PUBLIC SERVICE

OCTOBER 21, 2020

Since its inception in 2005, the Office of Immigrant Services (OIS) has worked diligently to serve the immigrant and refugee community here in East Tennessee. OIS provides low and pro bono legal services to assist with family reunification, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), adjustment of status for refugees and asylees, as well as services under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). In 2019 alone, OIS serviced 700 individuals in our community.

The phenomenal work OIS is doing has recently been recognized by Centro Hispano, a nonprofit who is the leading resource for East Tennessee’s Latino community. Each year Centro Hispano holds their Latino Awards and recognizes community leaders, allies, young professionals and of course the best restaurants that align with their mission; to see “every Latino and Latina in East Tennessee thriving culturally, educationally and economically.” 

This year, CCETN’s Office of Immigrant Services was nominated for and awarded the Latino Ally Award! The criteria for this award is any organization (nonprofit or for-profit) serving the greater Knoxville Area that has gone above and beyond - to further the opportunities of Latinos and Latinas in our community. Nominated alongside two other wonderful organizations, OIS was chosen by open vote to the public. OIS Program Leader Alessandra Ceccarelli, said “We are really honored to have been chosen by the community as the Latino Ally Awardee. That really means a lot to us, and it’s a way for the community to recognize all the work that goes into assisting our clients and community at large. We’re really really happy!”