On Tuesday, March 19th, the Institute on Immigrant Immigration Research and Policy held a webinar examining the workforce development of immigrants as a primary driver of economic mobility, social integration, and civic incorporation in American society. Speakers addressed the barriers and challenges immigrant workers face as they seek to access and maintain employment opportunities that leverage their talents and skills and provide livable wages. This webinar explored the service infrastructure established by the nonprofit sector, which is usually separate from traditional American educational systems. Speakers showcased models of organizations that seek to address under-skilling, upskilling, and advancement. They represent a new paradigm of immigrant workforce development, which includes not only work-based trainings, but coaching, mentoring, and direct services that address basic needs as well as employer engagement to ensure equitable hiring practices, inclusive work environments, and the structuring of workforce development programs that respond to employers’ needs.
►[00:00:06] Introductions
🗣 Guillermo Martinez, Deputy Director & Intergovernmental Liaison, Institute on Immigrant Integration Research and Policy
🗣 Dina Refki, Executive Director, Institute on Immigrant Integration Research and Policy
►[00:04:06] Presentation | Workforce Development Policies for Immigrants
🗣Joaquin Sanchez Gomes, Immigrant Integration Fellow, Institute on Immigrant Integration Research and Policy
►[00:14:49] Keynote Remarks | Jina Krause-Vilmar
🗣 Jina Krause-Vilmar, President and CEO at Upwardly Global
► [00:36:11] Presentation | Foreign Credential Recognition Models: Pros & Cons
🗣Ken Silverman, Immigrant Integration Fellow, Institute on Immigrant Integration Research and Policy
►[00:47:41] Round Table Discussion
🗣Moderator: Dina Refki, executive director, Institute on Immigrant Integration Research and Policy
🗣 [00:48:17] Paul Feltman, Deputy Executive Director for Global Talent Policy and Programs, World Education Services
🗣 [00:56:20] Jina Krause-Vilmar, President and CEO at Upwardly Global
🗣[01:01:21] Mirvet Al Bassam, Lead Job Coach, International Institute of Buffalo
🗣[01:06:48] Bob Doyle, Assistant Director, Grants and Special Programs, International Institute of Buffalo
🗣[01:11:36] Naomi Alboim, Senior Policy Fellow, Canada Excellence Research Chair in Migration and Integration, Toronto Metropolitan University
►[01:31:29] Closing Remarks
🗣 Dina Refki, Executive Director, Institute on Immigrant Integration Research and Policy