UPWARDLY GLOBAL LAUNCHES NEW ONLINE RESOURCES TO HELP COMPANIES ADDRESS THE GROWING NEED FOR IMMIGRANT INCLUSION IN THE WORKFORCE

Nonprofit provides access to qualified immigrant jobseekers and best-practices toolkit to effectively increase workforce diversity

San Francisco, CA - May 4, 2004 - In its continuing efforts to assist American employers in building a more ethnically inclusive and diverse workforce, Upwardly Global announces the launch of its new website, www.upwardlyglobal.org, and Employer Network services. The first of its kind, Upwardly Global's online database gives national employers immediate access to highly qualified, pre-screened and work-authorized candidates who reside in the United States. Members of Upwardly Global's Employer Network also gain access to a comprehensive toolkit, "Winning with World Class Talent", that outlines best practices in effectively recruiting, assessing, interviewing and integrating immigrant professionals into their companies. Companies such as Wells Fargo and BEA Systems have incorporated these solutions into their human resources practices.

Given that immigrants will account for 50% of all new U.S. workers by 2006, managing a workforce that is culturally and ethnically diverse is a necessary competency that national companies must learn to hone. Now, employers have instant access to an untapped pool of immigrant candidates who are 'graduates' of Upwardly Global's full range of career services that prepare underemployed immigrants to find growth positions that match their education, skills and experience. Upwardly Global's toolkit enables employers to meet the challenges of becoming culturally competent, covering topics such as "The business case for including immigrants in your diversity plan", as well as best practices and workplace scenarios in recruiting, sourcing, evaluating and managing immigrants.

Derrick Carr, Manager of Staffing & Retention of the California State Automobile Association, an Upwardly Global Employer Network Member says, "Developing a diverse workforce gives us a competitive advantage for many reasons, especially because we serve a growing diverse customer base, including immigrants. Our partnership with Upwardly Global gives us the guidance, expertise and practical tools to be able to effectively continue to build and foster our diverse workforce and culture." CSAA has successfully placed two immigrant employees through Upwardly Global's services, and CSAA received Upwardly Global's 2003 Champion for Immigrant Inclusion Award for its demonstrated understanding of the value of immigrant professionals and efforts to integrate them into their corporate workplace.

About Upwardly Global

Upwardly Global, a San Francisco-based nonprofit, works to increase ethnic inclusion and diversity in the American workforce by helping highly-skilled immigrants, refugees and asylees to re-build their careers in the United States, while connecting American employers with this untapped pool of qualified job candidates. Upwardly Global offers a full range of career services to immigrant jobseekers, including practical workshops in interviewing, resume writing and job searching, access to professional networks, career counseling and mentoring by American professionals who serve as volunteers. As the premier resource for national employers in developing a diverse workforce, Upwardly Global educates members of its Employer Network on best practices in recruiting, evaluating and integrating immigrants through seminars, access to pre-screened jobseekers with an online database and a comprehensive toolkit, "Winning with World Class Talent". For more information, visit www.upwardlyglobal.org.

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Contact:
Valerie Cunningham
650-814-7830
valerie@upwardlyglobal.org