toys, created crafts, and playedgames with newly arrived refugee kids at our Children’s Holiday Party inJanuary. And members of iSquared planned and operated a challenging and fun, internationally-themed Trivia Night to benefit our refugeeresettlement program.

Since August 2009, the Institute has also been fortunate to have the skillsof five dynamic VISTAs (Volunteer in Service to America). Hannah Costigan-Cowles has developed and implemented emergency preparedness plans for our agency. Maria Hummer has assisted with volunteer recruitment and training, managed our Telephone Conversation Partners program, andprovided support for instructional development.

VISTA Jessica Yoches has coordinated our Home Visitor Program andfacilitated a weekly home management class for new arrivals. EvanArmstrong has served as our 2010 Census point person, working toensure that all ethnic groups in St. Louis are counted. Kate Holley hasassisted with our community garden and sewing programs and has helped to write proposals. One of her successes was a $10,000 awardfor our community gardens.

Thanks to South Grand Senior Ministries for facilitating our application for2009 VISTA slots. And kudos to our many other volunteers and interns!

Introducing our Junior BoardIn 2009, we launched the Junior Board of the International Institute. The Board supports the work of the InternationalInstitute by hosting social, educational and community service activities promotingour community’s growing diversity. Board members also serve as volunteersand provide financial support.

The Junior Board aims to further the mission and vision of the Institute and promote its Three Pillars of service by raising awareness of the important role of refugees and immigrants in our region.Board members collaborate with iSquared,the Institute’s Young Friends Network, onmany annual events and projects includingour annual Trivia Night, Children’s HolidayParty, and Festival of Nations.

Junior Board of Directors

iSquared Rolls On!iSquared, the Young Friends Network of the Institute, continues to sponsor socialand educational events to create a fun andrelaxed environment for people to get toknow each other and the Institute. There isan ever-growing number of young peoplewho meet for an iSquared-sponsored HappyHour or attend monthly Dinner Club events.

They now constitute a large network ofInstitute volunteers, working to support ourmission, publicize the importance of thework of the Institute and immigrant new-comers, and make financial contributions.

The International Institute is grateful andproud of its many and growing number ofiSquared members!


Volunteers — Our Champions!

iSquared, our Young Friends Association, hosts an annual Trivia Night to benefit ourrefugee resettlement program. Photo by Wayne Crosslin/International Institute

Sarah Bekemeyer

Danielle Bond

Bree DeGraw

David Gonzalez

Blake Hamilton

Kate Howell

Robin Huffman

Kevin McCulloch

Tim Niehoff

Libby Papineau

Dan Richter

Maxim Schillebeeckx

Mary Jo Sokol


Giving Back to Our Community How do our refugees fare in the long term? Here is the story of one.

Michael Akoka was a Nigerian refugee. Until he was 17, Michael lived a life of privilege as the son of a tribal chief in the Ogoni Region ofNigeria. Civil conflict erupted, fueled by the politics of oil, and Michael,as the eldest son of an honored family, was marked for death. For more than four years, he hid out in Nigeria. He finally escaped to live in abject poverty in a refugee camp in Benin for four more years.

Michael arrived in St. Louis on July 12, 1999, just 11 years ago. As hissponsor, Institute staff met Michael at the airport, found him an apart-ment, and enrolled him in English classes. We also found him his firstjob, boxing products for Nestlé USA. It wasn’t glamorous, but it was a start.

By January Michael had enrolled at St. Louis Community College atForest Park. Later he transferred to Washington University on an honorsscholarship to major in Communications. Now he’s completed a Master’sdegree in Non-Profit Management from the George Warren Brown Schoolof Social Work at Washington University.

Over the years Michael has worked as a security guard, part-timeteacher, and has done work-study programs to support not only himselfbut also his mom and siblings back in Nigeria. Currently, he’s operatinga tax and financial services business, and some of his clients arerefugees just like him.

Michael’s dream is to become a lawyer because as he says, “Life is allabout fighting for justice.” Recently, he started the process to become a US citizen. In May 2009, Michael told his story to our gala guests whothen pledged funds to help refugees resettle in St. Louis. He did sobecause he “…appreciates the chance that St. Louisans have given us[sic] refugees.”

FinancialStatement*For Year Ending 12/31/09

Total All Funds Revenues

Contributions .....................................$149,902

Foundations.......................................$103,785

Donated Services ................................$832,873

Contracts and Grants .........................$3,745,305

United Way .......................................$226,228

Fees, Sales to the Public,

and Other Revenue..............................$946,782

Total Revenues ..................$6,004,875

Total All Funds ExpensesEmployment ......................................$940,065

Education .........................................$827,015

Cultural Transition including

refugee resettlement.......................$2,037,006

Mental Health ....................................$216,167

Economic Development.........................$577,605

Intergroup Relations.............................$752,758

Management & General ........................$518,598

Fundraising .........................................$92,752

Total Expenses....................$5,961,966

Current FundRevenues in Excess of Expenses ................$42,909

Unrestricted Net Assets on 12/31/08......$3,877,787

Unrestricted Net Assets on 12/31/09......$3,920,696

*Unaudited Statement as of 6/1/10. Final audit

available after 7/1/10.

Address questions to:Anna Crosslin, President(314)773-9090, ext 119

Michael Akoka and Anna Crosslin pause for a photo at the 2009 “Wish You WereHere!” biennial gala. Michael made an eloquent fundraising plea on behalf of our community’s needy refugees. Photo by Wayne Crosslin/International Institute

For further information, please contact:

International Institute of St.Louis3654 S.Grand Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63118(314) 773-9090

www.iistl.org

Since 1919, the International Institute has been providing adjustment services to new Americans and fostering cross-cultural understanding. We are a Missouri non-profit corporation with full 501 (C) (3) status.

International Institute of St. Louis 2009 Annual Report

Documents

Transcript of International Institute of St. Louis 2009 Annual Report