The best partnerships are built over time, tested in moments when the work gets hard, and shaped by trust.
Since 2022, Upwardly Global and IRIS have been working together to help immigrant professionals in Connecticut return to their careers. What began through a Switchboard connection has grown into a steady, evolving collaboration grounded in aligned missions and shared beliefs.
“We reached out to all the clients of ours that we know have higher degrees and have very good English to try to get them interested in the program,” says Aniko Szabo, Associate Director of Employment Services.
Even in a moment when new arrivals have slowed, the commitment hasn’t. The focus has simply shifted toward the individuals already here, ready for that next step.
A Platform That Opens Doors
For many jobseekers, the challenge is translating years of professional experience into a resume that resonates in a new country and professional environment.
The UpGlo Learning platform has become a key part of IRIS’s support for jobseekers navigating the U.S. workforce. With over 100 registrations and 21 job placements, the numbers tell one story, but the real impact lives in what happens between those milestones.
As Patricia Tynan, Employment Manager at IRIS, explains, “We are trying to improve their self-sufficiency by helping them learn how to navigate the U.S. job market.”
Just as important, the platform fills a gap that many organizations don’t always have the capacity to address.
“Your programming from day one allowed us to provide an area of expertise that we didn’t necessarily have as a team, so they could also help themselves and get better jobs and jobs that are aligned with their skill set,” Patricia shares.
What Progress Really Looks Like
Sometimes progress is winding, with success resulting in the capacity to persevere.
Abdul is a mechanical engineer who arrived in the U.S. and, like many internationally trained professionals, started far below his skill level, in a factory and earning minimum wage.
As he engaged with the UpGlo platform, his skill set and confidence began to shift. He started applying for new roles on his own. He moved from one job to another, each step getting closer to where he wanted to be.
“He didn’t wait for us,” Aniko recalls. “I think he got the confidence from Upwardly Global. He learned the skills, and he just went out there.”
Today, Abdul is working in the mechanical engineering field again, earning more than he ever has, and preparing to pursue a master’s degree.
Expanding the Circle
In the wake of funding challenges and adversity due to shifting federal policies, IRIS has significantly reduced its staff and merged departments. Despite these challenges, they continued to find ways forward by reaching back out to existing clients and re-engaging their community.
IRIS already has deep and productive partnerships with a wide range of community colleges, adult education centers, and other immigrant-serving groups, and there are exciting new grant funding sources on the horizon to deepen and expand those key partnerships across Connecticut, giving more immigrant professionals access to the tools, the knowledge, and the support they need to move forward.
“This allows us to partner with other organizations and really try to expand our reach,” Patricia explains. “And we love Upwardly Global’s program. We are happy with our partnership. It’s why we keep signing on.”
