IILA Celebrates 110 Years of Service!
Remembering Who We Are
Celebrating 110 Years of Serving the Immigrant Community!
Celebrating 110 Years of Serving the Immigrant Community! was a beautiful gathering of our community, celebrating diversity, heritage, and togetherness. Our social media properties were alive with activity, as there was an abundance of colorful and vibrant photo and video opportunities! Search for #IILA110 to see all posts and pictures. Click on the icons above to follow us please!
Thank you to our sponsors Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Ruud & Romo, El Proyecto del Barrio Inc. East Los Angeles Child Development Center, Child Care Resource Center, Cathay Bank, Polsinelli, Options for Learning, Connections for Children, and Canon Solutions America.
IILA Video & Artwork Unveiled
As part of our anniversary, IILA commissioned a video that delves into our early years and an artwork series that captures the spirit of our history of service. Both were premiered at the event. We invite you to view them and learn more below:
About the Video: International Institute of Los Angeles: 110 Years of Empowerment
International Institute of Los Angeles celebrates 110 years as a social services agency in Los Angeles in 2024. Recognizing Edith Bremer and the YWCA as significant founders of IILA, this video describes the world in the late 1800s and early part of the 20th Century. Settlement homes were founded in most major cities, and IILA was created to continue these services.
About the Artwork: “Remembering Who We Are”
Local artist Ali Magaña skillfully incorporated historical photos from IILA’s archives to create a series of 8 mixed media canvases depicting highlights from our history. Two additional canvases include IILA’s new mission statement in English and Spanish. The full series will be installed at our corporate headquarters in the coming months. Click here to learn more about the artwork and artist.
View the video, the artwork, and event photos below!
IILA 110th Anniversary Presentation
CEO Cambria Tortorelli (right) and Fashion Show Organizer Shivangi Tarkar (left)
Highlights from Cambria Tortorelli, CEO of International Institute of Los Angeles,
addressing the 110th Anniversary audience:
“Throughout our history, immigrants to the US have often been made to feel unwelcome, treated with prejudice and dismissed as inferior or even subhuman… Sadly, we still have a long way to go to overcome prejudices and stereotypes leveled against newly arrived immigrant populations in our own time. Today we are experiencing another wave of anti-immigrant sentiment from certain US politicians, media and public figures who heartlessly use false and toxic depictions of immigrant communities, playing shamelessly to the fear of the “other” that as human beings we have a marked tendency to default to. This kind of prejudice deliberately obscures the incredible value that immigrants continue to provide theUS—not just enriching us culturally and socially, but also continuing to drive the powerhouse which is the US economy.
“IILA is doing its part to counter so much dangerous anti-immigrant misinformation…The work we do in assisting refugees, immigrantsand working families to thrive and contribute to their communities at their full potential has NEVER been more important….IILA has never been stronger, and we are excited about the next chapter of our existence and continuing to expand the ways in which we serve immigrants and refugees, whichever way the political winds blow. It is your support as volunteers, donors, staff, board members and partner agencies which has enabled us to promote self-sufficiency, strengthen resiliency and honor cultural identities in the refugees, immigrants and working families we serve. Thank you for the big heart you show to those who are newly arrived, for welcoming them as friends and neighbors, and for your willingness to give them a hand up—not a hand out.
Honoring of 2 board members: “Steve Holt joined IILA in 2001 and has served as IILA’s Board Chair for the past 14 years. John O’Malley can boast an even longer term of service stemming from 1991, or 34 years. John has served on and chaired numerous committees over the decades he has been involved with IILA. We are indebted to them both for their loyalty and steadfastness to IILA’s mission and work.”
Cultural Fashion Show and Performances
As a way to honor IILA’s spirit of inclusivity, diversity of clients served, and history of hosting cultural celebrations, the event included a “cultural fashion show” and cultural performances. The fashion show, organized by former Mrs. India and professional model Shivangi Tarkar, featured models and flags representing just a handful of the cultural groups IILA has assisted through the decades.
Featured talent included Team Kawachiondo of the LA Kansai Club, Mosaique Dance Company of the LA Bellydance Academy, and Mamboson Band (Mambop).
Photo Gallery
