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NUPIP Featured Fellow:

Zoya Kolkin, Upwardly Global

Zoya (second row, second from right) and the staff of Upwardly Global at their most recent career summit.

Zoya's Story: Upwardly Global is an award-winning organization that improves access to economic self-sufficiency for new immigrants and helps employers integrate immigrants into their workforces. According to the Migration Policy Institute, there are at least 1.3 million immigrants currently in the U.S. who are college-educated, permanently work-authorized, and poor. In Illinois, immigrants comprise 13.6% of the population. In their home countries, they were business professionals, educators, doctors, and engineers. However, facing cultural and systemic barriers in the U.S., they are disproportionately relegated to low-skill, low-wage jobs such as nannies, cab drivers and fast food workers—if they are employed at all. This underutilization leads to higher and longer welfare usage, secondary impacts on children, loss of morale and hope and the marginalization of immigrants into a long-term underclass.  Additionally, this leads to significant disparities within our communities and further breaks down our ability to bolster supportive, thriving Chicago neighborhoods. Our mission is driven by the belief that this systemic impoverishment is a waste of global talent and comprises the American Dream.

As a PIP fellow, I am thrilled to be working at Upwardly Global. After completing my undergraduate practicum for Northwestern in the UpGlo office in San Francisco two summers ago, I knew this organization's mission, work culture, and energy met my expectations for an effective non-profit. Since April 2010, when I first started my fellowship, I have coached immigrant professionals from all over the world on their job search strategy. I have conducted practice interviews, edited resumes and cover letters, and attended networking events all over Chicago. In these seven months, I have also engaged with employers to connect them to UpGlo's diverse talent pool and encourage them to hire internationally-experienced, highly-skilled professionals. 

My favorite part of working at Upwardly Global is undoubtedly the people that I get to work with. The staff are incredibly resourceful and innovative, the volunteers are dedicated, and the job seekers are inspiring. Each day, I learn more about the barriers immigrant professionals face in restarting their lives in the U.S. As we work to alleviate these obstacles, I know that we are making the American Dream a reality for our job seekers. 

If you are interested in getting involved with Upwardly Global, feel free to email me at zoya@upwardlyglobal.org or check us out online at www.upwardlyglobal.org. 

Click here to see last year's featured fellows.