About Better Start USA Foundation, Inc.
A nonprofit helping immigrants and refugees get a foothold in American life and work.
Our mission
We provide adult education to immigrants and refugees in the U.S.: workshops on American life and work, career guidance, hands-on training in trades, job readiness and self-employment skills, so they can become self-sufficient.
Who we serve
We work with adults who have recently arrived in the United States as immigrants or refugees and are trying to build a stable life here. Many have skills and work experience from their home country but face unfamiliar systems: how American workplaces operate, how licensing and credentialing works, where to go for everyday services, how to find a first job, how to start a small business of their own.
Our programs are free to participants and open regardless of language background, immigration pathway, or prior schooling.
What we do
We run four programs that cover the main stages a newcomer passes through on the way to self-sufficiency:
How we work
Practical
Everything we teach is something a person can use in the next week — not theory, not a certificate for its own sake.
Peer-supported
People who arrived two years ago mentor people who arrived last month. That is how the knowledge actually transfers.
Safe and legal
Trade training is taught by experienced practitioners with a focus on safety. Business support covers licensing and insurance from the start.
Leadership
Our Board of Directors is responsible for the governance, finances, and strategic direction of the Corporation under its Bylaws. Officers are elected annually by the Board.
Georgiy Sayapin
President
Ruslan Zaichkou
Secretary
Tatsiana Astashonak
Treasurer
Non-discrimination
Better Start USA Foundation, Inc. does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, ethnicity, age, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, medical condition, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law, in its programs, in employment, in volunteer engagement, or in outreach.
We endeavor to make our programs, materials, and services accessible to the people we serve, and to make reasonable accommodation for people with disabilities. To request an accommodation or report a concern, email info@bsusa.org.
Get involved
Donate, volunteer, or partner with us to help a newcomer get started.