Helping immigrant and refugee women succeed
There are 2 million immigrants and refugees currently in the U.S. who have college degrees from their home countries but are unemployed or working in transition jobs.
2021 Grantee Upwardly Global seeks to eliminate employment barriers for immigrant and refugee professionals and advance the inclusion of their skills into the U.S. economy.
Creating Career Opportunity in Southern California
Alya Michelson and Michelson Philanthropies are partnering with Upwardly Global, a nonprofit dedicated to eliminating employment barriers for immigrant and refugee professionals and advancing the inclusion of their skills into the U.S. economy, to launch their first all-female cohort in Southern California that will help place recently immigrated women into successful careers in the U.S.
Championing Stories and Addressing Inequality: FirstGen Grants Support and Uplift Immigrant Women
FirstGen is honored to announce the recipients of its inaugural $25,000 FirstGen Spark Grant program. The Foundation for California Community Colleges and the Society of Refugee Healthcare Providers both advocate for women who identify as refugees, immigrants, and migrants by providing access to services they are often denied—the resources, support, and care that give these women the greatest chance to thrive in their new home.
Upwardly Global Program Offerings and Goals
Training
Cohort members will have access to one-on-one career coaching, resume-building tools, training to improve their proficiency in workplace English, and opportunities to gain technical skills in their current profession or in a new, high-demand field.
Job Placement
Through training programs and extensive employment networks, all cohort members will receive job placement assistance. Upwardly Global has helped more than 7,500 immigrants and refugees find professional work in their fields.
Income Growth
The average annual income of applicants is $12,000 or less. After completing their coursework and being placed successfully with new employment, cohort graduates earn an average starting salary of $60,000 a year.
“Immigrant women bring immense talent and experience to the U.S. workforce. We are thrilled to embark on a new partnership with Alya Michelson and Michelson Philanthropies, who are dedicated to ensuring immigrant and refugee women have equal opportunity. Through this partnership we will be able to provide our services to a new cohort of women in Los Angeles and ensure they are able to fully contribute their talent to the L.A. workforce.”
— Jina Krause-Vilmar, President & CEO of Upwardly Global