Austin Nonprofit Launches CDL Refugee Training Program
KXAN - Austin, TX
Kelsey Thompson
August 7, 2022
“It’s been nearly a year since the Afghanistan pullout and almost six months since Russia began its attacks on Ukraine. Since then, Refugee Services of Texas has helped resettle more than 1,000 Afghan and Ukrainian refugees in Austin, and one local nonprofit is looking to address both refugee employment needs and the national truck drivers shortage through a new commercial driver’s license (CDL) program.
“Global Impact Initiative is an Austin-based nonprofit that focuses on educational and workforce development opportunities globally but has honed in on assisting Austin’s growing refugee community. Last fall, Gii Executive Director Anjum Malik helped mentor refugees needing to receive English as a second language (ESL) translation assistance during their CDL exam preparations. Seven mentees went on to pass the CDL exam and are now apprentices in the hands-on driving portion of the CDL training, spurring the idea for an in-house training program.”
(includes video)
