Upwardly Global's leadership recently returned from Europe, where we met with scores of Ukrainian women, incredible humanitarian groups, and employers. Public assistance is about to end in Poland: helping refugees into jobs that allow them to earn money to support themselves and to send home could not be more critical. Below is our assessment of the situation and plans we are making at the behest of our partners to share our expertise and build a pilot that will put some 500 Ukrainian women into work that matches their skills.
At home, we are concerned about how the recent Supreme Court decision will add further barriers for immigrant women seeking to restart their careers: almost 50% of our job seekers and alumni. We commit to redoubling our efforts to support them in the coming year.
Most of our staff came together for the first time this month. Their commitment to our mission and their passion was palpable. We are here, and we are here for each other.
Sincerely,
Jina Krause-Vilmar, President and CEO
Upwardly Global Releases Guidelines to Support Ukrainian Women in Poland
Upwardly Global is involved in finding solutions towards workforce inclusion and employment opportunities for Ukrainian women, as their time in displacement extends and cash assistance ends. Most importantly, women need options and flexibility in types of employment. As Ukrainians start to come to the United States, we are gearing up to support them with our full suite of services - from coaching to mentorship, reskilling and networking. This document draws from a recent rapid needs assessment by Upwardly Global leadership to Warsaw in May 2022; it highlights some of the challenges and opportunities facing this population and offers recommendations for strategic programming. Find the PDF guide here.
Action Guide: Upwardly Global Activates Employers to Support Ukrainian Refugees
The international business community has a vital role to play in supporting Ukrainian refugees, and Upwardly Global is well-positioned to not only empower newly arrived Ukrainians, but to engage employers who want to take action. Upwardly Global is pleased to announce the release of a new Action Guide for Employers on supporting Ukrainian refugees. The guide is designed to support employers in taking action now and in the long-term as Ukrainians integrate into the U.S. workforce. Check out the employer guide here.
Welcome.US Launches New Portal to Connect Sponsors and Ukrainian Refugees
Beginning this week, Americans interested in sponsoring refugees from Ukraine can create a profile using this new platform from Welcome.us to connect with Ukrainians looking to relocate to their communities, improving & speeding up the process.
This month, Upwardly Global hosted our first ever all-staff retreat in New York City! Team members from our offices in Washington D.C., Chicago and San Francisco, as well as those working remotely from across the country, joined the three-day DEI working session. Thank you to Accenture and S&P Global for lending us space to meet in their offices, and to all who attended for their participation!
Celebrating Pride 2022: Taciana Lives as Her True Self with New Beginning in the U.S.
“My main goal is to keep trying to make a difference in somebody’s life, [whether] personally or professionally.” Taciana, an Upwardly Global Program Alum, and her wife immigrated to the U.S. from Brazil in 2015, first settling in California before moving to New York in September 2021. Learning to navigate her sexuality, family, and the many nuances of transitioning to the U.S., have all persisted as cornerstones that have continually defined Taciana’s adult life. Within 4 months of working with a job coach through Upwardly Global, Taciana landed a job as the marketing and communications manager at Accenture, a leading information technology and consulting company. Read Taciana’s full story here.
UPWARDLY GLOBAL IN THE NEWS
Lifting Up a Thousand Silent Wives – Op Ed by Afghan Alum Kawser Amine
“After the events of last August, Upwardly Global supported me (and hundreds of other Afghans) in finding a professional job. I joined CHIRLA to assist incoming evacuees and began helping Upwardly Global connect newcomers to professional development. We’ve raised thousands of dollars for women back in Afghanistan. We’re also building an online coalition of Afghan women and their supporters. Through media coverage and newsletters, we’re trying to tell the women of Afghanistan that they are not alone. We haven’t forgotten you, the thousands of silent wives, mothers and daughters.” Read the full article by our Afghan program alum Kawser Amine, printed in multiple outlets, here. To date, Upwardly Global has supported more than 200 Afghan refugees back into good jobs in the United States, adding up to over $13 million in expected annual income for them and their families.
Director of Jobversity Emily Hackerson Speaks on Serving Jobseekers with Professional Backgrounds for Switchboard Tech
For more than two decades, Upwardly Global’s mission has been to eliminate employment barriers for immigrant and refugee professionals and to meaningfully bring their skills into the U.S. economy. We’re grateful to highlight some of the key resources UpGlo can extend to resettlement agencies as we all work to address the most common barriers for job seekers. Click the links below to learn about our resources! Emily Hackerson’s full post is available here.
Reps. Smith and Roybal-Allard Introduce Legislation to Help Immigrants Enter the HealthCare Workforce
Upwardly Global proudly endorses the Immigrants in Nursing and Allied Health Act of 2022 and the International Medical Graduate (IMG) Assistance Act of 2022. The former would help immigrants, regardless of previous health care experiences, receive the financial support needed to enter booth nursing and allied health careers, including nursing, mental and behavioral health, among others related professions. The latter seeks to reduce a variety of systemic barriers that international medical graduates face in pursuing their U.S. medical license. Click here to read more about this legislation.
Save the Date: Upwardly Global Gala 2022
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!
Bridging the Gap for New Americans Act passes Senate
Upwardly Global is excited to announce the Senate passage of the Bridging the Gap for New Americans Act. “The New Americans Act would play a critical role in expanding pathways to careers for immigrants and refugees arriving into the U.S., many of whom have been locked out of obtaining jobs in high-skilled fields because their credentials and training are not recognized domestically,” said Jina Krause-Vilmar, CEO Upwardly Global. Thank you to World Education Services and the IMPRINT Coalition for partnering and helping to lead on this legislation. A version already passed the House in 2021, but it will need to be reintroduced in this form. We are working with allies to see this through into law.
