IGL Student Group Speaker Series: Refugee Resettlement in Massachusetts with Mary Truong

Her talk will include info on the Office for Refugees and Immigrants (ORI)’s programs, policies and population at a glance; update on the current refugee arrivals number and how Massachusetts is dealing with the Syrian refugee crisis.

In May 2015, Governor Baker appointed Mary Truong to serve as the Executive Director of the Massachusetts Office for Refugees and Immigrants (ORI). ORI is primarily federally funded and serves as the refugee resettlement coordinators office. The mission of the agency is to integrate refugees and immigrants into the fabric of the Commonwealth. Primary service provisions for the agency include: citizenship, workforce development and training, health programming, and other service provisions touching populations across the life-span and across the state.

Prior to joining ORI, Mary served as director of external relations and patient relations at Dorchester House. She served for five years in various management positions at Carney Hospital. Additionally, Mary has served on many boards including: Boston Human Rights Commission, the Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center, the Dorchester Board of Trade, the Greater Boston Habitats For Humanity, the Massachusetts Vietnamese-American Women’s League, and a Co-founder for nation’s first Vietnamese-American Community Center . Mary also had an extensive banking background, serving as Vice President for FleetBoston & Bank of America’s Corporate Community Development Department for 10 years.

Mary was born in Vietnam and immigrated with her family to the United States as a young teen in the 1970s. She has committed her career to linking communities, increasing opportunities for integration among children, youth, families and individuals, and continues to strive as a beacon for integration based efforts. Mary currently lives with her husband Nam Pham.