Dec 26, 2022 4 min read

Foreign-born residents of the South Hills are the beneficiaries of an expansion of Pennsylvania Women Work’s RISE (Refugee and Immigrant Services for Employment) program.   

In partnership with Jefferson Regional Foundation, this free career development service began in the South Hills in September. One-on-one supports is offered, along with group discussions and classes, to help refugees and immigrants find family-sustaining employment opportunities.

Pennsylvania Women Work is a nonprofit workforce development organization dedicated to helping individuals find meaningful employment, serving about 1,500 job seekers over the last year.

“We’ve been doing career development since the early 1990s,” explained Kristin Ioannou, Pennsylvania Women Work executive director. “Our mission is to really help job seekers who are either re-entering the workforce or those who are employed but are looking for a better job.”

Ioannou said within the last five or six years, there have been a lot of immigrants and refugees coming the Pennsylvania Women Work programs. Many were highly educated and highly skilled, but new to the Pittsburgh area and were in need of connections and support to get them into the workforce.

That led to the creation of RISE, which helps foreign-born residents expand their job search from the basic employment opportunities. 

“It really offers individualized career services for refugees and immigrants because we know that when folks are new to the region they need help understanding our workforce and our job application process,” Ioannou said. “The program helps them develop a resume, look at how they can transfer their skills and their credentials to our workforce. Introductions are made to employers and trainings, and we give them advice to adjust to the American workplace.” 

Many refugees and immigrants reside in the South Hills, thus the desire to expand to that area.

“The South Hills has decades of refugees and immigrants settling in that region,” said Kristen Tsapis, ……. “A couple of them have gotten Pennsylvania Women Work information and have contacted me.”

With the help of a grant from the Jefferson Regional Foundation and partnerships with organizations such as South Hills Interfaith Movement (SHIM), Literacy Pittsburgh and the Jefferson Collaborative, the expansion was made possible. 

Elizabeth Ringler-Jayanthan has been hired as the program manager dedicated to the South Hills……

“She’s going to have a presence in the community,” Ioannou said. “A lot of what she’s going to be doing, and we found works really well, is a lot of one-on-one support with refugees and immigrants.”

Tsapis said such one-on-one support has worked for her….. She said she has served more than 250 refugees and immigrants during the past three years 

“Because I was a known and trusted person in the community people found me to a great extent,” Tsapis said. “Many of my clients don’t speak English well, can’t read or write, they aren’t formally educated or don’t have technology skills. I do a lot of one-on-one coaching.”

There will office hours at the SHIM facility in Bethel Park or the Baldwin-Whitehall Library or somewhere else that may be convenient to a client. 

Tsapis said she has been able to get refugees and immigrants better jobs than they may have had. 

“I can certainly connect people, help them fill out applications, coach them with their interviews and move them to where they want to be,” she said. “I introduce them to opportunities. We develop a plan that is tailored to their our needs. I think this is really important work.”

Sara Ndayisaba, a recent RISE program participant and mother of four, said the program has worked for her. “I didn’t know where to start. I needed something that would support us financially, help us buy a home, and fit in with our schedule,” she explained. “[My PA Women Work career coach] sat down with me for almost three hours and walked me through a job application I was working on. It was so helpful. I owe PA Women Work so much for helping me get to where I am today.”

“Kristen taught me how to be patient with myself,” Tsapis said. “She said, trust me it’s going to work out. Three weeks later, something came up from UPMC Magee Women’s Hospital. I’m grateful for where I am right now.”

For information about the program, or to sign up for career services, please visit www.pawomenwork.org, call 412-742-4362 or email info@pawomenwork.org.

“There’s such a need in our community for this type of service,” Ioannou said. “A lot of our families are willing to work. There are so many employers who are looking for talent in a variety of fields.”