Events Archive
January 26, 2008
"Lost No More: Immigrant Teenagers Tell Their Stories"
The Welcoming Center held a One Book One Philadelphia event that featured immigrant students from our Project Bridging Cultures at South Philadelphia High School sharing stories, peoms, and artwork. Their stories were candid, touching, and at times inspirational. We were also lucky to have with us a special guest, Macharia Yuot. Macharia is a Sudanese refugee and an Olympic hopeful runner. He shared with the crowd of almost a hundred people his incredible story. Read the stories
December 2008
Miracles on 52nd Street: Celebrating Holidays Around the World.
Welcoming Center West hosted a series of holiday events every Saturday in December. Bring your families and friends to learn about how our diverse community celebrates the holidays!
November 19, 2007
7th Annual Dennis Clark SOLAS Award Dinner
Thank you to all of our supporters who helped make the 2007 Dennis Clark SOLAS Award a great success!
On November 19th, the Welcoming Center for New Pennsylvanians hosted our 7th annual Dennis Clark SOLAS Award Dinner honoring outstanding leaders in healthcare Dr. Paul Farmer, Daniel Hilferty, and the Honorable Estelle Richman. 
View the picture slideshow here!
June 19, 2007
English as a Second Language and the Workforce:
The Welcoming Center and the Free Library of Philadelphia joined forces to reveal recent research about the current state of ESL education in Pennsylvania. Read the report (PDF) by Tara Colton of the Center for an Urban Future and the presentation (PDF) by Jubi Williams and Alyson Showell of the Mayor's Commission on Literacy.
September 28, 2006
Immigration: The Real Issues Behind the Headlines
The Welcoming Center and Montgomery Bar Association co-sponsored this symposium to present the facts on immigration and social policy.
August 17, 2006
The Welcoming Center for New Pennsylvanians and Al Dia present The Economics of Immigration, with guest speaker Albert Saiz, assistant professor of the Wharton School and the University of Pennsylvania. Mr. Saiz spoke on the impact of immigrants on real estate markets. Read his presentation (PDF)
June 3, 2006
Town Hall Meeting on Building Community through Collaboration
The Welcoming Center sponsored its first Town Hall Meeting on fostering community through collaboration in diversifying Philadelphia neighborhoods. Our partners for this event were International House, the Mayor’s Commission on African and Caribbean Immigrant Affairs, and the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations. The Honorable Mary Robinson, first female president of Ireland and former United Nations High Commissioner on Human Rights was the keynote speaker. She assisted in fostering dialogue discussing how to most effectively integrate immigrants into host communities. Checkout Slideshow
May 18, 2006
On Thursday, May 18, 2006, the Welcoming Center for New Pennsylvanians collaborated with the Life Science Career Alliance to sponsor a panel discussion on the vital role of immigrant employees in the healthcare industry. Read more.
March 22, 2006
The Sixth Annual Dennis Clark SOLAS awards dinner honoring John Fox — immigrant, community leader, and Holocaust survivor. Checkout Slideshow
January 2006
Public Policy Seminar on Immigration Reform Draws Record Attendance
On Monday, January 23, 2006, The Welcoming Center for New Pennsylvanians hosted more than 170 people from government, the media, academia, and public and private constituencies in Philadelphia. The presentations were passionate and important to the future of the region.
“Immigration laws are so out of step with the reality that we drive an ordinary dynamic process underground,” said Frank Sharry, Executive Director of Immigration Forum and seminar panelist, in his opening remarks. Read more
December 2005
Public Policy seminar on the Role of Immigrants in the workforce
Dr. Paul Harrington, of the Center for Labor Market Studies at Northeastern University believes that immigrants play an important role in the economy. Read his presentation.
"A world of true security is only possible when the full range of human rights-- civil and political, as well as economic, social and cultural--are guaranteed for all people. What we need now is a new approach--which begins with a broader understanding of what defines human and global security. We must craft a policy that manages and balances our increasing interdependence with our increased vulnerability. Governments from both the North and South must expand their thinking and policies to encompass a broader understanding of security beyond the security of states."
--Mary Robinson, Executive Director, Realizing Rights: The Ethical Globalization Initiative 
Quick Tip
View our study on How Immigrants Affect the Workforce.
