Untapped Talent: Creating Economic Opportunity for Refugee and Immigrant Professionals

This session was recorded during the 2021 CSG East Annual Meeting.

Untapped Talent: creating economic opportunity for refugee and immigrant professionals

While states face labor shortages across key sectors, an estimated 2 million immigrants and refugees have advanced degrees (263,000 in healthcare alone) that are un- or under-utilized. This panel will discuss barriers to workforce entry faced by refugee and immigrant professionals and recommend policies to remove discriminatory requirements. This panel will identify model state legislation that has successfully included new Americans in workforce development initiatives, facilitated access to professional licensure, and more.

Moderator

Genevieve Kessler – director of state advocacy, International Rescue Committee, and lab state strategy lead, Refugee Advocacy Lab

Panelists

Mike Zimmer – senior policy consultant, World Education Services

Victoria Francis – state advocacy officer, International Rescue Committee

Representative Kristen Cloutier – Maine House of Representatives

Lubab al-Quraishi – Refugee Congress delegate for New Jersey; former assistant professor of medicine, Baghdad Medical College, Iraq