Urban Upbound Celebrates National Immigrant Heritage Month
By Tori Kammer, Development & Communication Manager
June is National Immigrant Heritage Month — a month-long celebration that allows communities to explore their own heritage and celebrate the shared diversity of our nation. During National Immigrant Heritage Month, we honor the contributions of immigrants, celebrate their profound impact, create awareness on how diversity and immigration are both essential elements of our social fabric.
At Urban Upbound, we strive to have a team that is as diverse as the population we serve. We are proud to share our staff, which includes many immigrants and first generation Americans, comes from over 20 different countries, representing 5 continents, and speaking 15+ languages. While we celebrate National Immigrant Heritage Month, we recognize many Black Americans are unable to trace their heritage due to forced migration prior to the end of the slave trade.
In terms of supporting diversity, equity, and inclusion in our work, Urban Upbound makes every effort to provide services in a culturally competent and inclusive manner to accommodate community members of various ethnic and cultural backgrounds.
We understand that many immigrant and limited English proficient NYCHA residents face additional barriers when accessing social services, including language barriers. Collectively, our staff speaks the requisite languages to engage residents with limited English proficiency in the communities we serve. Additionally, we are able to offer specialized support for immigrants seeking employment, financial services, affordable housing, education, tax preparation, and entrepreneurship.
This June, we are taking time to remember the importance of being knowledgeable of various cultures and how to adapt values, behaviors, attitudes, and practices to make it possible for cross-cultural communication. We are grateful for our team and the unique perspectives they bring to Urban Upbound.
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