Statement from CIANA's Founder and CEO
Emira Habiby Browne

When I founded CIANA in 2006, the Middle Eastern and South Asian communities were still under attack with profiling, detentions, deportations and the bigotry of the post 9/11 period. Sadly, in the years since we opened our doors, the xenophobia and discrimination has spread to other immigrant communities, increasing their marginalization and fears of government. CIANA was to be a bridge to success for immigrants, and a voice addressing the widening gap in services. Twenty years after 9/11, a global pandemic has accentuated the inequities that immigrants and people of color continue to face daily. Fortunately, NYC has acknowledged these disparities and is working to create a social structure that ensures that all communities are treated equitably.