From an eight-year-old immigrant to CEO of Dorcas International Institute
When Milagro Sique arrived at Rhode Island College, she planned to become a clinical psychologist. Instead, her RIC education became the beginning of a career in social work and nonprofit leadership that would eventually lead her to become the CEO of Dorcas International Institute, one of Rhode Island’s most influential organizations serving immigrants, refugees and low-income families.
Her journey – from an eight-year-old immigrant to CEO – is inspirational, but for Sique, her story is about more than professional achievement; it is about showing others what is possible when they have access to education, mentorship and opportunity.
When Sique arrived in the United States, she spoke only Spanish. She had to learn a new language and adapt to a new culture, while watching her mother work tirelessly to build a better future for her family; her mother’s sacrifices taught her that education could change the course of a family’s history.
“I was raised by a single mother who brought us to the United States for a better life,” says Sique. “She worked two or three jobs because she was the only provider. And she always told me, ‘Study so you can have a better life. Look at me. I’m your mirror.’”
For years, Sique wondered what her mother meant. One day, she finally asked. Her mother explained: “Don’t be like me. Go to school. Get yourself a good education so one day you can be behind a desk and not working yourself to exhaustion.”
Growing up in New York City, Sique found teachers and mentors who recognized her potential and encouraged her to pursue opportunities she might not otherwise have imagined.
“My third-grade teacher, Ms. Pheebles, was very welcoming and she did all that she could to help me learn English,” says Sique. “The director of a youth program – who I’m still in contact with – not only encouraged me but really pushed me to think about higher education as an opportunity. I’m thankful for the teachers that cared and for that youth organization that made a difference.”
By age 16, Sique was tutoring English learners. She was becoming the kind of mentor she had once needed herself.
That commitment to helping others became a defining part of her career. It led her to Rhode Island College, initially with the plan of becoming a clinical psychologist, but she discovered social work and found a calling in helping others.
Over the past 20 years – including 12 at Dorcas – she has worked with families facing housing instability, disabilities, substance abuse and economic hardship. At Dorcas, she held roles in client services, administration and operations, gaining a deep understanding of the organization.
“At Dorcas, I was recruited to be a psychologist-educator and managed around five organizations providing services to families and youth,” she says. “Something that inspires me is that I could make a difference in a child’s life.”
For Sique, becoming CEO is more than a professional milestone.
“I wanted to be a role model for all the little girls that came to this country when they were eight years old and didn’t know that they could be this person,” she says.
Nearly two months after taking the helm at Dorcas, Sique was invited to be the keynote speaker for Women’s History Month at Wheaton College. Approximately 90 students, faculty and community members attended.
After her speech, and to her surprise, several young women approached her and said, “Thank you. Seeing someone who looks like you in this position gives us hope.”
In that moment, Sique realized she had become the person she once needed. “This is what I’m here to do,” she says. “I’m doing this to show there’s a lot more of us who are capable. We can be CEOs.”
Today, Sique is focused on strengthening Dorcas’ mission and expanding its impact. She wants to ensure that today’s newcomers have the same chance to succeed that others once gave her.
“I see leadership not as a position of authority, but as an opportunity to empower others,” she says. “My personal achievement is to support youth organizations because they’re the ones that shape who someone’s going to be tomorrow.”
Her connection to Rhode Island College continues. Sique serves on the advisory committee for RIC’s School of Social Work, helping support the next generation of social workers.
When asked what advice she would give young people, Sique encourages them to recognize the value they can bring to their communities. “Don’t underestimate what you can give,” she says. “Whether you speak English or don’t speak English, the community you’re from needs you. They need you in your language, and they need your support.”
She also encourages young people to continue their education “because no one can take your education away from you,” she concludes.