2024 Annual
Report
Content
Mission & Vision Statements
Our Values
Message from the Executive Director
Board Chair Statement
Strategic Plan Implementation
Board of Directors
Programming & Impact
- Immigrant Professionals Fellowship
- Orientation Workshop and Information Sessions
- Career Advising
- Untapped Talent Consortium
Partnerships
Communications & Media
Financials
Mission Statement
The African Bridge Network (ABN) builds a supportive
community which values and strengthens the qualifications
and experiences of Africans and other skilled immigrants,
helping them reach their full career potential.
Vision Statement
We envision a day when the skills of immigrant professionals
are highly valued, and they can use their past experiences to
build their careers, support their families, and make meaningful
contributions to our society.
Our Values
- Empowerment: We are committed to supporting skilled immigrants in leveraging their past credentials and experiences to build their careers.
- Collaboration: We strive to build a network of professionals, employers, government agencies, and community stakeholders who work together to develop meaningful and lasting solutions to immigrant career advancement issues.
- Innovation: We adapt our approach to different professional development challenges to meet the changing needs of our clients, volunteers, and stakeholders.
- Empathy: We listen to our clients and partners to make sure they feel understood and supported.
- Inclusiveness: We encourage our volunteers, partners, and clients to take ownership of our mission and build African Bridge Network into a community where all are welcome.
Emmanuel Owusu
Executive Director’s Message
I am filled with pride and gratitude for the transformative strides we have made at African Bridge Network (ABN) in 2024.
We began implementing our 2029 Bold Vision Plan, an ambitious growth initiative to serve 5,000 immigrant professionals
and facilitate 1,000 placements into mid-level skill occupations by 2029. Through this effort, ABN is emerging as a
workforce development leader for skilled immigrants and a bridge program for other immigrant-serving organizations in
Massachusetts.
Among the many achievements of the past year, a few milestones stand out:
- Passed the landmark Physician Pathway Act (PPA) to replace residential
requirements with mentorship as an alternative pathway for
internationally trained physicians to practice medicine in Massachusetts.
- Completed a feasibility study and established an advisory group of
stakeholders to develop a credential and skill verification process to
help U.S. employers recognize the qualifications of immigrant
professionals, strengthening our ability to scale up candidate preparation
and workforce integration.
- Completed the 2024 Immigrant Professional Fellowship Cohort with 23
fellows.
- Expanded our team and strengthened our organizational infrastructure to
ensure ABN is well-positioned for sustainable impact and long-term
success.
Key Milestones and Achievements
Executive Director’s Message
As we close this chapter, we look forward to an exciting milestone—ABN’s 10-Year Anniversary. This celebration will
honor our past and serve as a launchpad for our next phase of impact. In 2025, our priorities include:
- Expand our Fellowship Program beyond healthcare to serve skilled immigrants across diverse industries.
- Complete the Candidate Verification Process to enhance employer confidence and recognition of immigrant talent.
- Adapt our strategies to navigate the changing political landscape and ensure continued opportunities for immigrant
professionals. - Grow our partnerships for candidate referral, training, and placement into mid-level skilled occupations.
Looking Ahead to 2025
None of this would have been possible without the unwavering support of our board members, volunteer career advisors,
dedicated team members, generous donors, supportive funders, and steadfast advocates. Your belief in our mission has
fueled our journey, and we are deeply grateful for your commitment.
As we enter this next decade, we invite you to join us in celebrating ABN’s 10th Anniversary and building pathways for
skilled immigrants across multiple industries. Together, we are building a future where immigrant professionals can fully
contribute their talents to the workforce, strengthening our communities and economy.
With gratitude,
Emmanuel Owusu
Executive Director, African Bridge Network
A Heartfelt Thank You
Board Chair Statement
As your board chair, I am in awe and filled with deep admiration of ABN's continued
resilience, evolution, growth and changemaking in the immigrant community.
Our 2024 Immigrant Professional Fellowship Cohort successfully completed their
program with a cohort of 23 fellows. We have created an advisory group which will
transform the credential and skill verification process that will encourage US
employers to recognize the qualifications of immigrant professionals. Our hope is
that this will support our goal of expanding candidate preparation and workforce
integration. Our team continues to grow and our organizational infrastructure
continues to become more developed and established.
Although we as an organization continue to face systemic challenges, we continue
to innovate, persevere and stay committed to our mission. Our accomplishments
this past year have been nothing short of phenomenal.
Our deep gratitude and thanks to our donors, boards, volunteers and staff can
never be overstated. You all play significant and crucial roles in the progression of
our success and fulfillment of our mission. Thank you all from the bottom of our
hearts. We are excited for the new opportunities and milestones 2025 will bring.
- Noora Abdulkerim, Ph.D. Director of Mental Health at Jordan Health
1.
Open ABN’s programs and
services to all skilled
immigrants in
Massachusetts.
2.
Build on the success of the
Immigrant Professional
Fellowship to grow the
organization’s impact.
4.
Develop leadership in key
operational areas to
support the Executive
Director in his expansive
role.
3.
Position ABN as the primary
source of information,
resources, and advocacy
for skilled immigrants in the
state.
2022 Strategic Directions
5.
Develop major strategic
partnerships and
relationships that increase
visibility, resources, and
impact.
Positioning ABN as a Leader
Advocacy and
Passing of PPA
ABN is a long-term
advocate of the Physician
Pathway Act, a streamlined
pass to medical licensure
for internationally-trained
physicians, which was
passed into law in
November 2024.
Research and
Data of Skilled
Immigrants
ABN conducted a study
with UMass Amherst
Donahue Institute to
address the barriers faced
by skilled immigrants.
Information and
Resource
Development
ABN provides a variety of
information and resources
to clients through
Orientation Workshops,
webinars, and a bi-weekly
newsletter.
Strategic
Employer
Partnerships
ABN worked with numerous
employer partners to be a
connector between
employers and untapped
skilled immigrant talents.
Verification
Process
ABN commissioned the
development of a Verification
Process, a candidate
preparation process that
addresses employer
questions and concerns
regarding hiring skilled
immigrants into middle-skill
positions.
Girard Healy
Strategy and Operations Advisor
Founder of Scott
Philanthropy
Erica (Puopolo)
Scott-Adjei
Assistant
Commissioner, Office
of Behavioral Health
Promotion and
Prevention
Funmi Aguocha
Board of
Directors
Executive Director of
MIRA
Liz Sweet
Noora Abdulkerim
Ph.D. Director of
Mental Health at
Jordan Health
Vice President of MSCI
Inc.
Lulama Mabeta
Executive Director of
ABN
Emmanuel Owusu
Workforce Development
Manager at Mass General
Brigham
Elena Kuyun
Programming
and Impact
Immigrant Professionals
Fellowship
Each fellow receives upskilling training in
Research Administration, Research
Coordinator, or Program Management and
U.S. Workplace Readiness Training.
The Immigrant Professionals Fellowship seeks to address
the barrier of lack of U.S. working experience. The
Fellowship consists of recruiting, upskilling, and placing
skilled immigrants with employers for a paid 3-month
fellowship in healthcare and research industries, while
partnering employers to tap into the skilled immigrant talent
pool.
Impact of the
Fellowship
ABN placed 23 fellows in the 2024 Fellowship, bringing us to a total of 78
fellows placed since the fellowship’s inception in 2021.
On average, a fellow’s income goes from $27,300 to $65,000 pre-fellowship
to post-fellowship.
This program has a historical placement completion rate of 94%. This year,
the 2024 cohort is on track for a 100% completion rate—a remarkable
achievement. Of the 78 fellows placed, 86% secure permanent roles, 76%
remain in those roles after two years, and 46% have earned promotions,
proving their ability not only to thrive but to excel.
Orientation Workshops for
Foreign-Trained
Professionals and Info
Sessions
The goal of these sessions was to
connect foreign-trained professionals
with professional mentors, career
resources, and fellow immigrant
professionals.
We hosted six workshops in 2024.
Workshops were hosted by our partners at MassHire Metro North, Boston Public Library, Worcester Public Library, Massasoit Community College, and Holyoke Community College. Additional partners included the City of Boston and the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Advancement.
We hosted eight info sessions in 2024.
We hosted sessions on career advancement and careers in the finance, accounting, and healthcare industries.
Orientation Workshops for
Foreign-Trained
Professionals and Info
Sessions
741
total registrations
104
cities and towns
69
countries
62%
from non-African countries
After coming to the workshop, I improved my network. And
honestly, after three years in the US, it was the first time
that I felt mentally comfortable. Now, I’m relaxed that at
least I’m not alone .
-2024 Workshop Participant
Career Advising Services
Trained volunteer career advisors with recent
skilled immigrants for three months of career
counseling, customized to build their career
needs.
In 2024, we had nine volunteer career advisors.
Reconstruction of professional profiles
Resume and cover letter review
Job search
Interview prep
85%
completed the service
58%
secured full-time employment
Top Countries Served
Average Degree
204
people requested service
Limited trajectories for
foreign-born employees into
leadership positions
Disparities in salaries for
foreign-born and BIPOC staff
The need for more
professional development
and training opportunities
The Untapped Talent Consortium set out to address the following issues:
Untapped Talent Consortium
Six agencies chose to participate in an 18-month project to address these
issues by developing and implementing a project at their agency
customized to address the lack of equity and inclusion in career
advancement.
Untapped Talent Consortium Outcomes
Advocates
Initiated a Workforce Development
(WD) Unit and comprehensive career
pathway projects and a 16-week
apprenticeship program for
managerial positions (HMEA).
Bay Cove
Comprehensive and 200 streamlined
career pathways within the agency.
Thrive
A 6-month mentoring program for
developing leaders within the
organizations.
NFI - MA
A 6-month mentoring program for
career advancement.
BAMSI
Building the leadership through New
and Emerging Leaders Program
(NELP).
Crystal Springs
Career pathways and advancement
opportunities from Day One.
Key Partnerships
MassHire Metro North
is working with ABN to create a referral system for career advising clients. They hosted the first Orientation Workshop of 2024 at their Cambridge office.
MIRA
and ABN worked together to advocate for the Physician Pathway Act and created a newsletter with the latest updates on the bill. This bill was passed in November 2024.
Holyoke Community College
provides an Advance Professional English Course to prepare skilled immigrants for professional roles. They presented on this course at multiple Orientation Workshops and hosted a workshop on their campus.
Boston Public Library
has been a long-time partner connecting ABN clients to a variety of
library resources, including free access to Coursera. They hosted two
Orientation Workshops for ABN at Copley and Roxbury branches.
Tailored for Success
provides free access to professional attire for job seekers. They presented their services at multiple Orientation Workshops and gave ABN clients access to their multiple closets.
Communications and Media
Social media growth in 2024:
LinkedIn: 525 new followers
Facebook: 169 new followers
Instagram: 66 new followers
Newsletter: 1,232 new subscribers
Total Revenue | $768,751.00 |
Foundation Grants | $395,000.00 |
Government Grants | $133,679.00 |
Donations | $8,377.00 |
Expenses | $623,486.68 |
Programs
| $600,475.68 $396,535 $82,594.86 $121,346 |
Administrative Expenses | $13,369 |
Fundraising Expenses | $9,642 |
Financials
Thank you
Thank you to ABN’s supporters and those who make
it possible for this organization to flourish. We would
like to recognize our donors and funders, partners,
and staff for their support and contributions.