What We Do
Financial Support | Academic Support | Career Development | Holistic Support
Upward Scholars provides the support adult immigrants need to move up the economic ladder through education and career development.
To better serve the most significant needs voiced by Upward Scholars students, we developed four pillars of student support: financial, academic, career development, and holistic.
Financial Support
Financial support encompasses many fundamental services our students need to continue their education and pursue professional careers. These services help remove students’ barriers, including covering textbooks and course materials, transportation fees, computers, and food assistance. All Upward Scholars students benefit from at least one service under financial support—and most students benefit from several.
For more, go to the Financial Support page.
Academic Support
Academic support makes it possible for our students to thrive in their community college courses. With the help of community volunteers, Upward Scholars provides tutoring and mentoring, an English Conversation Club, peer learning facilitators, transfer and scholarship support, and a Graduation Celebration.
In 2020, when none of the community colleges hosted graduations, Upward Scholars stepped up to celebrate our students virtually with our first Graduation Celebration. The celebration was so popular that it is now an annual event.
Learn more on the Academic Support page.
Career Development
Career development support helps Upward Scholars students explore and prepare for careers where they can earn sustainable salaries and benefits and move up the socioeconomic ladder. Our career development programs include ¡Habla Más! for Spanish coaches, interpreters, and translators; BusinessUp for entrepreneurs; and TeacherUp for aspiring early educators and childcare providers.
Upward Scholars also hires our students and alumni. We expose our students to working professionally in the nonprofit sector as staff or contractors and cultivate strong advocates for themselves, their children, and their community.
Go to the Career Development Support page for more details.
Holistic Support
Holistic support helps our adult immigrant students deal with the many economic, physical, mental, emotional, social, and spiritual hardships that take a toll on their health and well-being. Our holistic support includes our Emergency Fund, small-group and individual counseling, resource navigation and accompaniment, written references, and a student WhatsApp group. It ensures students are safe, healthy, and informed so they can remain focused and progress toward their academic and professional goals.
For more, visit the Holistic Support page.