International Institute of St. Louis' Immigrant Career Path Services Launched
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For more information:
Gary Broome Director of Communications & Marketing Phone: (314) 803-0207 Email address: broomeg@iistl.org |
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Immigrant Career Path Services Launched
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ST. LOUIS (Dec. 2, 2019 ) The International Institute of St. Louis announced today that Immigrant Career Path Services are being added to its growing array of employment preparation and placement services for immigrant and refugee professionals.
"The addition of Immigrant Career Path Services will now make it possible for immigrant professionals to more quickly re-enter their career fields in the U.S.," said International Institute of St. Louis President & CEO Anna E. Crosslin. "St. Louis has a number of immigrant professionals who are faced with real and perceived barriers which to date have limited their ability to find work in their field again."
Among the services of the new Immigrant Career Path Services Program are:
The program will provide such career path services for immigrants who are already work-authorized. Fees may be required for tuition, classes, and related recertification costs at other local educational institutions.
"The St. Louis Mosaic Project of the St. Louis Economic Development Partnership has a Professional Connector Program and a new job shadowing program for unemployed foreign-born professionals," said Mosaic Executive Director Betsy Cohen. "Now we and IISTL can jointly assist these professionals more quickly land a job in the St. Louis market, benefiting the immigrant and the community-at-large."
The new program vastly expands service eligibility. The Institute's current refugee career pathways services program is limited to refugees, asylees, SIVs, entrants, and Amerasians who have been in the U.S. for less than five years. Now all immigrants including refugees who have been in the community for more than five years can receive the aforementioned services.
"Every year, the St. Louis region misses out on $57 million in lost earnings due to brain waste from immigrants, including refugees, who are working in low-skilled jobs despite being highly skilled," Anna Crosslin noted. "Addressing brain waste in our region will assist not only skilled-immigrants themselves and act as a talent attraction tool, but will also assist our region's employers who are struggling to access the skilled talent they need to grow their businesses in our region."
The program is now being funded by a collaborative of local businesses, charitable organizations, and grants.
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About International Institute of St. Louis
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The International Institute has provided resettlement and integration services for nearly every new immigrant population in the St. Louis region since 1919. Annually, more than 6,000 immigrants and refugees learn English, find jobs, become resettled and start businesses with our help. We build a strong, more global St. Louis by promoting the value of immigrants and multicultural inclusion. Our annual Festival of Nations attracts more than 100,000 visitors. Learn more about us at www.iistl.org.
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