Sister Lena Deevy

In 1989, Sister Lena Deevy and a group of Irish immigrants founded the Irish International Immigrant Center (IIIC) to meet the needs of a large Irish immigrant population in New England. Over the years, the organization has developed into a multi-service center serving immigrants from Ireland and from 120 other countries, providing legal, wellness, and education services, learning exchange programs, advocacy, and cross-cultural community building.

After twenty-four years as IIIC's executive director, Sister Lena stepped down from her day-to-day responsibilities and now serves as executive director emerita. Many international solidarity efforts have benefited from her involvement, including efforts supporting justice and peace in Nicaragua, El Salvador, South Africa, and the Philippines.