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eNewsletter

In this edition:

Entry Points Spotlights Trends In Immigrant Workforce

Inaugural newsletter recaps year filled with vision and purpose for Welcoming Center

Anne O’Callaghan, Executive Director
Welcoming Center for New Pennsylvanians

Welcome to Entry Points, the Welcoming Center for New Pennsylvanians’ e-newsletter. Entry Points was created to enhance our region’s economic development agenda by sharing information that spotlights trends in our immigrant workforce and how we at the Welcoming Center partner with employers, elected officials, and community stakeholders to ensure that our immigrant workforce is well-equipped to take on its collective dream of becoming productive citizens of the Delaware Valley.

We believe that immigration is a much under-utilized resource for workforce and economic development in our State, given that Pennsylvania has the second oldest workforce in the nation and that Philadelphia is one of only three of the 20 largest metropolitan areas to see a net loss of young, single college graduates. In addition, the State of Pennsylvania lost the most young graduates of any state in the nation. These are sobering trends indeed and through this newsletter we will include items of interest to immigrants, employers, government, and all who are concerned about this issue and its impact on our region, our culture, and our economy.

Immigrants bring skills, dedication, and a strong work ethic to their professional and personal pursuits.  And, as many other cities have found, immigrants are a key factor in a growing economy. Since opening our doors in March 2003, we have helped more than 1,800 individuals and their families from more than 50 nations around the globe find homes, find work, and find their way around town.   We have published The Immigrant's Resource Manual: What Every Immigrant Needs to Know, which is now available in English or Spanish, and Immigrant Philadelphia: From Cobblestone Streets to Korean Soap Operas.

Our employment program continues to grow – in 2005, we successfully placed 72 clients in permanent jobs that paid above minimum wage and mostly offered benefits. In 2006, to date, we have place more than 80 clients in numerous jobs in the healthcare, manufacturing and service sectors. We also recently embarked on a pilot job readiness training program to help the clients who need certain skills training such as basic computer literacy to enter the workforce. Check in with us often, and we will keep you updated on the progress of this training.

In recent months, we have added to our staff, and we continue to grow. The latest full-time staffer to join us are Amanda Bergson-Shilcock and Jennifer Sommerkorn.  Amanda will work in intake support, serving as an initial point of contact for Welcoming Center clients. She will also be overseeing certain aspects of operations of the Welcoming Center. Jennifer will be working as coordinator for Project Bridging Cultures in South Philadelphia, reaching out to the student immigrant population there.     

Communications is a large part of our mission as well and, towards that end, we have updated our website to include comprehensive information for all our constituencies including immigrants, employers, the community, and the latest in the news on the immigration debate. 

Our highly successful public policy seminars have brought together a diverse crowd of people, all interested in the same issues. As part of our Public Policy series, we were proud to work with Mary Robinson, former President of Ireland and U.N. Commissioner for Human Rights, now chair of Realizing Rights: The Ethical Globalization Initiative, a human rights organization based in New York, to host a town hall meeting to address issues relating to the immigrant community and the receiving community of West Philadelphia.  It was a fascinating experience bringing together more than one hundred representatives from the private, public, non-profit, government sectors to talk about the issues that matter most to them.

We are excited with the work that lies ahead of us, and eternally hopeful that immigration laws in the United States will be changed in keeping with the times. Look to us often, and we promise, we will keep you abreast of the latest in immigration laws and policies, as well as help you in any way we can.

Entry Points will begin as a quarterly publication, but we hope to step up publication frequency because, quite frankly, there’s a lot to talk about.  This e-newsletter is the next step in our commitment to education and to bring these critical issues to the forefront of regional discussion. 

Sincerely,

Anne O’Callaghan

Executive Director

Public Policy Series Reaches Out To Hundreds

In December 2005, the Welcoming Center launched its Public Policy Seminars Series, created to educate citizens on topics relating to immigration.  The timing couldn’t have been better. “Immigration is an issue that affects everyone,” says Anne O’Callaghan, Executive Director of the Welcoming Center for New Pennsylvanians, and its dominating presence in the media is evidence of that.  The Welcoming Center and its series want to ensure that we understand how it affects everyone.

 “It is critical for individuals to understand the importance of immigration and its impact on our lives, in terms of both our cultural lives and economic standing.  These seminars are an important step in educating the Philadelphia region about the influence that immigration has had, and will continue to have, on our future.”  

The first in the series focused on The Role of Immigrants in the Workforce, with Dr. Paul Harrington, Executive Director of the Center for Labor Market Studies at Northeastern University as the keynote speaker, and Patrick Eiding, President of the AFL-CIO and Ian Cross, and immigrant entrepreneur on the panel. Sallie Glickman, Executive Director, Philadelphia Workforce Investment Board, Inc. was the moderator.

More than 200 people from government, private, and public organizations attended the forum on Immigration Reform, held in January at the national Constitution Center. Presenters included Frank Sharry and Tamar Jacoby, nationally renowned experts in the field of immigration. 

Frank Sharry

Since becoming the National Immigration Forum’s Executive Director in 1990, Sharry has emerged as a leading spokesperson for pro-immigrant policies in the United States. He frequently appears in print and on television, ranging from the pages of the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times and the Washington Post to debates on the NewsHour with Jim Lehrer, the McLaughlin Group, and CNN’s Crossfire. 

Tamar Jacoby

Tamar Jacoby is a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute.  Ms. Jacoby writes and comments extensively on immigration and citizenship, and plays a leading role in organizing the center-right in favor of immigration reform. Her newest book, Reinventing the Melting Pot: The New Immigrants and What It Means To Be American, was published by Basic Books in February 2004. Ms. Jacoby's articles and essays have been published in a variety of periodicals, including New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Financial Times, Los Angeles Times, The New Republic, National Review, The Weekly Standard, Commentary, The New York Review of Books, Dissent, and Foreign Affairs.

The seminar was moderated by J. Whyatt Mondesire, Publisher of the Sunday Sun and President of the NAACP and local panelists included Stanley Straughter, Chair of the Mayor’s Commission on African and Caribbean Affairs and a Board Member of the Nationalities Service Center and David Oh, an immigration attorney and community activist and a Board Member of the Welcoming Center for New Pennsylvanians.

 

Since its launch, the Welcoming Center’s Public Policy Seminar Series has featured Immigrants in the Workforce, Immigration Reform, the Role of Immigrants in the Healthcare Workforce in Southeastern Pennsylvania, and the Role of Immigrants in the Real Estate Market, featuring Professor Alber Saiz of the University of Pennsylvania.

We would like to express our appreciation to the William Penn Foundation which has provided financial support for our public policy seminar series.  Thanks also to our partners in the January  event:  Catholic Social Services, Congreso, HIAS and Council Migration Service, Nationalities Service Center, Pennsylvania Immigration and Citizenship Coalition, and United Communities of Southeast Philadelphia.

Visit our Events Archive for past event summaries and our calendar for upcoming seminars and events.

"None of us lives alone, none of us stands alone”

John Fox receives Dennis Clark SOLAS Award

Welcoming Center board chairman Mark Kearney congratulates John Fox

Wishing to be known for his accomplishments in his community before he is known as Holocaust survivor, John Fox, a fierce fighter for human rights, was honored with the Welcoming Center for New Pennsylvanians’ esteemed Dennis Clark SOLAS Award on March 22, 2006.  The award is given to those whose vision, voice, and achievements inspire all of us.  Fox was also presented with an American flag by Congressman Robert A. Brady (D., Pa.).  The flag had been flown proudly over Congress on the previous day.  

From an early age, growing up in Tuszyn, Poland, Fox’s parents instilled in him the importance of family, religion, hard work, and humanity.  With those values, and his own resourcefulness, he survived the war years of 1939 through 1945, though much of his family did not. 

 At the tender age of 13, Fox became the first Jewish master glass blower and had seven other glass blowers working for him.  In 1942, when the deportation of the Jews began, Fox, his younger brother, and father were separated from the rest of their family, who was taken to the gas chambers of Treblinka.  The men continued to work in the glass factories until 1944, where they were put in a cattle car on the train and taken to a concentration camp.  Fox was liberated by Czech partisans and for ten years lived and worked as a tailor in England. 

After coming to America in 1955 he found employment in Philadelphia making tuxedos.  In his early years he worked three jobs – tailoring, taxi driving, and tuxedo fittings.  At the tailor shop he quickly became a shop steward chairman, and grew active in the garment workers union. 

In 1980, Fox became the business manager of the Philadelphia Joint Board and was elected an international vice president.  He has met with numerous heads of states and has worked tirelessly for the good of the union.  He has served as co-chair of the American Trade Union Council for Histadrut, and the Philadelphia Jewish Labor Committee, and been the National Chairman or its Administrative Committee.  He has also been a member of the national Trade Union Council for Human Rights and former vice-president of the Jewish Community Relations Council as well as the Negro Trade Union Leadership Council.  He also served as the co-chair of the Labor Division of the Federation Allied Jewish Appeal, was a member of the Delaware Valley Labor Committee for Full Employment, and a trustee and vice-president of the Sidney Hillman Medical Center and the Sidney Hillman Apartments.

Throughout the years, Fox has educated people about the Holocaust and is featured in the book, The Boys, by Sir Martin Gilbert.  He has also worked with Steven Spielberg on his Holocaust project.  He is the recipient of many other awards, including recognition by the Israel Histadrut Campaign (Labor of Israel) and recognition by the Beilinson Hospital in Petach Tikva for his contributions to the Children’s Cancer Ward.  

Fox and his wife Betty are celebrating their 50th year in the United States.  They have three daughters, Lesley, Lynne, and Jacqueline and five grandchildren.

To view a slide show of our SOLAS event, click here

The Welcoming Center would like to thank their Honorary Co-Chairs, Governor Edward G. Rendell and House Speaker John Perzel as well as the Solas Committee:  Honorable Robert A. Brady; Conna Clark; Stuart Davidson, Esq.; Honorable Ronald R. Donatucci; Patrick Eiding; Lynne Fox; Dee Kaplan; Evangelia Klapakis; Bruce Raynor; Lila Roomberg, Esquire; Honorable Allyson Y. Schwartz; Senator Arlen Specter; and Wendell Young, III. 

WC launches Job Readiness Program

Center equips clients with tools to enter world of work

One of the most pressing needs of newly-arrived immigrants is the need to find employment so they can become economically self-sufficient.  However, job opportunities are limited for those immigrants who have little education or job skills. 

The Job Readiness Program, free to clients who have been identified as in need of basic training, is designed to help solve this problem.  The aim of the program is to help the Welcoming Center’s clients be better prepared for entry into the workplace.  The program provides participants with tutoring in math, reading, and writing skills.  Participants are introduced to computers and learn basic computer skills.  With these skills, clients can set their sights on more skilled work and/or apply for professional training courses in nursing and banking, clusters which have been identified as being in need of workers.  

The first session of the Job Readiness Program was launched on April 3, 2006.  Three courses, involving a total of 21 clients, ran simultaneously for 15 weeks. Nineteen of those students graduated and are working with our employment specialist Yana in finding jobs they might otherwise not have been qualified for.  The next set of courses began in mid-August. We hope to serve 24 clients and welcome interested work-authorized immigrants to contact Yana or Amanda for enrollment information. We require a 15-week commitment, three days a week, for three hours per day. Interested parties please email Amanda or Yana at the Welcoming Center or call (215) 557-2626.

Creating Community through Collaboration: Solutions for West Philadelphia

On June 3, the Welcoming Center, in partnership with Realizing Rights: The Ethical Globalization Initiative, held its first town hall meeting, Creating Community through Collaboration, at the International House in West Philadelphia.  The focus of the series of panels and small discussions was identifying the problems West Philadelphia neighborhoods face in integrating new immigrants and brainstorming solutions to those difficulties. 

Participants highlighted the experiences of both immigrants and community members, and the issues both groups faced in attempting to build a safe and comfortable neighborhood environment.  Suggested plans of action ranged from widening community outreach activities to increasing collaboration with city and law enforcement entities.  Attendees included keynote speaker Mary Robinson, the first woman president of Ireland, former United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, and current Director of The Ethical Globalization Initiative.   

The Welcoming Center would like to thank all attendees for their participation and productive discussion, the William Penn Foundation for their sponsorship, and the Ethical Globalization Initiative.  Please click here for the report of our meeting and click here to view a slideshow of the event.  If you would like to be involved in the very important work of bridging cultural divides, please email Anne or call her at 215-557-2843.  We would be happy to include you in future discussions.

Volunteer Attorneys Available Monthly to Meet with Clients

Welcoming Center free legal clinics often at capacity

Beyond adjusting to the cultural and emotional transition of settling into a new country, immigrants also have to adjust to laws that guide that transition. Breaking the law is often a consequence of not knowing the law. 

As immigrants arrive to the Philadelphia area and begin to settle in, many encounter legal problems related to immigrant status, work authorization, visa extensions, applications for green cards, and arranging for family members to join them in the U.S.  With time, other issues may emerge and could involve housing or family issues.  There could also be issues with employment such as discrimination or exploitation, or issues relating to starting a business, including how to navigate the numerous licensing laws involving the city and state.

In response to the increasing need for legal advice and representation for immigrants, the Welcoming Center has implemented a series of free legal clinics which provide clients the opportunity to meet one-to-one with volunteer attorneys to discuss their individual concerns. 

These legal clinics, held on the second Tuesday of each month, from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the Welcoming Center, feature six volunteer lawyers who meet confidentially with a total of 30 clients. To better evaluate the areas of concern and direct each client to the appropriate attorney, clients must pre-register. 

If a client needs further assistance after attending a legal clinic, the attorneys have been asked to provide a discount for further consultations. 

To register, clients should contact Margaret at the Welcoming Center at (215) 557-2859 or via e-mail.  To register, each client will be asked to provide their name, contact details, and a brief description of the area of concern. Attorneys are also encouraged to contact Margaret if they wish to be a volunteer for future clinics.

Welcoming Center Announces Immigrants Resource Manual in Spanish

Manual targets City’s fastest growing population

The Welcoming Center for New Pennsylvanians, in collaboration with The Managing Director’s Office of the City of Philadelphia, has released the Immigrants Resource Manual in the Spanish language.  This manual, originally published in English, addresses what every immigrant needs to know about Philadelphia city services, regional resources for Southeastern Pennsylvania, and adjusting to life in the United States.

“There was a clear need among the Spanish-speaking population in the region for this resource,” said Anne O’Callaghan, Executive Director of the Welcoming Center.  “This population is growing rapidly and is an increasingly important sector in our culture and our economic development.”

In 2003, community leaders estimated the Mexican population to have surpassed 12,000, making it the second largest Latino group in Philadelphia after Puerto Ricans, who represent 75% of Philadelphia’s Latino residents.  According to the Associated Press, many Mexican immigrants are establishing themselves as Philadelphia business owners, with restaurants and grocery stores throughout the City, particularly in South Philadelphia.

In the past decade, it is reported that roughly 20,000 Mexican immigrants have made South Philadelphia their new home.  Today, communities from the Caribbean, Latin America, and Mexico surge with new growth and new cultural diversity. With the expanding Spanish-speaking immigrant community, it is significant that this group has access to this valuable handbook in their own language.  The 144-page book guides readers to services and indexes that “everyone should have access to,” says Pedro Ramos, Managing Director of the City of Philadelphia, in the manual’s opening letter.  “This directory is a part of Global Philadelphia.  It provides a comprehensive listing of governmental and nongovernmental services available in Philadelphia, with a special emphasis on those important to newcomers,” says Ramos. Immigrants Resource Manual is also available in English.  For a copy of the publication, please call Janice Darab at (215) 557-2856 or send her an order request via email. An order form can also be downloaded from the Welcoming Center’s website. 

Staffing news

Amanda Bergson-Shilcock
Director of Intake and Operations

The Welcoming Center is pleased to announce two recent hires, Amanda Bergson-Shilcock, Director of Intake and Operations, and Jennifer Sommerkorn, Project Bridging Cultures Coordinator.

Prior to joining the Welcoming Center, Amanda was a program coordinator for the OMG Center for Collaborative Learning in Philadelphia.  She also has worked for the Ludington Public Library & Information Center and as a freelance writer/editor for University of Pennsylvania newsletter for College of General Studies students.  Amanda graduated with a degree in Social Science from the University of Pennsylvania, where she participated in extensive coursework in American civilization, including Afro-American studies, Native American studies, and Asian American studies. 

As the Project Bridging Cultures Coordinator, based in South Philadelphia High School, Jennifer will work with immigrant students and their families.  She replaces Olga Chernov, who resigned in July after spending a dedicated year working with the high school students at South Philadelphia High School. We wish Olga well.

Jennifer is well-traveled, having taught English in several different countries, and worked domestically in the AmeriCorps program.  We are thrilled to add Amanda and Jennifer to our growing staff.