BOSTON – Dr. Ridiane Denis doesn’t hesitate when asked what she wants people to know about the Haitian migrants looking for work in Massachusetts. “I want them to know they are hard workers,” Denis said.
With thousands of Haitian people moving into Massachusetts and migrant shelters filling up, she felt compelled to help. The idea for a volunteer-led job training program came to her in a brainstorming session at her kitchen table with her partner, Guichard Rodriguez. In 2023, she founded the non-profit Massachusetts Integrative Resources. The word integrate, she says, is central to the group’s mission. “If you’re from somewhere else, you want to be integrated,” she said. Once she established MAIR, she put out the word that she was ready to begin training migrants for direct support personnel positions-jobs in group homes, day programs, and assisting the elderly.
Dr. Denis is Director of Clinical Research and Operations, General Clinical Research Unit (GCRU) at Boston University Medical Campus. (She is also a mother of four sons who is only half-joking when she says she works 30 hours a day.) With volunteers ready to help and migrants eager to learn, all she needed was a training space. That quest led her to Waltham and a kindred spirit in Gabriel Vonleh, CEO of Opportunities for Inclusion.
“They believe in the American dream. So, let’s make it happen for them!” Gabriel said smiling. “This was our way to give back to people who were not looking for handouts.” He says, when Dr. Denis approached him about using space in the building, he was happy to oblige. “This was a no-brainer.”
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Opportunities for Inclusion serves people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families. Its Waltham building is bustling Monday through Friday. But there was plenty of free space on weekends. Dr. Denis’ Saturday training sessions began in October. The first week, there were 13 students. The following week attendance more than doubled. Students were excited for the training, even if getting to Waltham was a challenge. Some came from as far away as Brockton and left as early as 4:30 a.m. to arrive in Waltham on time. On more than one occasion, Dr. Denis and Guichard rented vans at their own expense to transport migrants to and from the training sessions. “They make me want to help them because they want it so much,” she explains. “They are my motivation.”
Dr. Ridiane Denis
CBS Boston
She understands their determination. Dr. Denis was born in Boston but spent her young life in Haiti. At 11, she moved to Massachusetts permanently but continued to visit relatives in Haiti. The Haiti of her childhood, she says wistfully, was a paradise. “The Haiti I know is not there right now. I hope that one day it is,” she said. The migrants fleeing Haiti believe they can build a better life here.
Her goal is to help Haitian migrants become independent and contribute to their new home country. For four weeks, she split the day’s training-and the class itself–into two parts. All students received the same material. Students who needed extra language support got it. The first part of the day focused on life skills-taking public transportation, using an ATM, and dressing for New England winters. They practiced conversational English. For the second half of the day, they focused on clinical training. Medical terminology and word usage (“I have an ache. I have a headache. I have a runny nose.”) how to use medical equipment and-most importantly-CPR.
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Dr. Denis could feel the students’ excitement as they learned because, she says, they knew what acquiring the skills could mean for their future. “We weren’t even done with the training, and they were already asking, ‘What other certification can we get? We want to grow. We want more.’” The migrants who joined the program came from all walks of life. Most fled Haiti because of the violence and instability. Many left behind family members and careers. Some were nurses and medical technicians in Haiti. Guirlande Lubin was an administrative secretary with USAID. She says she left Haiti to save her own life. “Haiti is too dangerous. Too many gangs,” she explained with the interpretive help of fellow migrant Claudel Esteve. She moved to Massachusetts to live with her sister and nieces and found a supportive community in MAIR’s training program. She also found a job.
Once the four-week session was over, Gabriel gave the students three-day internships and hired two of the graduates. Guirlande is one of them. “We had to lead by example,” he explains. “It’s one thing to give the training. But after the training, if there’s no opportunity, the training means nothing. So, it was very important to our organization to open our space but also to provide employment opportunities. It made it real. And it also sends a message to other people out in the Commonwealth to really… Come on, come on! We can do this as one big Commonwealth!”
In all, Gabriel has hired five migrants at Opportunities for Inclusion. He says they are exceptional workers-dedicated, committed and compassionate. Claudel, who was a law student in Haiti, calls the facility his “second home.” He likes the clients, his co-workers, and the work. He says it fills him with a sense of purpose. He sends part of every paycheck back to Haiti for his mother, father, and sister. He also sends them videos and prays that, one day, they will also be able to live in the United States. “Every day I take in this country I am happy,” he said.
For most of the past year, the number of Massachusetts job openings has moved between roughly 225,000 and 260,000. Many of those openings have proven difficult to fill. Gabriel points to the migrant population as part of the solution. “This is not a migrant crisis. This is a migrant opportunity,” Gabriel said. “We need to look at it from a different perspective.”
Dr. Denis agrees. She applauds state efforts to expedite working papers (including clinics designed to fast-track processing times) but says the typical months-long wait is discouraging for migrants who want to provide for themselves. “I think if we can-in any way, shape, or form-integrate them into the work force as quickly as possible, I think definitely we would see a change. The shelters won’t be as overwhelmed. The system won’t be as stressed,” Dr. Denis said.
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Many of the migrants who became certified in her first training session are still looking for work. Dr. Denis and her volunteers keep in touch with them-leading conversational English discussions and job search sessions on Zoom. Right now, she has 42 migrants on a waiting list for the next session and is looking for a new training space. Much as she appreciated the Waltham space, she is looking for something more centrally located. She says it doesn’t have to be fancy. “Just a room with chairs and tables. That’s all,” she said.
Dr. Denis marvels at the migrants’ resilience. She believes in them and their ability to succeed. A year from now she hopes to have trained thousands of migrants who drive past her in their own cars on their way to their homes. “Seeing them providing for their family. Seeing a smile on their faces when they get that first paycheck. Getting a call saying thank you. That’s what makes it worth it for me,” she said.
There were many thank yous during the graduation ceremony. Their gratitude was humbling. “Very humbling to see that I could actually make a difference-or try to make a difference-in somebody’s life.” Dr. Denis continued, “Even if it’s a drop in the bucket, it makes me feel like I’m helping. That’s the most important thing for me.”
For more information about Massachusetts Integrative Resources visit mairconnect.org
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Lisa Hughes
Award-winning journalist Lisa Hughes anchors WBZ-TV News weekdays at 5, 6 and 11 p.m. with co-anchor David Wade.
Good morning! We’ve got snow on tap for today, which will linger most of the day and night across southeastern Massachusetts. We’ll dry out in the early evening for most of the rest of eastern Massachusetts, with north central Massachusetts drying out the quickest.
Snow will be widespread throughout the morning and into the early afternoon. As we get to the late afternoon, snow becomes more isolated over central Massachusetts but is still hanging around the coast, southeast Mass. and the Cape and islands.
Into the evening, the snow will become ocean-enhanced over southeast Mass. and the Cape/islands.
That’s where totals will be the highest.
4 to 6 inches of snow is expected there by late Sunday night.
For the rest of us, just a chance for a few inches.
After this storm it’s all about the cold wind. Monday’s lows will drop to the teens with highs in the mid 20s. But a biting wind will make it feel only like the negative single digits in the morning and the teens in the afternoon. Bundle up! At least the sun will be out.
Tuesday is looking mostly sunny and not windy. Lows will drop to the teens with highs in the low 30s. Wednesday, breezy again with a start in the 20s and afternoon temperatures mild in the low 40s. Thursday will be downright warm! We’ll hit the upper 40s with chances for rain in the evening. Friday we’ll reach the low 50s with chances of rain in the morning. Saturday looks dry, partly sunny with highs back to near normal in the mid 30s.
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FILE – A man is using a special electric saw to cut a granite counter in a residential kitchen in preparation for installing a new range top. Getty Images
A Massachusetts man has been diagnosed with a life-altering lung disease linked to popular kitchen countertops.
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health confirmed this week that its first case of silicosis had been diagnosed in a Hispanic man in his 40s who, for the past 14 years, worked for stone countertop fabrication and installation companies.
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What is silicosis?
Big picture view:
Silicosis is a serious, incurable lung disease caused by inhalation of crystalline silica, which is found naturally in granite and other stones. Silicosis can become progressively disabling and sometimes prove fatal. It almost always results from work-related exposures.
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Dig deeper:
Silica dust particles become trapped in lung tissue, causing inflammation and scarring and reducing the lungs’ ability to take in oxygen, according to OSHA.
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Symptoms:
Symptoms of silicosis can include shortness of breath, cough and fatigue. Workers exposed to airborne crystalline silica also are at increased risk for lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and kidney disease.
What they’re saying:
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“Silicosis is a devastating, life-altering disease – and one that is also absolutely preventable,” said Public Health Commissioner Robbie Goldstein, MD, PhD. “Massachusetts employers in industries where workers are exposed to silica dust have a responsibility to protect their workforce, including from harmful airborne dust. No worker should have to suffer from a chronic and insidious lung disease or possibly die because of a preventable exposure at work.”
Tanning beds could triple melanoma risk, new study finds
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Countertop disease
Big picture view:
Crystalline silica commonly occurs in nature as the mineral quartz, and is found in granite, sandstone, quartzite, various other rocks and sand. Cutting, grinding, chipping, sanding, drilling and polishing these natural and manufactured stones can release various levels of crystalline silica dust particles that can be inhaled if proper protections aren’t in place.
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Dig deeper:
Engineered or manufactured stone, also commonly called quartz, is particularly problematic since it has more crystalline silica than natural stone.
By the numbers:
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For example, the average percent of crystalline silica in engineered stone is at least 90% in quartz and engineered stone, vs. a 10-45% makeup in granite, according to an OSHA hazard alert.
What you can do:
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Certain engineering controls, such as water spraying systems or remote-controlled tools, can be used to mitigate risk, as well as by wearing proper respiratory protection.
Silica cases in the U.S.
Big picture view:
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Most engineered stone workers with silicosis in the U.S. were exposed to silica at their jobs for over ten years, although some were exposed for less time.
The backstory:
The first reported case of silicosis in the U.S. associated with exposure to silica dust from engineered stone was identified in Texas in 2014, according to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. Since then, other states have reported hundreds of cases, and dozens of deaths, particularly in California.
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Dig deeper:
In the U.S., most engineered stone workers with silicosis are relatively young, male, and Hispanic/Latino. This largely reflects the demographic composition of this industry’s workforce.
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In 2023, over half of workers in this industry were under 45 years old, nearly three-quarters were men, and more than 1 in 3 were Hispanic/Latino, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
The Source: Information in this article was taken from a Dec. 9, 2025, alert from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. Background information was taken from OSHA. This story was reported from Detroit.
Outdoor dining is out, and igloo dining is officially in.
While winter makes it difficult for diners to enjoy meals outside, several restaurants across Massachusetts break out heated igloos to give guests a chance to still have an outdoor dining experience.
Here’s where you can get that experience for yourself.
206 North Spencer Road
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Black & White Grille has heated igloos for outdoor dining from now until the spring of 2026. The igloos are available daily for lunch and dinner. The igloos fit up to six people, and dining is limited to an hour and 45 minutes. At least two people are required to reserve an igloo, which also comes with a $30 deposit. Reservations can be made online via OpenTable or by calling the business at 508-885-5018.
2 Mercantile St.
Worcester’s first rooftop bar has heated igloos that offer views of downtown. The igloos fit up to six people and can be reserved for up to two hours. Each one costs $50 per party and is available from 4 to 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Reservations, which are required, can be made via OpenTable or by calling The Mercantile at 774-389-5180.
2027 Massachusetts Ave.
From November to April, the Inn at Hastings Park in Lexington offers an igloo dining experience called the “INNgloo Wonderland.” The igloos fit up to six people and are available for lunch Monday through Friday, dinner Monday through Saturday, Saturday High Tea from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Sunday Champagne Brunch from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Each INNgloo features a faux fireplace heater, mini speaker and twinkly lights. It costs $120 to rent. Reservations can be made online or by calling the Inn at 781-301-6655.
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160 Merrimack St.
Take in views of the Merrimack River from Haverhill’s coastal Italian restaurant, BOSA Coastal Italian. Guests can order from BOSA’s full menu while hanging out in the heated igloos, decorated with LED lights and blankets. The igloos will be open until spring. The igloos fit 6 to 8 people and can be reserved Monday through Thursday from 4 to 10 p.m., Friday from 4 p.m. to midnight, Saturday from 11 a.m. to midnight and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Reservations can be made by calling BOSA at 978-641-3149.
70 Sleeper St.
Boston’s popular rooftop igloos and iceboxes are back at the Rooftop at The Envoy Hotel in Seaport. The igloos, which offer views of Boston’s harbor and skyline, can fit groups of up to six people. The heated igloos also come with blankets for extra warmth. Guests can try one of the rooftop’s seasonal cocktails, such as the Gin-gle Bell Hot Toddy or Winter Garden Spritz, as well. Reservations can be made online for two hours at a time. The phone number is 617-530-1538.
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2261 Dorchester Ave.
The Bowery Bar in Dorchester has three heated yurts on its private patio available in the winter. The yurts can be reserved for lunch Monday through Friday, for dinner any day of the week and for brunch on weekends. Depending on the experience, the yurts have a food and beverage minimum of $100, $150 or $200 for a two-hour booking. Reservations can be made online, and any changes should be made by calling The Bowery Bar at 617-698-2261.
973 Providence Highway
Mick Morgan’s in Sharon has eight igloos available during the winter. The restaurant does not take reservations, so all igloos are available on a first-come, first-served basis. The igloos can fit six people and have no time limit. People can call Mick Morgans at 781-806-0066 for more information.
260 W Water St.
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The igloos at Riverhouse Weir Village in Taunton have returned for the winter season, along with the restaurants’ popular Igloo Gingerbread Nights. The igloos fit up to eight people and cost $50 to reserve. Reservations must be made by calling the restaurant at 774-501-2003.
75 Ferry St.
For $5 a person, you can reserve an igloo at The Tipsy Toboggan in Fall River. The restaurant offers igloos for 5 to 8 people and an igloo cabin with tables for up to 4 people. The winter garden can be booked for brunch, lunch or dinner. Reservations last up to two hours and can be made online. The phone number is 508-567-0550.
Did we miss any? Please let us know at dcifarelli@masslive.com.
