Announcing our Interim Executive Director

August 5, 2020

Shima Kabirigi

Dear Friends of the Greater Portland Immigrant Welcome Center,

Like many of you, we at the Greater Portland Immigrant Welcome Center (IWC) have been busy reinventing new ways of how we do our work due to COVID-19.  The additional challenge of having our visionary founder and leader, Alain Jean Claude Nahimana, pass unexpectedly has been difficult for us all. In the midst of such sadness, I am proud to say the IWC’s staff and board have gone above and beyond to ensure that the Center moves forward.  Our goal is clear: continue building on the foundation which Alain established.

It is with his spirit and the full support of the IWC Board that I have the distinct pleasure as Chair to announce the selection of our colleague, Board member, friend and IWC co-founder, Shima Kabirigi to fill the role of Interim Executive Director effective as of August 3, 2020.

While the search for a permanent Executive Director continues, we are remarkably fortunate and very excited to have Shima agree to provide interim leadership to the IWC. Her familiarity with immigrant issues and passion and commitment to community development is visible in her professional track. As a founding member, and more recently Board Co-Chair of the IWC, Shima’s selection allows the IWC to seamlessly continue its important work while continuing the search for a permanent Executive Director.

Shima Kabirigi, an AmeriCorps Vista alumna and current Program Officer at Maine Initiatives, has established a reputation for building bridges and successfully leading programs aimed at strengthening communities.

We look forward to sending you updates about the IWC and the work being done in the weeks and months ahead.

Stay well,

Mary Allen Lindemann

Board Chair

Greater Portland Immigrant Welcome Center