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One sunny, socially-distanced afternoon, co-founders Alice and Christiana were lamenting the state of the world and dreaming of a better one. Fresh out of university, their concerns were not only finding employment amidst a global crisis, but the fissures and (too often) the animosity between different social and cultural groups in the U.S. Then, they had a crazy idea: to form their own non-profit organization dedicated to bridging the socioeconomic and cultural gaps between immigrant groups and surrounding communities. They recruited fellow co-founder Michelle, and together, armed with a bit of gumption and their passion, they decided to embark on a journey to create ACtS United with the fundamental pillars of education, empowerment, and compassion. ACtS United stands for Ascending Communities to Success, a phrase that we are committed to ensuring remains at the heart of our organization, in which we work towards bettering the immigrant experience for the future.
From language barriers to limited opportunities and discrimination, immigrants and their families face various socioeconomic struggles on a daily basis. Our overall mission is to alleviate these burdens in a holistic way that prioritizes overall health, the environment, and equality. What sets us apart from other organizations is our desire to see each individual as a human being and not as a statistic. The immigrant narrative is that of persistence, resiliency, and hope. We aim to guide those qualities in a way that ascends all communities to success.
Our main approach is providing easy access to educational courses that emphasize language skills, career development, and cultural competency. These include basic and business-level English classes, courses designed to aid the college application process, interview and resume-building workshops, and courses that encapsulate an overview of U.S. culture for individuals as well as cultural-sensitivity trainings for other organizations. However, we are also committed to sharing knowledge of individual legal rights, globally sustainable practices, and promoting positive mental health practices to all who seek our help.
Our Story
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how we formed, why we formed, and what we want to do
For immigrant women, the very act of immigration is about opportunity, equality, and freedom. Women immigrants come to America to care for their families, escape gender-based violence, or express their sexual identity.
Pramila Jayapal
Our Mission
to ease the transition of immigrants and their families to life in the U.S. by lessening the social, economic, and educational burdens of immigrants in a holistic manner that prioritizes overall health, the environment, and equality
Our Values
ACtS United is a multi-cultural organization founded on serving the local community above all, regardless of race, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, or migratory status. We are dedicated to maintaining our core values of integrity, empowerment, communication and compassion. We believe that diversity should be celebrated and openly embrace immigrant communities as pillars of society that deserve respect and security in all facets of life. It is our conviction that every individual is capable of achieving great things when given equal opportunities to thrive. Here at ACtS United, we see the world not for what it is, but what it could be, and are committed to working towards that vision of a better world each day.