Many cities across the country credit their population growth to an influx of immigrants. This migration has contributed to the revitalization and economic growth of many U.S. cities and Philadelphia is no exception. As Philadelphia's immigrant population grows, it is critical that all sectors collectively create a welcoming environment for these individuals to flourish.
Immigrant integration is a two-way investment, where the region invests resources to facilitate an immigrant's transition to a new country and newcomers invest in the region through entrepreneurial endeavors, home-ownership, and tax contributions. By adopting immigrant integration as a key economic development strategy, we maximize our efforts to strengthen the region and truly compete in a global market.
The Welcoming Center for New Pennsylvanians, IMPRINT, and AL DÍA News Media invite you to a two-part symposium series on the role of immigrants in our regional economy.
Strengthening the Workforce through Immigrant Professional Integration
September 17, 2015, 5:30PM, Pipeline Philly
Our first symposium will reveal the results of a trailblazing new 4,000-person survey that tracked the career paths of workers who were educated abroad to determine which factors lead to their success or limit their progress.
Results of this study will present an up-close perspective on the Philadelphia findings of this national study, which was funded by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and jointly conducted by the nonprofit World Education Services, the IMPRINT Coalition and the Institute for Immigration Research at George Mason University.
Presenters:
- Peter Gonzales, Welcoming Center for New Pennsylvanians
- Paul Feltman, WES Global Talent Bridge
- Stacey Simon, IMPRINT
- Amanda Bergson-Shilcock, National Skills Coalition
- Dr. James C. Witte, Institute for Immigration Research, George Mason University
The study was supported locally by the Welcoming Center for New Pennsylvanians.
Tickets to the first event are $25, and all proceeds go toward supporting immigrant professionals pursuing their careers at the Welcoming Center for New Pennsylvanians.
Immigrant Integration as an Economic Development Strategy
November 17, 2015, 5:30PM, National Museum of American Jewish History
Over the last half-decade, a movement of local immigrant-welcoming and immigrant-focused economic development initiatives has been created and is beginning to define the national character around immigration. The Philadelphia region is well positioned to take advantage of immigration to reinvigorate its communities- to infuse local economies with new businesses and talent, to attract and retain newcomers, and to be competitive in the global economy.
Purchase tickets to our second event through this link. Tickets are $45, and all proceeds go toward supporting small business development services for immigrant entrepreneurs at the Welcoming Center for New Pennsylvanians.
Join the Welcoming Center for New Pennsylvanians, IMPRINT, and AL DÍA News Media to:
Place the issue of immigration on the right plane by fostering public discussions between leaders in our city
Highlight the positive aspects of immigration and address negative perceptions
Unify the narratives of older generations of immigrants with the stories of the newest immigrants to the area
Leading up to the November elections, make immigration a front-and-center issue for the next mayor of Philadelphia
Establish a forum for ongoing discussions about immigrant integration, global entrepreneurship development, and the immigrant-welcoming movement.
The Welcoming Center for New Pennsylvanians connects newly arrived individuals from around the world with the economic opportunities that they need to succeed in our region. Since opening our doors in 2003, we have assisted more than 10,000 people from over 140 countries.
We believe that a steady influx of new customers, workers, and entrepreneurs can reinvigorate Pennsylvania’s aging population, renew its neighborhoods, and re-energize our economy. By making Pennsylvania a magnet for immigrants, we will become a more vibrant, more creative, and more dynamic competitor in today’s global economy.
Our mission is clear - to be a centralized employment and referral center for the region’s growing immigrant community by promoting immigrant participation in the area’s political, social, and economic life. To that end, we work closely with the many regional organizations that have a stake in immigration. These include government agencies, service providers, employers, business associations, trade unions, and economic development groups.
IMPRINT coalition is the national voice for skilled immigrant professional integration and works closely with business, government, higher education and other partners to raise awareness about the talents and contributions of immigrant professionals. In particular, IMPRINT works to streamline complex professional licensing and re-credentialing processes, and advocate for the adoption of policies and best practices that facilitate the rapid integration of these skilled workers.
AL DÍA News Media is a dynamic news organization based in Philadelphia, with an increasingly national scope and reach. Our multi-platform news media organization showcases the fullness of the Latino experience in the United States — fostering engagement and driving a new American narrative. AL DÍA offers readers a unique perspective in the midst of the cluttered media landscape with its national news website available in English and Spanish, a newspaper, English-language events including media panels, political conversations, film screenings, and other ambitious content initiatives.