At Holyoke Community College (HCC), the mission of advancing equity, inclusion, and workforce opportunity is more than a motto; it’s a daily practice. With a diverse student body and over 800 English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) learners served annually, HCC recognized a persistent challenge: too many immigrant and refugee professionals were unable to reclaim their careers despite their extensive qualifications and work experience.
That’s where the partnership with Upwardly Global (UpGlo) has made a transformative difference.
A Natural Fit: UpGlo Meets HCC’s ACE Program
HCC’s Accelerated Career English (ACE) program, a 12-week intensive program designed to help advanced ESOL students transition into professional pathways, found a natural complement in Upwardly Global’s resources. In 2024, UpGlo reached out to HCC with a proposal to integrate its professional upskilling platform into HCC’s existing alumni programming. The HCC ACE team was eager to learn more to ensure the model fit their needs and quickly realized the unique value of the collaboration.
“After going through Upwardly Global’s orientation, we saw how well their model could deepen and extend what we were already offering. It aligned perfectly with our mission,” shared Pesha Black, Director of ESOL at HCC.
The resulting program, Professional Pathways: Career English & Industry Certification, blends HCC’s student-centered, adaptive ESOL instruction with Upwardly Global’s career-focused curriculum and industry certifications. Through this model, students participate in synchronous weekly classes and access high-value courses through platforms like Coursera and eCornell.
“The synergy is real,” Robin Marion, a Literacy Specialist at HCC, said. “Upwardly Global helps students access certifications in fields like healthcare, logistics, and marketing, while we provide the linguistic and emotional support needed to get through the coursework. It’s been one of the most rewarding journeys we’ve been on.”
Building Confidence and Career Readiness
The structure of the program has proven critical to student success. Weekly check-ins provide space for time and stress management, learning summaries, and professional communication practice.
“These sessions give students the chance to reflect and retain knowledge,” Nicole Lopez, ESOL Literacy Specialist and instructor for the program, said. “We see students go from novices to confident presenters in highly technical fields.”
One such success story is Leonor, a student originally from Cape Verde, who earned a certificate in Digital Marketing & E-Commerce.
“This program helped me find myself in terms of what direction I want to go professionally,” she shared. “I feel more confident speaking, more comfortable with my accent, and ready to move forward.”
Leonor now plans to pursue business management with a long-term goal of opening a center-based childcare program in her community.
Another student entered the program with no background in artificial intelligence but completed an AI in Hospitality course. “Two weeks ago, she spontaneously gave a detailed summary on large language models,” Nicole recalled. “She sounded like an expert.”
Collaboration Behind the Scenes
Behind these student victories is a responsive, collaborative team effort. HCC staff were particularly impressed with Upwardly Global’s responsiveness and ability to work with them to create a curriculum that suited their students’ needs.
“Larena [from UpGlo] was phenomenal,” Nicole said. “What I found to be super helpful was that she actually visited both of our classrooms and did an orientation with students. She was extremely patient and walked through everything. She offered to come as often as needed. If we emailed, we got a response right away. I mean, we couldn’t have asked for anyone better.”
Looking Ahead: Expanding Pathways Across Massachusetts
Looking ahead, the HCC team sees potential for expansion, particularly through asynchronous options to reach more learners across Massachusetts.
“Our students are motivated, and the demand is there,” Pesha said. “The partnership allows us to be pathway builders in a very real sense.”
Ultimately, this collaboration is about transformation. When immigrant and refugee students have access to targeted support, job search skills, and recognized credentials, they can achieve their goals.
Let’s Build a More Inclusive Workforce Together
Inspired by this story? Join the growing number of organizations unlocking global talent and helping immigrants reclaim their careers in the U.S. Whether you’re ready to explore partnership opportunities, request a demo, or just learn more — our team is here to help you take the next step. Connect with us today and discover what’s possible!