For many immigrant professionals, arriving in the United States comes with both hope and uncertainty. Degrees, years of experience, and professional expertise don’t always translate right away. Instead, many find themselves taking survival jobs, while wondering if they will ever return to the careers they once had.

In Florida, Hispanic Federation is working to change that reality.

A Mission Rooted in Community and Opportunity

Established in 1990, Hispanic Federation has long been a leader in uplifting Latino communities across the country, supporting millions of individuals and families through education, economic opportunity, and community-based programs. In the Florida and Southeast region, that work includes helping immigrant professionals navigate the U.S. workforce and build pathways toward long-term career success.

A Partnership That Supports Jobseekers Where They Are

When the team began looking for ways to strengthen their workforce programming in 2024, they found a natural partner in Upwardly Global.

“As soon as we started the training, we knew that this was a great program,” says Freddie Agrait, Director of Digital Initiatives for Hispanic Federation in Florida. “We could impact the community in a significant way. This was a new door, a new channel of opportunities.”

That opportunity was clear. Many of the professionals they serve arrive with years of experience yet struggle to find roles that reflect their qualifications. The partnership introduced a structured, career-focused approach that helps bridge that gap.

From the start of the partnership, Hispanic Federation Florida didn’t treat UpGlo’s resources as an add-on. Instead, they fully integrated them into their core programming, embedding career pathways, coaching, and learning tools into how they support participants every day.

Measurable Results, Meaningful Impact

The impact over the past two-plus years has been both measurable and deeply personal: 

  • 154 jobseekers have enrolled in Upwardly Global’s learning platform
  • 120 have progressed through industry-specific pathways
  • 51 have been enrolled in high-demand skilling opportunities
  • 25 have secured roles across industries ranging from healthcare to technology

“The program changes their whole perspective,” Freddie explains. “They start gaining more confidence; they have hope.”

Restoring Confidence 

Sandra Marrero, Workforce Initiatives Program Manager, sees that transformation up close in her work with participants.

“Most of our participants already have a survival job,” she says. “What they’re looking for is something that helps them move forward and get something more aligned to their professional experience.”

Whether it’s identifying relevant certifications or learning how to position their experience so employers recognize it, participants gain a clearer understanding of how the U.S. job market works through UpGlo’s learning platform.

“I’ve never seen a program like this,” Sandra says. “It provides a better understanding of how to be prepared and more competitive.”

From Survival Jobs to Career Breakthroughs

For one participant, that clarity made all the difference.

After arriving in the U.S., Omar, an experienced civil engineer from Venezuela, worked in roles far removed from his professional background. Through Hispanic Federation’s Florida support and UpGlo’s career coaching and training modules, he refined his resume, strengthened his interview skills, and completed a Project Management Certificate.

In August 2025, he secured a Refrigeration Technician role, earning $81,000 annually.

“A lot of immigrants, when they move to the U.S., get stuck in a survival job, and they forget about what they came here for,” Sandra says. “And with this program, it’s like they wake up again and then realize that there is more and that it’s possible.”

Another participant, a nutritionist from Colombia, initially found himself preparing meals to make ends meet. Through the program, he identified that strengthening his English would be key and enrolled in an intensive course at Valencia College while also working on his resume and exploring nutrition-related roles that didn’t require immediate licensure. That focus and persistence paid off. In 2026, he received two job offers, one with Florida Health and another with Second Harvest — roles that would bring him closer to the work he’s passionate about and trained to do. He decided to go with Second Harvest.

Creating Pathways with Purpose

Together, Hispanic Federation Florida and Upwardly Global are creating more than career pathways. They restore confidence, reconnect people to their purpose, and support immigrant professionals in building the futures they came here to pursue.

“Upwardly Global brings in a system, a proven method, a structure, a platform, a group of team members who know what they’re doing,” Freddie says. “Then we provide the channel that connects to the community. It’s a great combination. It’s the right equation, the right way of putting the whole structure together so that we can have more impact.”