About Us

Dorcas International Institute of Rhode Island strives to create a welcoming environment for all, working to empower the most vulnerable among us for more than 100 years. We meet our clients where they are by providing innovative wraparound services helping those seeking to overcome educational, cultural, economic, and language barriers. A non-profit 501(c)(3), Dorcas International offers adult education, language learning, job training, citizenship and immigration services, refugee resettlement, translation and interpreting, clothing and household needs, and more.

Our organization has taken different shapes during the last 100+ years of service, but our commitment and dedication to the individuals, families and community we serve remains the steadfast.

Mission

Dorcas International Institute of Rhode Island empowers individuals and families, especially immigrants, refugees and the underserved, to become self-sufficient and fully participating members of our diverse community through innovative programs and advocacy that promote education, training, and cultural understanding.

Vision

To welcome all who are working to overcome cultural, educational, economic, and language barriers and to empower all to achieve self-sufficiency and actively participate in our community.

Approach

We provide client-centered services, advocacy and opportunities based on our expertise in family literacy and adult education, employment services, refugee resettlement, translating and interpreting, citizenship and immigration services, and more.

Commitment

We are committed to building on the diversity and strength of the people we serve as an investment in a stronger and more connected community.

History

In 2013, Dorcas International Institute of Rhode Island was born from the union of two great organizations: the International Institute of Rhode Island and the Dorcas Place Adult and Family Literacy Center.

Dorcas Place helped low-income adults to realize their full potential through literacy, collaboration, advocacy, and community involvement starting back in 1981. Since then, it  joined forces with the International Institute of Rhode Island (IIRI), which was founded in 1921, originally housed in two rooms on Weybosset Street and began as an affiliate of the YWCA. The two organizations came together to create Dorcas International Institute of Rhode Island, an all-encompassing multi-service agency that provides education and job readiness opportunities as well as legal services for citizenship and immigration, refugee resettlement programs, and more.

Since the 2013 merge, Dorcas International, a 501 (c) (3) non-profit, has continued more than a century’s worth of work in the community, collectively serving the needs of immigrants,  refugees and native born in Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts since 1921.