International Institute of Los Angeles

International Institute of Los Angeles (IILA) provides transformative services to refugees, immigrants, and working families by promoting self-sufficiency, strengthening resiliency, and honoring cultural identities. We strive to cultivate an inclusive IILA community where a powerful sense of belonging emboldens each person to foster their well-being.

International Institute of Los Angeles (IILA) began as a branch of the YWCA (Young Women’s Christian Association) in 1914 as a response to the needs of women and girls immigrating from Europe and East Asia in adjusting to their new lives in Los Angeles. Formally incorporated in 1936, IILA has always been an advocate for the fair treatment of refugees and displaced people, including opposing the unjust treatment of Japanese Americans in World War II. Among those we have assisted over the decades include Soviet dissidents, youth fleeing violence in Central America, Vietnamese and Hmong refugees, and, currently, Afghan and Ukrainian refugees and asylum seekers.

IILA’s mission is to provide transformative services to refugees, immigrants, and working families by promoting self-sufficiency, strengthening resiliency, and honoring cultural identities. IILA serves nearly 130,000 individuals every year through its nine state-funded pre-schools, network of childcare providers, nutrition program for children, immigration legal services, refugee programs, case management services for unaccompanied minors and survivors of human trafficking, subsidized transportation services, utilities and telecommunications assistance, and other services.

To learn more about us, please visit https://iilosangeles.org/.