Upwardly Global NYC

Nonprofit or community organization

Last modified: June 6, 2008, 11:40 AM

Upwardly Global is a visionary social change organization that provides immigrants, refugees and political asylees the tools and training they need to rebuild their careers in the US. At the same time Upwardly Global creates real opportunity in the American workplace by partnering with companies to promote immigrant inclusion. We address the primary barriers for immigrant professionals: lack of professional networks, unfamiliarity with US job search customs and processes, and employers lack of resources and knowledge necessary to evaluate and hire immigrants. There are 242,000 immigrant professionals in the US who are under-employed, underserved and their human capital is under-utilized. In New York City there are 25K legal immigrants who have a BA/BS but are not working in positions that utilize their education and experience. We are focused on serving legal immigrants, refugees and asylees nearly all of whom have English as a second language and are university educated with significant work experience, yet are currently not working within the career field for which they are trained. Approximately 70% of our clients are underemployed, earning an average of $12 hour or less. Our beneficiaries obtain full-time salaried and benefited positions ranging from $24 to $82 thousand annually. Our program follows on from employment programs that help immigrants find their first survival jobs in the US. Through Upwardly Global they move into family-sustaining positions with advancement potential.