We’re nearing six months into 2022 – it is hard to believe how quickly the year is flying by.
Upwardly Global has been steadfastly pursuing our goal of integrating immigrant and refugee professionals into our workforce. We dug deep in the new population of Afghan allies; some 90,000 continue to resettle in the U.S. after leaving their home country last year. We expect Ukrainians fleeing the conflict with Russia to start coming to the U.S. as part of the new sponsorship program, and are working in close partnership to prepare to support their ability to find good jobs that match their skills.
Our Vice President of Programs Jennie Murray and I just returned from a fact-finding mission to Warsaw last week – where more than 3.6 million Ukrainian refugees have landed. We met with U.S., European and UN representatives, multinational companies, and amazing organizations and individuals on the ground supporting humanitarian operations, providing safe spaces for Ukrainians, and addressing mental health needs.
The #1 take away: there is a very significant need for career pathways support for Ukrainians on the ground in Poland. We are looking to establish a pilot project in the coming months to connect job seekers with international employers and help them access the professional job market. In this way, Upwardly Global will work with and equip Polish/Ukrainian partners to provide a model for integrating newcomers into the workforce that is aligned with the Polish context.
It was a hard week in the United States too; next to a genuine war zone – it was all the more unfathomable to read about brutal and senseless carnage at home.
Below is a snapshot of our last month. Thank you for your care, activism and support.
Sincerely,
Jina Krause-Vilmar, President and CEO
Mother’s Day 2022: Supporting Immigrant Moms
In honor of Mother’s Day, Upwardly Global showcased amazing working women and caregivers (from Vietnam, Ukraine, and South Sudan) who overcame extraordinary barriers to restart their careers in jobs that align with their education, passion and skill set.
View Au's story above; Au is an Upwardly Global program alum and Board Member who shared why her mother is her greatest inspiration.
Read the stories of other courageous moms here, and please consider donating in honor of a mother in your life. So far we have received donations from 337 individuals amounting to $116,006 towards our $150,000 goal! The funds we raise will support nearly 1,000 women, giving them access to coaching and career training, upskilling, mentorship and networking opportunities.
UPWARDLY GLOBAL IN THE NEWS:
President & CEO Jina Krause-Vilmar Speaks to MSNBC on Ukraine Response
“There is a lot of interest, and it is an exciting time to be launching a sponsorship program.”
On May 1 2022, Upwardly Global CEO & President Jina Krause-Vilmar spoke to MSNBC’s Alicia Menendez (American Voices) on Ukrainian refugees coming into the U.S. as the Biden Administration announced a new plan to expedite their entry via American citizen’s sponsorship.
Upwardly Global Head of Programs Jennie Murray
Interviewed on “Behind Every Employer” Podcast
Upwardly Global Head of Programs Jennie Murray was featured on the “Behind Every Employer” Podcast, hosted by Anson Green and Jeffrey Abramowitz. The special episode focused on Ukraine policy and refugees, and fellow guests included Samantha Howland Zelaya and Helena Coric.
Upwardly Global featured in Al Jazeera:
“How Professional Immigrants Are Reviving the U.S. Midwest”
Upwardly Global has been busy spreading our message globally! We recently talked to international news outlet Al Jazeera on the role immigrants are playing in reviving the economy in parts of the midwest.
“[The increased immigrant population] is a win for us [Americans],” said Jina Krause-Vilmar, the CEO of Upwardly Global, a US non-profit that helps immigrants find jobs in the country. Nearly half of all immigrants coming to the US hold a bachelor’s degree, she noted. “It also creates shared prosperity: We have a lot of data that shows when immigrants settle in a community, they stay in those communities and contribute to them.”
This June 🏳️🌈 , Upwardly Global is celebrating how far we’ve come in advancing the rights of LGBTQ+ people, but also reinvigorating our efforts to continue to fight for equality and against discrimination and hatred. Keep an eye on our social media channels as we post stories of LGBTQ+ immigrants and refugees, how we are working to ensure our jobseekers are welcomed and accepted, and tips for how you can get involved.
Check out this guide on how to best work with LGBTQ+ folks who have experienced displacement from the UNHCR here.
Celebrating Immigrant Heritage Month
June is #ImmigrantHeritageMonth! At UpGlo, we are taking this time to reflect on and honor the contributions that immigrants have made to our communities across the country. We also recognize that too often, immigrants face discrimination, xenophobia, and systemic barriers to skillful employment. That's what makes our work so vital, and why we will always #StandWithImmigrants.
Join us by sharing your story using #CelebratingImmigrants!
It’s Official: Illinois to Create Task Force to Expedite Licensing For Internationally-Trained Healthcare Professionals
The realities facing internally-trained medical professionals trying to restart their careers in the U.S. are challenging, which is why Upwardly Global is hoping to ease the burden for newcomers in states like Illinois, where we recently partnered with the state government on the creation of a new taskforce to address relicensing for immigrants with foreign credentials.
The Illinois General Assembly Senate voted unanimously to create a Taskforce to investigate legislation that can ease pathways for immigrant and refugee doctors and other healthcare professionals, following House approval the week before. Upwardly Global will appoint non profit partners to serve on this Taskforce.
Each year, Upwardly Global hosts its signature Gala event, intended to bring our multicultural and multi-talented community together for an evening of reflection and celebration.
HOLD October 12 for our in-person Gala in NY (tickets will be available shortly; sponsorships and tables can be purchased by contacting Nacllies@upwardlyglobal.org); and EVERYONE should hold the evening of October 26 for our major online Community Event.
This event is the cornerstone of our community. It is the one time each year where we all pause to acknowledge the remarkable achievements of immigrants and refugees, and celebrate the partners who helped make it possible.
Our inherent diversity is our greatest strength. Throughout the pandemic, immigrants’ contributions and innovations have played a critical part in helping us navigate uncertainty. And, when international events impact our domestic community, we responded to the call for support. In doing so, we welcomed scores of Afghan refugees into our program and are supporting a growing number of Ukrainian jobseekers as well.
May 12th marked International Nurses Day! We honored the nurses who have worked tirelessly during the COVID pandemic, risking their own health to keep our communities healthy and save lives.
Amid an ongoing shortage of nurses in the U.S., Upwardly Global works to ensure that foreign-trained healthcare workers can relicense and find employment in the U.S. healthcare sector. Check out our new and updated licensing guides here, and read more about what we are doing to address the shortage of healthcare workers in the United States, including with partners like the Welcome Back centers and Chicago Bilingual Nurses Consortium on nurse support.
Upwardly Global Hosts Public Board Meeting: “How Immigrant and Refugee Women Can Support Workforce Gaps and Strengthen our Communities.”
On May 19th, 2022, Upwardly Global hosted our Public Board Meeting: “How Immigrant and Refugee Women Can Support Workforce Gaps and Strengthen our Communities.” Speakers included Jeanne Batalova, Senior Policy Analyst and Director of the Migration Data Hub from the Migration Policy Institute (originally from Ukraine); Taciana Mello, The Girls on the Road Co-Founder and now N.A. Communications Manager, Corporate Citizenship, Accenture (originally from Brazil); Ivana Mousa, currently at the Arab American Family Support Center (originally a journalist from South Sudan); Zuhal Salim, women’s activist from Afghanistan, now at Upwardly Global; and Upwardly Global CEO Jina Krause-Vilmar.
We’re excited to announce that Lucy Walton is joining the Upwardly Global Board!
Since 2015, Lucy Walton has served and helped lead on the New York Leadership Council for Upwardly Global. She is a Managing Director at Goldman Sachs and has personally mentored and supported Upwardly Global job seekers. Read her full biography here.
Upwardly Global is Hiring!
Interested in working at Upwardly Global? It's a wonderful and deeply committed team and we are growing! Visit our career opportunities page here!
This June 🏳️🌈 , Upwardly Global is celebrating how far we’ve come in advancing the rights of LGBTQ+ people, but also reinvigorating our efforts to continue to fight for equality and against discrimination and hatred. Keep an eye on our social media channels as we post stories of LGBTQ+ immigrants and refugees, how we are working to ensure our jobseekers are welcomed and accepted, and tips for how you can get involved.
June is #ImmigrantHeritageMonth! At UpGlo, we are taking this time to reflect on and honor the contributions that immigrants have made to our communities across the country. We also recognize that too often, immigrants face discrimination, xenophobia, and systemic barriers to skillful employment. That's what makes our work so vital, and why we will always #StandWithImmigrants.
May 12th marked International Nurses Day! We honored the nurses who have worked tirelessly during the COVID pandemic, risking their own health to keep our communities healthy and save lives.
