WES Mariam Assefa Fund Partners with Echoing Green to Invest $1.5M in Social Innovators of Color Addressing Racial Equity and Immigrant Justice

Wednesday February 16, 2022

The World Education Services (WES) Mariam Assefa Fund today announced a new $1.5 million partnership with Echoing Green to launch a fellowship that supports immigrants and refugees of color in the United States and Canada. Through Echoing Green’s fellowship program, the Racial Equity …

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Meet the First Graduates of the Migrant Systems Change Leadership Program

Tuesday February 15, 2022

At the end of last year, 22 inaugural graduates completed the Migrant Systems Change Leadership program, created for inspiring individuals with lived immigrant and refugee experience who are passionate about working with and supporting their communities. This first-of-its-kind program was launched in 2021 …

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How Workers Action Centre is Advocating for Frontline Workers in Ontario

Monday January 24, 2022

“The COVID-19 pandemic is getting worse, not better, for marginalized workers,” said Deena Ladd, executive director of Workers Action Centre (WAC) in Ontario, at a recent emergency town hall. WAC, a grantee partner of the WES Mariam Assefa Fund, is addressing many of …

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Our Reflections on 2021 – and What We’re Looking Forward to in 2022

Friday January 14, 2022

Happy New Year! As we kick off 2022, the WES Mariam Assefa Fund team is reflecting on the remarkable organizations, leaders, and efforts that inspired us last year amid many challenges, and looking ahead to what we’re excited about in the new year. …

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New Impact Investments to Build Wealth for Workers and Entrepreneurs from Immigrant and BIPOC Communities

Wednesday December 15, 2021

The World Education Services (WES) Mariam Assefa Fund today announced two new impact investments totaling US$900,000 aimed at supporting economic mobility and expanding shared ownership models among workers and entrepreneurs from historically excluded communities. These impact investments, in Apis & Heritage Capital Partners …

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Announcing $1.8 Million Commitment to Advance Inclusive Employer Practices for Immigrant and Refugee Job Seekers and Workers

Thursday December 9, 2021

Support will focus on health care and agricultural sectors, employer collaboration, and worker organizing and power-building The WES Mariam Assefa Fund today announced the award of US$1.8 million in grants to 12 U.S. and Canadian organizations working to improve the economic mobility of …

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Community Members Are Leading This Participatory Grantmaking Project – Here’s How It Works

Wednesday December 8, 2021

This piece was originally published on Future of Good, written by Neha Chollangi.  The WES Mariam Assefa Fund is partnering with Future of Good on a series of digital stories to highlight its first-ever participatory grantmaking project in Peel region, Ontario facilitated by …

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Philanthropy Across WES: How WES’ Fund Ambassadors are Making an Impact

Tuesday December 7, 2021

In February 2021, the WES Mariam Assefa Fund kicked off its second annual Fund Ambassadors program, which is a corporate philanthropy and professional development initiative. The program engages staff from across WES to learn about philanthropy and identify mission-aligned organizations to receive donations. …

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Meet Luis Sandoval, Executive Director of Building Skills Partnership 

Friday December 3, 2021

Growing up in both Mexicali, a border town in Mexico, and Salinas, California, Luis Sandoval couldn’t help but take notice of the barriers that prevented him and other immigrants from accessing career and educational opportunities. Inspired by his personal experience of growing up …

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Fund Partners with Tamarack Institute to Launch a Participatory Grantmaking Project to Support Immigrants’ Economic Mobility in Peel Region

Tuesday October 26, 2021

The WES Mariam Assefa Fund is excited to announce its partnership with the Tamarack Institute to launch a participatory grantmaking project in the Peel region of Ontario, Canada. Tamarack will engage community stakeholders to identify the needs of immigrants and refugees in the …

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Thank you for your interest in the WES Mariam Assefa Fund. We’ll share updates on the Fund’s efforts, what we’re learning, and opportunities through our email list.