About This Episode In this inspiring episode of Beautiful Journey, Host Alya Michelson joins Lola Adeyemo, CEO & Founder of EQIMindset, who embarked on a life-changing adventure from Nigeria to the United States to pursue a university degree. But her journey was...
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Foundation for California Community Colleges Presents Determined Voices Part 1: Katherine’s Story
Get inspired by the immigrant women who forged careers through the Foundation for California Community Colleges (FCCC). With the support from the Michelson Philanthropies FirstGen Initiative, the FCCC will spotlight the stories of a diverse group of women who have...
Championing Stories and Addressing Inequality: FirstGen Grants Support and Uplift Immigrant Women
Announcing the FirstGen Grantees: The Foundation for California Community Colleges and the Society of Refugee Healthcare Providers To mark International Women’s Day 2023, FirstGen is honored to announce the recipients of its inaugural $25,000 FirstGen...
Alya Michelson’s FirstGen Program Announces New Spark Grants Program
FirstGen is a program that aims to uplift immigrant women through storytelling that celebrates their contributions and programming that facilitates their pathways to success. In celebration of International Women’s Day, Michelson Philanthropies program FirstGen...
FirstGen and Upwardly Global’s Career Skills Program for Immigrant Women Continues to Grow
Enrollment in Upwardly Global's Career Skills Program for immigrant women who now call Los Angeles home, launched last year with support from Alya Michelson’s FirstGen Initiative, nearly tripled above the initial target for the program, which is aimed at moving...
A Mother’s Prayer for Her Slavic Family
The heart of Russia is not inside the Kremlin, writes Alya Michelson. Many Russians have roots in both Russia and Ukraine, speak both languages and embrace the deep cultural heritage of both countries. By Alya Michelson The road trips to Lviv from the...
And Just Like That… Another Tired Stereotype
I was never a fan of the HBO series “Sex and the City” and certainly did not have any plans for watching the new HBO Max sequel “And Just Like That…,” but something came to my attention that compelled me to turn on the TV. By Alya Michelson The Tired...
The Most Read Stories of 2021: Looking Back on a Year Filled with Challenges and Hope
The Michelson Philanthropies network published more than 230 articles in 2021, far more than in years past. Articles that highlight where our work has had a direct impact were very popular among our readers this year. Here are the top 10 most read stories from each...
Alya Michelson Traces Her Journey from a Journalist in Russia to a Musician in America on a Podcast by Jennifer Newsom’s Representation Project
Alya Michelson detailed her journey from being a female journalist in Russia’s male-dominated news industry to an immigrant and artist overcoming gender stereotypes in the United States. By Justin Chapman Alya Michelson wasn’t even out of journalism...
Alya Michelson Discusses Uplifting the Voices of Immigrant Women on SullivanSays Podcast
Michelson Philanthropies’ FirstGen Initiative, founded by Alya Michelson, aims to uplift the voices, journeys, and contributions of immigrant women. By Justin Chapman Michelson Philanthropies’ FirstGen Initiative, founded by Alya Michelson, aims to uplift the...
Uplifting the Voices of Immigrant Women
Jerry Sullivan, former LA Business Journal editor who now runs his own media outlet called SullivanSays SoCal, interviews Michelson Philanthropies co-chair Alya Michelson about the FirstGen Initiative’s efforts to reshape the narrative of immigrant women. AUDIO...
Upwardly Global Gala Celebrates the Contributions of Immigrants and Refugees
Each year, Upwardly Global recognizes leaders who have advanced opportunity and supported immigrants and refugees in our country. By Justin Chapman Upwardly Global, the nonprofit organization that recently partnered with Alya Michelson’s FirstGen...