Mission & Approach
Our work aims to prevent the growing marginalization of new immigrants and refugees and facilitate their successful integration into American life, while continuing to maintain their cultural heritage.
We have designed a holistic integration model that aims to guide new immigrants towards social and economic self-sufficiency. It seeks to identify newcomers soon after they arrive, introduce them to American systems, address cultural and language barriers, and offer them a path towards citizenship and advancement. Our approach helps families and youth incorporate the best of both worlds while still maintaining cultural ties and pride in their heritage.
CIANA is intended to act as an agent of social change, and has been recognized locally and internationally for its reach into marginalized immigrant communities. It aspires to become a model of immigrant integration services that can be replicated nationally and globally.
Impact
“Before I came to CIANA, I was having a bit of a difficulty at school with some classes. I just needed an extra boost of confidence and CIANA gave me that exactly. As soon as I met them I knew I was going to be comfortable. Now my grades are better than ever and I feel more motivated.”
— Albert Molina, Middle School Program
CIANA in the News
Intern and Volunteer Testimonials
"At CIANA, it seems like you really value integration but I also see that it’s a strength that all the clients have different cultural backgrounds. CIANA isn’t asking them to forget their home country or their language. It’s really celebrated."
-Nima, Casework Intern
"I enjoy the fact that you can see people asking questions and trying to pick up new language skills, and you see them conversing with one another and helping each other out. I think CIANA provides a nice setting for them to try and improve their skills and transition."
-Nikhil, ESL Instructor
"I really like that CIANA is small and feels very much like a family. It’s cool to see how many interns and volunteers are here. In that aspect, you know everyone you’re working with has the same passion and mindset toward the overall goal to help immigrants."
-Miles, Grants Intern
Read more about our staff, intern, and volunteer insights and experiences on the Humans of CIANA section of our blog.
History
2006 – 2008
CIANA is founded, obtains seed funding and moves to Astoria. Opens its Newtown Avenue site in June 2008.
2008 – 2012
2013 – 2015
CIANA expands its programs with increased funding from NYC government agencies.
CIANA adds a young immigrant legal services program (DACA), and grows its volunteer-staffed elementary after school program.
2016
2017 – 2018
CIANA launches new programs including a Middle School After school Program (SONYC), a new legal immigration program, and a Mommy & Me parenting program.
CIANA expands its immigration legal services, youth education programs, and social media presence, and accelerates shift to a private funding model due to increasing demand for services and limited governmental support.
2019
CIANA expands its staff, receives awards from the competitive Communities of Color Stabilization Fund (CCNSF) and Complete Count Fund, and establishes a new civics-focused ESOL curriculum.
2020
CIANA brings New York City closer to a complete count in the 2020 Census. Thanks to grants awarded from the NYC Test & Trace Corps and NYC Care, CIANA nearly triples its staff and launches efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and enroll New Yorkers in free and low-cost healthcare-- all while moving our usual programs and services to an online setting.
2021 - 15 Years Since Founding
CIANA continues preventing the spread of COVID-19 and enrolling eligible New Yorkers in healthcare, in addition to educating the public about COVID vaccines. All of CIANA's legal and case management services and educational programs take place virtually with record-high engagement.
2022
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Board of Directors
Derek Sam
Board Chair
Austin Moukattaf
Board Treasurer
Joe DeMaria
Board Member
Ariela Steinberg
Board Member
Emily Levitt
Board Secretary
Sophie Norman
Board Member
Emira Habiby Browne
CIANA's Founder and CEO
Emira Habiby Browne has over 25 years of experience in social services, with expertise in family and children services, immigrant integration, and cultural competency. She is a Palestinian-American who was born and raised in the Middle East, speaks Arabic fluently, has traveled extensively, and lived in several countries in Europe and the Middle East. She holds a Master of Arts Degree in Sociology from the American University of Beirut, Lebanon. She has pursued Doctoral studies at the London School of Economics/University of London, and at the Hunter College School of Social Work/CUNY.
In 1993, Emira founded the first Arabic-speaking social services organization in New York City to address the needs of the Arabic-speaking immigrant community.
In 2006, Emira founded CIANA as a wider and more inclusive organization that serves new immigrants from the greater Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia.
In 2004, 2006, and 2011, Emira was selected by the USDOS Bureau of International Information Programs to present her immigrant integration model to government interlocutors and community leaders in several cities in Spain, Italy, Poland, and Germany.
Emira has served on several advisory boards and task forces on immigrant issues, and has been the recipient of numerous honors and awards in recognition of her contributions to the immigrant community and the service of others.
Meet the Team
Jump to:
Legal Services
Dinneen Cato
Director of Legal Services
Educational
Programs
Sophie Riina
Education Programs Director
Jose Velasco
Middle School
Program Coordinator
Case Management
& Outreach
Venus Alfaro
Case Management Supervisor
Micah Dicker
Social Media Specialist & Outreach Worker
Joe Nasser
Case Manager &
Outreach Coordinator
Mohamed Alharbi
Outreach Worker &
Case Manager
Tomoyo Sakai
Caseworker
Vanessa Camano
Caseworker
Rownoka Ashakhan
Outreach Worker &
Case Manager
Mahbub Khuda
Outreach Worker & Case Manager
AmeriCorps
Member
Grethel Calero
NYIC VISTA,
Volunteer Management