Programs and Partners
- All Blog Posts
- Credential Advice
- Funding and Financing for Impact
- Welcoming Communities in Action
- Worker and Employer Strategies
- Adult Education
- Building Skills
- Career Pathways
- Credential Advice
- Credential Evaluations
- Culture & Experience
- Economic Mobility
- Employer Practices
- Employment
- Featured Articles
- Featured Articles
- Financial Access and Inclusion
- Funding and Financing for Impact
- Health Care
- Immigrant Engagement
- Immigrant Leadership
- Immigration
- IMPRINT
- Innovative Finance
- International Students
- Internationally Educated Teachers
- Licensure Pathways
- ONA Network
- Partnerships
- Policy
- Policy Advocacy
- Policy and Policy Advocacy
- Programs and Partners
- Promising Practices
- Refugee Resettlement
- SIIP
- Skill Underutilization
- UntappedTalent
- Welcoming Communities in Action
- WES Help
- WES News
- WES Style Guide | Brand Guides
- WES Style Guide | Content Style Guide
- WES Style Guide | Development
- What's New
- Worker and Employer Strategies
- Worker Cooperatives
- Workforce Education
- Workforce Inclusion
- Workforce Integration
- Wraparound Supports
How Two Immigrant-Led Organizations Are Harnessing an Opportunity to Create a More Inclusive Health Care Workforce
Trevor Shealy |
The United States faces growing health care workforce shortages, which are only expected to increase in the coming decade with projections estimating a national shortfall of over 900,000 nurses and up to 124,000 physicians by the year 2030. To address this issue, analysts and policymakers have begun looking to immigrants and refugees with health […]
Promoting Immigrant and Refugee Workforce Inclusion: In Michigan, State Government Takes the Lead
Trevor Shealy |
Summary: Michigan’s Innovative Approach: Michigan’s Office of Global Michigan has taken a proactive approach to promote workforce inclusion for immigrants and refugees. This includes creating resources such as occupational licensing guides and collaborating with other agencies and organizations. Participation in National Initiatives: Global Michigan’s involvement in national initiatives like the Skilled Immigrant Integration Program (SIIP) […]
Celebrating the Completion of the SIIP 2022-2023 Program Year
Trevor Shealy |
In early August, the 2022-2023 Skilled Immigrant Integration Program (SIIP) cohort held its final quarterly call, culminating the successful launch of a new iteration of the program’s structure. The 16 participating communities[1] collaborated in sub-cohorts that centered on four thematic focus areas: Advancing and Retaining Internationally Skilled Employees, Creating Career Navigation Tools and Resources, Developing […]
Exploring Immigrant Narratives, Innovative Program Approaches, and Digital Inclusion at the 2023 COABE Conference
Stefanie Vasquez |
Mariam, originally from the Republic of Guinea in West Africa, had a dream of working as a fashion designer. After moving to Atlanta with her husband in 2016, she graduated from MyCity ATL, a program that empowers immigrants and refugees through engagement sessions with city agencies. In 2019, Mariam met Valerie Mills, the senior manager […]
Putting DEI in Action: A SIIP Training on Job Quality
Trevor Shealy |
Last month, members of the Skilled Immigrant Integration Program (SIIP) network participated on a panel that explored the importance of job quality in building a more equitable economy that is inclusive of immigrant and refugee workers. Led by Brooke Valle, a technical assistance provider for SIIP’s Workforce Board Partnerships cohort, the panel included Erica Bouris, […]
Empowering Internationally Trained Immigrants: Insights from a Group Mentoring Program
Stefanie Vasquez |
In 2022, WES Global Talent Bridge set out to lead a new mentoring initiative. Using a train-the-trainer model, the Global Talent Leadership Network (GTLN), an initiative of WES Global Talent Bridge, and JVS Toronto provided technical assistance over ten months to three organizations. The initiative supported two program rounds of industry-specific group mentoring. One Immigrant’s […]
New York City Newcomer Fair Supports Immigrants and Refugees in Navigating Career Services
Debra Means-West |
Many newcomers to New York City face a significant challenge: navigating local programs and services designed to help them rebuild their lives and achieve greater financial security. In this context, opportunities to form in-person connections are invaluable. That’s why WES Global Talent Bridge, in partnership with more than 15 national and local immigrant- and refugee-serving […]
Celebrating Immigrant and Refugee Educators in Maine on National Teacher Appreciation Day
Trevor Shealy |
In 2015, Nabaa Alobaidi resettled in Portland, Maine, having fled her home in Iraq as a refugee. With a master’s degree and experience practicing interior design and teaching at the university level, she hoped to continue her craft and her love of teaching. At a time when schools across the country are facing chronic teacher […]
Synergy Texas Amplifies Models for Supporting Internationally Trained Students and Workers
Mikaela Santos and Trevor Shealy |
Synergy Texas is a network of adult education and literacy (AEL) providers working to address academic and employment barriers for internationally trained professionals in Texas. Brought together in 2019 through WES Global Talent Bridge’s Skilled Immigrant Integration Program (SIIP), Synergy Texas’ network includes community college educators and administrators, adult education providers, and other immigrant and […]
Inclusive Career Pathways for Immigrant and Refugee Women: Building Stronger Communities Through Equitable Opportunities
Stefanie Vasquez |
A confident woman with a radiant smile, Arlene Mora-Rausseo describes her journey from working as a surgeon in Venezuela to arriving in the United States as a refugee. Born in Maracaibo, Venezuela, Arlene credits her mother with helping her excel in school and college. In 1993, she graduated from medical school at the University of […]
WES Partners with Five Communities Across Canada to Find Solutions to the Skills Shortage
Communities across Canada are struggling to find the talent they need. With the labour force expected to be close to 100 percent dependent on immigration to fuel growth, the communities’ need for immigrant talent has never been greater. In response to the ongoing Canadian labour crisis, WES launched #ImmigrantsWork to work with community partners in […]
Learning Beyond the Classroom: Securing Career Development Opportunities for Emerging Immigrant Talent
Immigrant Youth and the Canadian Labour Market Expanding access to work-integrated learning (WIL) opportunities is essential to improving post-pandemic employment outcomes for immigrant youth and helping to ensure their long-term success. When coupled with academic pursuits, early participation in the workforce strongly increases the likelihood of sustained labour force inclusion in occupations related to a […]