Working Toward Systems Change In 2023, WES further extended the organisational transformation by forming a Social Impact division. The division enabled WES to build on its earlier experiments with new pathways to impact, bringing these activities together under one roof and facilitating the development of a coherent and intentional systems change strategy. Monica Munn, who had previously served as Senior Director overseeing the WES Mariam Assefa Fund, was tapped to lead this work in the newly created role of Chief Social Impact Officer. Under the leadership of Benjamin, Munn, and Madhany in Canada, WES became more proactive and intentional about fostering systems change through awareness building, network development, programme delivery, policy change, thought leadership, and capital allocation (see Exhibit B).
In the US, WES supported the bipartisan Bridging the Gap for New Americans Act, which was passed by the US Congress with strong bipartisan support in 2022, and led the response to the Act itself in 2023. This was particularly significant for WES and its partners, given that this act was the first time Congress passed a bill of this type (with the legislation being made at a federal, rather than state, level), and the first time WES had worked with its network of partners to advance a national policy initiative. WES also took a leadership role in coordinating recommendations that informed the White House Task Force on New Americans, which provided a roadmap for federal agencies to promote policies and practices that bolster the economic and social inclusion of newcomers. In 2023, WES joined a select group of organisations with aligned policy goals to form the US for Success Coalition, a partnership focused on elevating the US as a top destination for international students. In Canada, WES was instrumental in supporting policy change, particularly in the health sector. It successfully advocated an end-to-end strategy for the integration and skills utilisation of internationally educated health professionals. The organisation also played a leading role in bringing Practice Ready Assessments to Ontario – a significant regulatory milestone in providing internationally trained physicians a pathway to licensure.
“How can we leverage our different capabilities – policy and advocacy, programmatic solutions, philanthropy,
partnerships, and products – to meaningfully dismantle structural barriers experienced by
immigrants and refugees? Getting those capabilities to become more than the sum of their parts is essential to our vision of what a social enterprise can accomplish, but it is also a complex undertaking.” Monica Munn, Chief Social Impact Officer
Exhibit B: WES Social Impact, 2011-2024 2011
2015 WES Global Talent Bridge launched in Canada
2018 WES Gateway Program launched (CA) SIIP expands to 8 communities
2020 In-house US Policy team expands Internationally Educated Health Professional (IEHP) initiative expands during pandemic (CA) SIIP expands to 24 communities First MAF co-funding partnership secured First impact investments made
2022 Social Impact Division established US Bridging the Gap for New Americans Act WES Gateway Program reaches 3,000 people WES convenes 1 st WES Economic Inclusion Forum , with 150+ partners, immigrant leaders, and govt reps
2024 WES expands policy focus to 29 states WES Gateway Program reaches 15,000 people SIIP expands to 45 communities MAF celebrates 5 year anniversary reaching 143 partners with USD 37M grants and impact investments since inception
IMPRINT Coalition launched
2012 WES Global Talent Bridge established in US
2017 Skilled Immigrant Integration Program (SIIP) established
2019 WES Mariam Assefa Fund (MAF) launched and first grants made SIIP expands to 16 communities
2021 Global Talent Leadership Network launched with 11 leaders (US) #ImmigrantsWork employer mobilisation program initiated (CA) SIIP expands to 32 communities First staff-led donations made by Fund Ambassadors
2023 WES convenes 2 nd WES
Economic Inclusion Forum , with 220+ partners, immigrant leaders, and government reps SIIP expands to 40 communities WES commits to 100% mission-aligned investing
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