Nurturing Success Stories for Immigrant and Refugee Women

In partnership with Michelson Philanthropies Co-Chair Alya Michelson, Upwardly Global is growing its efforts to expand professional opportunities for immigrant women in Southern California.

LOS ANGELES, June 2, 2021 - A grant from Michelson’s new FirstGen Initiative will underwrite a new cohort of Upwardly Global’s Career Skills Program for up to 10 immigrant women in and around Los Angeles. The program includes personal advising from an experienced career coach, online courses to improve U.S. workplace skills, training and certification opportunities in high-demand fields, and connections to top employers, industry experts, and like-minded professionals. 

By the end of the program, which is typically completed in six to 12 months, participants will emerge with the training and skills to be placed into jobs that pay an average wage of $60,000 a year—dramatically improving their standard of living. With support from Michelson Philanthropies, Upwardly Global will also host two national webinar workshops targeted toward immigrant women, covering topics such as confidence building and speaking up.

“In supporting the professional transitions of immigrant women, we support each of our communities, businesses, and industries, which will benefit from their global perspective.”

-Alya Michelson, co-chair of Michelson Philanthropies

“One in six women working in America today is an immigrant,” says Alya Michelson, co-chair of Michelson Philanthropies and founder of the FirstGen Initiative, which uplifts immigrant women through storytelling that illuminates their contributions and programming that facilitates their pathways to success in their adopted country. 

While an estimated 12.3 million immigrant women are members of the U.S. workforce, many of them are not working to their full potential, often because of barriers to employment that hinder their advancement. There are 2 million immigrants and refugees currently in America who have college degrees from their home countries but are unemployed or working in transition jobs.

“In supporting the professional transitions of immigrant women, we support each of our communities, businesses, and industries which will benefit from their global perspective,” Michelson says. “I am proud to partner with Upwardly Global to launch their first-ever all-female cohort in Southern California, helping immigrant and refugee women find professional success in the country they now call home. There is no better place to pilot this than Los Angeles, a city that thrives on the contributions of immigrants from around the world.”

“Immigrant women bring immense talent and experience to the U.S. workforce,” says Jina Krause-Vilmar, president and CEO of Upwardly Global. “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.”

In the 21 years since its founding, Upwardly Global has placed more than 7,500 immigrant and refugee professionals into the U.S. workforce, adding $358 million to the economy each year.

About Michelson Philanthropies
As a network of private operating foundations, Michelson Philanthropies creates transformative opportunities, makes positive impact investments, and fosters strategic partnerships supporting vulnerable or underserved communities. Reflecting the passions and interests of Dr. Gary K. Michelson and his wife, Alya Michelson, Michelson Philanthropies catalyzes sustainable, scalable, replicable solutions to a host of challenges facing society.

About Upwardly Global
Upwardly Global’s mission is to eliminate employment barriers for skilled immigrants and refugees, and to integrate this population into the professional U.S. workforce. The organization envisions an equitable, more welcoming nation where everyone, including immigrants, refugees, and asylees, can fully contribute and thrive.

CONTACT:
Geoffrey Baum
Geoff@michelsonphilanthropy.org or 310-806-9707