Upwardly Global partners with English Empowerment Center to advance careers
Novelist Sarah MacLean once wrote, “The best partnerships aren’t dependent on a mere common goal but on a shared path of equality, desire, and no small amount of passion.”
Juan Perez, Student Services Coordinator at English Empowerment Center, must have had this quote in mind when he contacted Upwardly Global’s Workforce Partnerships team to attend the English Empowerment Center’s annual Career and Opportunities Fair. Juan says:
“We invite employers and community service providers to connect our students with different opportunities or resources. For many of our students, transportation is a big barrier. Childcare is a big barrier. So, we thought to bring the employers and resources to them.”
English Empowerment Center: Six Decades of Language Education
For over 60 years, English Empowerment Center (EEC) has been providing high-quality English language instruction for adult learners in Northern Virginia and beyond. Each year, EEC serves nearly 2,000 learners, offering English classes, family literacy classes, tutoring, skills-based classes, and career-specific language and literacy training through its specialized Destination Workforce® program. The organization employs experienced, credentialed teachers and highly trained volunteers to deliver to its students smaller class sizes and personalized attention.
Career advancement is a key goal of EEC’s mission. They offer integrated and stand-alone career services to support learners on their career pathways. “We have three offerings throughout the week, where students can work on their resume, prepare for an interview, or work on their learning platform lessons,” Juan says. “We have broken down our process where volunteers prepare our students to write their resume using the supplemental guides provided by Upwardly Global.”
Creating Broader Impact Through Partnership
Empowering immigrants to thrive in their new homes is a goal that Upwardly Global and English Empowerment Center both share. The synergy of this aligned passion was one that both organizations realized. Following EEC’s 2024 Career and Opportunities Fair, Joanne Michaud, Upwardly Global’s Partnerships Development Manager, invited Juan to participate in Upwardly Global’s Workforce Partnership demonstrations to learn more about their online learning tools and professional development training. For Juan and EEC, it was a great match.
“The resources provided by Upwardly Global have been instrumental in structuring our advising program to assist students in their growth,” he says. “Preparing students using the resume and interview guides, we are able to work on their career and job research skills. This allows students to have more knowledge and agency when planning their career, education, and personal life.”
Upwardly Global has pledged to support 25,000 job seekers in 2025 and beyond. Partnerships like this one allow Upwardly Global to expand its reach and bridge the gap of support for organizations that are already deeply connected to communities that Upwardly Global is looking to serve. Joanne shares:
“From the outset, Juan demonstrated strong leadership by involving his team in discovery and implementation, ultimately embedding Upwardly Global’s self-paced modules directly into class schedules. The thoughtful blending of language instruction with Upwardly Global’s learning platform and tools exemplifies how strategic engagement can drive seamless incorporation of existing partner programming and partnership offerings to enhance job search readiness.”
Collaboration in Action
Active participation in monthly check-ins has only deepened the partnership, creating a space for open dialogue, mutual learning, and continuous innovation. From the start of the partnership, EEC embraced integration, embedding Upwardly Global’s tools and resources directly into their advising and career services.
This early and intentional alignment illustrates how a small, community-rooted organization can effectively leverage a partnership to enhance instruction, strengthen students’ workforce readiness, and expand access to real career opportunities. The collaboration not only enriches classroom learning but also equips students with the skills and confidence they need to take meaningful steps toward their professional goals.
Navigating Diversity With Upwardly Global
This spirit of collaboration has extended beyond curriculum design and into daily practice, where EEC staff and volunteers continue to deepen their understanding of how best to support a diverse student population. Reflecting on his experience with Larena Nellies-Ortiz, his account manager at Upwardly Global, Juan shares:
“Working with Larena has been great! Everyone at Upwardly Global has been extremely helpful and resourceful in learning how we can better serve our students. We acknowledge our students have diverse backgrounds in education, training, and work experience. With a population that diverse, I feel working with Upwardly Global has made that challenge easier to navigate.”
Going Far Together
As this partnership continues to evolve, it brings to life a popular African proverb: “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” The collaboration between Upwardly Global and English Empowerment Center exemplifies what’s possible when organizations unite with a shared vision. By working together — sharing tools, expertise, and a deep commitment to the communities they serve — they are not only advancing individual career journeys but also building a more inclusive and empowered workforce, thereby creating prosperity for all.