Open Avenues Foundation presented it's 2018 Humanitarian Award to Dr. Lin Piwowarczyk at the “Response to Migrant Family Separation Crisis Fundraiser” on September 27, 2018 at the Intercontinental Hotel in Boston for her twenty years of work providing mental health services to refugees and survivors of torture. Co-founder and Director of the Boston Center for Refugee Health & Human Rights, Dr. Lin was recognized “for your unwavering commitment to welcome, support, and empower foreign nationals in the United States.” Other awardees were recognized for their legal work (PAIR Project, Attorneys Harvey Kaplan and Howard Silverman) and provision of supportive housing (Dr. Ruth Bersin). Open Avenues is a newly formed non-profit with a mission “to equip and empower immigrants with opportunities that enable them to reach their full potential and contribute to American society.” Reuniting separated family is a necessary step in ensuring immigrants are able to reach their full potential, as the event highlighted. Dr. Lin gave an impassioned speech about BCRHHR’s work, the Center’s resilient clients, and the negative complications that separations have on clients’ mental health.
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