What We Do

Financial Support | Academic Support | Career Development | Holistic Support

MoveUp Initiative

Whether it’s immigration status, lack of a college degree, or working in multiple low-wage jobs just to make ends meet, Upward Scholars students face insurmountable obstacles to making a livable wage.

This is why we have developed programs to better meet our students’ needs today and to prepare for a changing economic landscape in the future. Our MoveUp Initiative gives students the boost they need to move up the economic ladder through education and career development support.

Focusing on our students’ career goals to establish opportunities for them to develop and practice their professional skills, the MoveUp Initiative currently includes the programs below, with more in development.

For more information about any of our MoveUp career development programs or if you wish to participate as a volunteer or lead a workshop related to career development, contact Programs Manager Marlene Torres-Magaña at marlene@upwardscholars.org.

NannyUp

Childcare is readily accessible work for recent immigrants, especially women who have the experience and the expertise to care for children of working parents. But too often, childcare providers get stuck in low-paying positions without the benefits they deserve or the opportunity for professional development and advancement.

The NannyUp program gave talented, nurturing childcare providers the opportunity to advance in their careers as nannies. Originally in partnership with The Institute for Families and Nannies (TIFFAN), our students attended workshops where they were reminded of the vital role they played in the lives of the children they cared for. Plus, they learned to negotiate salaries and benefits that reflected the knowledge they gained while attending college. 

Our partners at TIFFAN launched their very own Nanny-Pro, a professional development course to help childcare providers gain a critical understanding of the job industry with hands-on learning such as practicing job interview skills, understanding the nuances of compensation and benefits, and building resumes. Nanny-Pro Certification to Employment Program further sets expectations for nannies to meet the required health, safety and background check standards required for anyone working in licensed child care. Instead of duplicating resources, Upward Scholars now refers interested students to the Nanny-Pro courses, covers course and related certification fees, and supports them on their journeys to becoming professional caregivers.

¡Habla Más! Spanish Coaches & Interpreters

Upward Scholars students are smart and hard-working. The vast majority are fluent Spanish-speakers who are eager to share their language and cultures with the many people living in the Bay Area who want to learn Spanish from native speakers.

¡Habla Más!, which means “speak more” in Spanish, provides training for Upward Scholars students to serve as paid language coaches for those who want to learn or improve their Spanish. Through this program, our students learn teaching techniques and business strategies to run their own Spanish-language coaching business.

To learn more about the program and hire an ¡Habla Más! coach, click here.

Upward Scholars also trained interested coaches to become paid English-Spanish interpreters and connects them to interpreting opportunities through our own events and partner events. If you need interpretation services for your virtual or in-person event, contact Programs Manager Marlene Torres-Magaña at marlene@upwardscholars.org to connect with ¡Habla Más! Interpreters.

BusinessUp & BusinessPro

Owning a small business is a great way to move up the economic ladder and create lasting multigenerational change in our communities. Unfortunately, immigrants and other populations from low-income households often lack the knowledge, resources, and capital to start their own businesses.

In partnership with Centro Community Partners, we offer BusinessUp—a two-day boot camp—and BusinessPro—a nine-week intensive program—to provide students with focused entrepreneurship resources and opportunities. While both programs help Upward Scholars entrepreneurs develop their business ideas using Centro’s Business Planning App to build personalized, actionable business plans, BusinessPro goes much deeper into each topic and provides entrepreneurs much more one-on-one individualized support. With the guidance of a Centro Entrepreneurship Program trainer, participants of both programs establish their business's mission, vision, and values while learning the basics of market analysis, operations, marketing strategies, and business finance. These tools and resources allow our student entrepreneurs to thoroughly understand the workings of a successful business to help them make more-informed decisions about their own businesses.

To learn about current Upward Scholars student businesses, click here.

JobUp 

Upward Scholars students are talented in a variety of areas — gardening and landscaping, office and home cleaning, personal driving and shopping, and more — and their skills and experience mean they have so much to offer! Through our JobUp Referral Program, we match our students in need of flexible short-term or one-time employment opportunities with community members needing student services. It's a win-win for everyone!

It has never been easier to support local community college students while accomplishing what you need done around your house or office. Learn more about JobUp and how to request a student worker here.