NEXTPITTSBURGH
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Pennsylvania Women Work’s Refugee and Immigrant Services for Employment assisted 329 immigrants in the fiscal year that ended June 30, up 40% from the prior year, says Kristin Ioannou, executive director of the Friendship-based nonprofit.
“There’s been a big disruption in this space … over the last six months,” says Ioannou. “To see the numbers is shocking.”
About 1,300 refugees and immigrants from 81 countries have participated in the RISE program since it launched a decade ago.
Career coaches meet one-on-one with participants to help match their skills to available jobs.
The top three countries of origin for participants are India, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Afghanistan.
All clients must have documented work authorizations to receive services, says Ioannou.
No participants in RISE have been targeted for arrests or deportations to date, but “the changes that are happening are definitely causing concern and confusion,” she says.
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