Amadou is a Senegalese immigrant living in the Bronx, he first came to Cabrini Immigrant Services (CIS-NYC) seeking legal support for his citizenship journey. During his
intake, he was referred for social services after sharing that he was feeling emotionally overwhelmed and struggling to navigate complex public systems alone. What began as a search for legal help became a turning point in his journey toward healing and self-advocacy. “When I started the case with you, my priorities changed,” he said. “I learned a lot about myself. I gained tools to overcome challenges, and I appreciated learning how to count on myself. You made me realize my own potential and that I have it in me.”
Through his participation in counseling and case management, Amadou found consistent, trauma-informed support that helped him feel grounded and empowered. He described CIS-NYC as warm and welcoming, and said he had never experienced services quite like this before. “Cabrini humanized my challenges and gave me the support I really needed,” he shared. Over time, Amadou began engaging more actively with his care. He developed stronger advocacy skills and began approaching his interactions with landlords, doctors, and care providers with increased confidence. He often speaks about how the consistency of services helped him regain trust in others and feel less alone.
With the support of CIS-NYC, Amadou secured a CityFHEPS housing voucher, received increased hours for home care assistance, and was connected to resources and education around the citizenship process. These concrete changes, paired with emotional and practical support, helped him envision a more stable future. Reflecting on his experience, he said, “I used to think of Cabrini as just a place to learn a few tools, but I ended up getting so much more. CIS is very involved. You don’t say, ‘I helped you with this,’ you say, ‘You did this, and we worked together.’ That makes all the difference.”
Cabrini Athenians presented The Addams Family Musical to packed houses during Cabrini’s Spring Arts Festival earlier this month. One night was so popular that 75 extra seats had to be brought in to accommodate the crowd. The performances were outstanding, with vocals, harmonies, and choreography that rivaled local professional theater companies.
year, the Cabrini Dads’ Club works tirelessly to raise funds that directly support student education. Their biggest and most beloved fundraiser? Parking for the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival.
That transformation is felt every day on campus. As one of Cabrini’s largest benefactors, the Dads’ Club has played a major role in supporting curriculum enhancements, capital improvements, and state-of-the-art technology—projects that keep Cabrini competitive in one of the most rigorous Catholic school systems in the country.
Cabrini Immigrant Services – Dobbs Ferry (CIS-DF), NY, was so excited to share the talent of Nathalie Carolina Ortiz Cabrera, a professional ballerina, with the residents of St. Cabrini Nursing Home. Nathalie, a friend of Shirley Godoi, the Administrative Assistant at CIS-DF and her family, is visiting from Paraguay. She performed various ballets and some traditional Paraguayan folk dances. One amazing dance was the traditional ‘bottle dance.’ Nathalie danced with 2 bottles on top of her head. Everyone watched in amazement. She changed into different costumes; each one was more beautiful than the next. One costume was a white dress with a beautiful black shawl. This was the traditional Paraguayan dress.