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About Us

We welcome immigrants as neighbors and leaders. Together, we create pathways to economic growth and strengthen the fabric of our communities.

The Welcoming Center (TWC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Philadelphia that welcomes immigrants as neighbors and leaders. Founded in 2003, TWC creates pathways to economic growth and strengthens communities by opening doors of opportunity for immigrants of all backgrounds, education, and skill levels. Through four core programs: English and Digital Skills, Work Readiness, Entrepreneurship, and Community Leadership, TWC helps immigrants build skills, confidence, and agency to overcome barriers and achieve economic mobility.

Meet Our Founder

A professional physical therapist from County Monaghan, Ireland, Anne O’Callaghan, founder of The Welcoming Center, came to the United States in 1970.

Anne aimed to build a career in Philadelphia, but she learned that because she was foreign trained, she could not take the Pennsylvania State Medical Examiners’ Physical Therapy licensing exam without which she could not practice in the state. It took three years for her to get her Pennsylvania Physical Therapy license at a time when Physical Therapists were very much needed in the State. Anne had a very satisfying career in community health and teaching physical therapy students at the University of Pennsylvania.

In 2000 while volunteering for an immigrant resource center which primarily helped Irish-American immigrants, Anne encountered a woman from China, who spoke almost no English, but was seeking help finding an ESOL class for her son. Anne’s experience trying to find ESOL classes for this lady brought home to her how exponentially more difficult the integration experience is for immigrants with limited English-speaking abilities. Anne decided that she had to do something to create a centralized resource center for immigrants where they could easily access information about ESOL, jobs and establishing small businesses as they started their new lives in our region.

In 2003, Anne and her close network of friends and supporters opened the Pennsylvania Immigrant Resource Center, which ultimately became The Welcoming Center.

This organization has carried out her vision for over a decade. To date, The Welcoming Center has served over 17,000 people from over 150 countries around the world, promoting inclusive economic growth through immigrant integration, just as Anne envisioned.

Meet Our Team

Rachel Aistrop is the Career Pathways Education Manager. She holds an MA in Global Migration and Policy and over ten years of teaching English to adult language learners from around the world. Combining contextualized English and workforce development, Rachel has designed and delivered multiple pilot programs at The Welcoming Center that help participants to achieve professional success and stability. Her drive comes from her strong belief in equal access to opportunity and a deep respect for the resilience of anyone calling a new place home. 
Shariq Ali Pradhan is the Digital Skills Program Manager at The Welcoming Center.
 
Shariq is an educator and advocate with a passion for digital equity and immigrant empowerment. He has worked extensively in education, mentorship, and program development, supporting immigrant communities in navigating academic, professional, and digital spaces. Before joining The Welcoming Center, he served as  an educational consultant at HelloCollege, guiding students—many from immigrant backgrounds—through the college application process. He also helped develop curriculum and mentorship programs for immigrant youth at HIAS Pennsylvania and led a national educational coaching initiative for immigrant parents through AKEB USA.
 
Shariq holds an M.S.Ed. in Intercultural Communication from the University of Pennsylvania and a B.A. in International & Global Studies and Policy Studies from Elon University. With a deep interest in language, culture, and technology, he is committed to making digital skills education accessible and impactful for immigrant communities.
 
Fahim is the Employment Services Coordinator for the BTW Program at The Welcoming Center. He brings a strong background in recruitment, with extensive experience working in both nonprofit organizations and recruitment agencies in the United States and his home country. Fahim holds a Master’s degree in Agriculture from India.
 
Before joining The Welcoming Center, Fahim worked as a Data and Quality Assurance Specialist at HIAS PA and later as the Director of Recruiting at ACCU Staffing, where he led employment placement efforts for more than 500 refugees across the greater Philadelphia area, working closely with resettlement agencies including NSC, HIAS Pennsylvania, Bethany, and TWC.
 
In his current role, Fahim supports program participants by providing individualized job-readiness coaching, including application support and interview preparation. He is passionate about serving the immigrant community and helping individuals achieve long-term employment success in the Philadelphia region

Louise Bittout is the Associate Director of Communications for The Welcoming Center. For press and media inquiries, contact Louise at louise@welcomingcenter.org

Assia Bensafia is the Strategy and Impact Coordinator at The Welcoming Center, where she supports program evaluation, data analysis, and impact measurement to help strengthen services for immigrants. 

Assia first heard about The Welcoming Center through the Northeast Regional Library after arriving in the United States in 2023. She later joined the Welcoming Center’s IPP program, an experience that inspired her to become more involved with the organization. She then volunteered with the Strategy and Impact team for a couple of months before joining the staff. 

Before moving to the U.S., Assia worked for four years as an IT Engineer at Sonatrach, Algeria’s national oil and gas company. She holds a Master’s degree in Information Technology and is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Data Analytics at Penn State University. She also worked as a Web Developer with Penn State’s Instructional Design team, where she helped create and improve online learning experiences. 

Inez Bruce is the Student Support Coordinator at The Welcoming Center.

Mady is teaching ESOL to Spanish speakers at the Bok School in South Philadelphia. After many years as a dancer, choreographer and dance educator in the Dance Program at Bryn Mawr College, Mady has returned to teaching new English speakers.  Her methods include a hearty serving of movement and dance on the path to learning. She holds a BA from Barnard College and an MFA in dance from the University of Michigan.  

Karen Cervera is the Associate Director of Community Leadership at The Welcoming Center, where she leads initiatives that equip immigrants and refugees with the leadership skills, connections, and opportunities to strengthen their communities and increase civic and economic participation. She oversees the Immigrant Leadership Institute and works to expand community leadership across the Greater Philadelphia region. 

Before stepping into this role, Karen managed The Welcoming Center’s International Professionals Program, supporting internationally trained immigrants in navigating the U.S. job market, rebuilding their careers, and connecting with meaningful employment opportunities. She also co-founded Let’s Talk Philly! Conversation Circles, a community initiative dedicated to bringing people from different backgrounds together through dialogue, cultural exchange, and shared experiences and stories. 

Karen is passionate about leadership, community building, and creating spaces where people feel empowered, heard, and a true sense of belonging. In her free time, she enjoys reading, traveling, learning languages, and discovering great coffee. 

Sam Chanzi is our IT Support at The Welcoming Center.

Isabelle Concepcion is the Regional Employment Specialist at The Welcoming Center, where she supports IPP participants in their job search and career development process. She has previous experience working with immigrants and refugees as an ESL program director in Northeast Philadelphia. She is passionate about helping people reach their goals through education and community-building. Isabelle is thrilled to support IPP’s expansion into Chester and Montgomery Counties.

Layla El Tannir is the Director of Entrepreneurship at The Welcoming Center. Prior to joining The Welcoming Center, Layla spent nine years at Reading Terminal Market, helping the non-profit and the merchant leadership navigate the competitive landscape, both digitally and physically. Her role focused on: community and corporate partnerships, commercial and temporary leasing, e-commerce, and supported marketing and public relations efforts. 
 
Layla graduated from Drexel University’s Center for Hospitality & Food Management with a degree in Hospitality Management and a focus on Business and Tourism. As part of her degree, Layla completed her co-op with Global Philadelphia Association, and continued to engage with the organization through the Emerging International Journalists Program. Most recently, Layla joined Global Philadelphia Association’s Board of Directors.  
Lia Finkelstein (she/her) is the Bridges to Work Program Manager at The Welcoming Center, where she supports immigrants in finding sustainable employment across all stages of their career and English‑language learning journeys. She brings four years of experience in immigrant workforce development and a deep curiosity about the intersections of migration, employment, and trauma. Previously, Lia led HIAS Pennsylvania’s largest job placement program, helping more than 100 newly arrived refugees secure jobs each year. She holds a B.A. in Psychology from Loyola University Maryland and is continually inspired by Philadelphia’s immigrant communities. 
Sarah Godner is the Program Manager of the Global Skills Union Pathways Project (GSUPP) program. GSUPP is a 16-week program in collaboration with The Welcoming Center, the Philadelphia Council AFL-CIO, and the Hanwha Philly Shipyard that prepares immigrant participants for the Shipyard’s paid apprenticeship program. 
 
Born and raised in New Mexico, Sarah graduated from the University of Texas at Austin. Before moving to Philadelphia, she worked and volunteered at various nonprofits in Austin, including a legal organization for immigrant workers and a consumer advocacy nonprofit. Sarah is TESOL certified and has been a volunteer ESL teacher in several different cities.
 
Sarah received a Master’s in Education from Penn’s Graduate School of Education. She taught elementary school here in Philadelphia before returning to work in the non-profit and education sectors.
 
Sarah has worked previously at The Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia and the West Philadelphia Alliance for Children. At the Chamber, she coordinated various programs at the intersection of education, talent, economic growth and advocacy. She also ran the Chamber’s Future Ready program, which partnered with labor unions and a range of other employer partners on a middle school career exploration program. Most recently, she was the project manager at the Philadelphia Education Fund of the Pennsylvania Statewide STEM Ecosystem (PSSE), a network of STEM education stakeholders in Pennsylvania.  
 
Sarah’s grandparents and great grandparents were immigrants from Eastern Europe – their participation in and value of immigrant aid organizations was passed down through her family. Sarah is very excited to be working on the GSUPP program, and she is passionate about the program’s goals – inclusive workforce development in the unionized skilled trades and providing economic opportunities for immigrants to our country.

Anuj Gupta is the President and CEO of The Welcoming Center.

Cylia Hamma is the Strategy and Impact Manager at The Welcoming Center, where she supports organizational learning and programs evaluation through data. She holds a master’s degree in Software Engineering from Algeria, and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Data Analytics. Cylia’s journey with The Welcoming Center started as an IPP participant just one month after moving to the USA. 

Megan “MJ” Johnson is the Development & Communications Coordinator at The Welcoming Center.

Elizabeth Jones works with program teams to create innovating solutions that prepare immigrants and refugees to connect with economic opportunities, fostering self-sufficiency and community engagement.  She oversees the design, implementation, and assessment of all programming.

Before joining the staff, Elizabeth became familiar with the Welcoming Center by volunteer teaching ESL. For the previous 19 years, she was a founding partner in an architecture and urban planning firm where she worked extensively in community development. Through these experiences Elizabeth gained a keen understanding for the complexities of urban communities and overlapping priorities of various groups, and helped clients develop community-driven projects and sustainable methods for decision-making.

Elizabeth has a Bachelor of Arts in Geography from the University of Missouri, Kansas City, a Master of Arts in Geography from Temple University, and a CELTA (Cambridge Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults). She currently speaks French at a B2 level. You can reach Elizabeth at elizabeth@welcomingcenter.org.

Mariama Korka Diallo is the Administrative support specialist. She joined The Welcoming Center staff in April 2024
 
She is a passionate advocate for early childhood education and community service from Guinea, West Africa. With a law degree, she worked for six years in law firms before embarking on a career in human resources. After immigrating to the United States, Mariama continued to pursue her passion for helping others. She is fluent in Fulani, French, Sousou, and an intermediate level of English. 
 
 Mariama’s core values ​​revolve around the relationships she has with her friends, family, and community. She is driven by a dream to support those around her through personal relationships or broader community efforts. —rooted in her own life-changing experiences—fuels her mission to help others achieve their educational goals. She firmly believes that education can change mindsets, empower individuals, and create lasting change. I adhere to Victor Hugo’s adage, “He who opens a school door, closes a prison.”

Ben Kemper is the Employment Support Aide, working with the Global Skills Union Pathways Project Program (GSUPP). GSUPP is a 21-week program in collaboration with The Welcoming Center, the Philadelphia Council AFL-CIO, and the Hanwha Philly Shipyard that prepares immigrant participants for the Shipyard’s paid apprenticeship program. 

Born and raised in Cincinnati, OH, Ben received degrees in Political Science in Spanish from Saint Louis University. He has experience working as an ESL teacher with programs thatfacilitated immigrant learning in St. Louis, which instilled in him a passion for working with migrant and refugee communities.

Ben is also interested in Politics and Policy and has worked and organized political campaigns both in St. Louis and Cincinnati. Additionally, Ben’s experience working with custodians and maintenance staff at SEIU Local 1 in St. Louis, MO helped him realize the importance of organizing labor to respect the dignity of work.

Ben is excited to combine these interests in his role as the Employment Support Aide with the GSUPP program. He looks forward to working with GSUPP partners and building relationships with participants.

Jessica A. Levy is the Director of ESOL & Digital Skills, responsible for English language development and digital literacy training activities across all program areas at The Welcoming Center.

For many years, Jessica has worked at the intersections of education, the arts, and civic engagement. With over twenty years in the nonprofit & public sectors, she has designed and implemented civic participation initiatives, arts-based community programs, and a variety of education, service, and advocacy events. She was a Founding Partner of The Blue Door Group, a Philadelphia-based consulting company focused on deepening learning and strengthening collaboration through interactive and participatory process design and facilitation.

Jessica’s work has included immigrant rights organizing, community education, and using drama-based approaches to learning and community-building. Jessica has taught graduate-level courses in experiential learning and arts-integrated education with the UPenn’s Graduate School of Education and ESOL and Citizenship classes at District 1199C Training & Upgrading Fund. Her work in English language education has also included developing a curriculum for and co-teaching an Integrated Education and Training (IET) Home Health Aide training program for adult English Language Learners (ELLs). She also designed and taught drama-based ESOL classes for ELLs at Temple University’s Center for American Language and Culture. Jessica brings a strong interest in the role of creativity, arts, and design in learning; and in the role of education / training in supporting community, collaboration, and civic engagement.

You can email Jessica to get in touch with her!

Seth Myers serves as the Project Coordinator for the Breaking Bread Breaking Barriers Project at The Welcoming Center. Before joining The Welcoming Center, Seth worked in community engagement for the City of Philadelphia and as a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant to Germany. He holds a Master’s in Public Policy from Harvard University and a B.A. from Kenyon College.

John comes to The Welcoming Center with experience as an ESL teacher, public health professional, and small business owner. He is excited to join an organization engaged in such meaningful work.

Andrew Nguyen is the Senior Director of Work Readiness at The Welcoming Center, where he leads workforce development initiatives that create career advancement opportunities for immigrants and support employers in building pipelines to skilled talent. With over a decade of experience in employment programming and labor organizing, Andrew previously served as the Employment Program Manager at HIAS Pennsylvania, overseeing +$1.5 million in funding across five workforce programs. His expertise includes strategic planning, grant management, and labor relations, having represented thousands of employees in contract negotiations. He holds a strong commitment to advancing economic opportunities for underserved communities. Andrew holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Anthropology from Brandeis University.

 
Toni Nottingham, Ed.D. (Dr. T), is the Career Coach and Program Coordinator for the Manufacturing Opportunities for Career Advancement (MOCA) program at The Welcoming Center, a collaborative initiative with Drexel University’s Goodwin School. In this role, she supports immigrants and refugees in building career pathways, professional networks, and job search skills in manufacturing and other high-demand industries.
 
With over 25 years of experience in workforce development and adult education, Toni previously served as Senior Director of Learning & Professional Development at NET Centers, where she designed and delivered professional development programs for 540+ employees in a mission-driven nonprofit serving vulnerable populations. Her expertise includes career readiness instruction, one-on-one executive coaching, program coordination, and workforce development strategy.
 
She is a guest lecturer in the Chief Learning Officer Program at the University of Pennsylvania’s Graduate School of Education, where she teaches graduate students on leadership development and organizational effectiveness. Toni holds a strong commitment to advancing economic mobility and career pathways for underserved communities. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations, a Master of Science in Organizational Development, and a Doctor of Education in Chief Learning Officer—all from the University of Pennsylvania. She lives by the principle “Each One, Teach One,” and currently resides in Delaware County with her two Mastiffs.

Karli is a licensed social worker and passionate about public health. Originally from Indiana, Karli is a Hoosier and resident of Philadelphia since 2022. In their free time, Karli enjoys container gardening on their patio, carving rubber stamps, listening to vinyl records, and sending snail mail. Karli is excited to be a part of The Welcoming Center.

Mamadou Pethe Balde is the Digital Skills Assistant Instructor at The Welcoming Center.

He was born in a little village called FATAKO located in Guinea (Conakry), in west Africa. He was raised in a large family of eight children. His tenacity and endurance come from helping his parents with farming and animal (cows) care when he was a tiny child.
 
Mamadou graduated with a bachelor’s degree in sociology from the University of General Lansana Conte of Sonfonia-Conakry. The Modern Professional Institute of Guinea awarded him a certificate in management and marketing. He completed the Immigrants Leadership Institute program and received a certificate from the Welcoming Center. He is a member of the thirteenth cohort.
 
Mamadou’s new role involves helping the instructor teach immigrants new digital skills.
 
In addition, Mamadou occasionally volunteers at the Lutheran Settlement House and Philadelphia Park and Recreation. He enjoys breeding cats as well. Mamadou speaks Fulani, French, English and has an intermediate level in Mandingo.

Manuel Portillo started in The Welcoming Center in 2014 as Director of the Immigrant Professionals Program to help unemployed and underemployed individuals to develop the skills necessary to access professional employment. He is currently the Director of Community Leadership working to develop participatory strategies to build trust and long-term relationships with immigrant communities. 

He is a seasoned non-profit leader who comes to The Welcoming Center after a substantive career in non-profit program development. Manuel is a 32-year Philadelphia resident who is originally from Guatemala and is well-traveled and experienced working with people of diverse cultural and language backgrounds. He is a long-time professional organizer working to address local issues while building immigrant social and economic inclusion. 

Andrea Pulido is the International Professionals Program (IPP) Program Manager at The Welcoming Center and previously served as an employment specialist for IPP. In IPP, she works with international professionals to support participants in building meaningful and fulfilling careers in the United States. 

She has previous experience working with refugee, immigrant, and youth populations, both as an educator and support services coordinator. She is drawn to working with newcomers and vulnerable populations, pulling from her own background as a child of Filipino immigrants and experiences living abroad in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Philippines, and Spain. She graduated with a degree in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies and a certificate in Reproductive Justice from the University of Massachusetts and striving for social justice is at the heart of all of her interests. Andrea wholeheartedly believes that with support comes success and she’s excited to continue empowering the immigrant community in Philadelphia. 

Ala’a Quniebi, is a Civic Action Support Specialist in the ILI program. She joined the Welcoming center in 2025, having graduated from the ILI program in 2024.
 
Ala’a has a passion and commitment to supporting immigrant and refugee communities thrive in their new environment in the US. She has expertise in understanding the challenge faced by refugees and immigrants,  through her several years of experience working with large organizations such as Save the Children and Action against hunger, in her home country of Jordan, supporting Syrian refugees.
 
Ala’a is Tri-lingual, fluent in Arabic, English and Spanish, having majored in English and Spanish language and strives to constantly be learning and improving. 

Rebecca Rathje joined The Welcoming Center in 2015. She earned her B.A. in Social Science from the University of Michigan and holds a Certificate in Fundraising from the Nonprofit Center at LaSalle University’s School of Business. Rebecca has over 25 years’ experience in non-profit fundraising and management.

Katie Ryan is the ESOL Program Manager at The Welcoming Center, with nearly 20 years of experience helping adult learners strengthen their English and build confidence to reach academic, personal, and career goals. She has taught English and college readiness skills at the Community College of Philadelphia; English for business, entrepreneurship, law, dentistry, and more at the University of Pennsylvania; and science outreach communication to international researchers across the U.S. Katie also worked in the U.S. Department of State’s Office of English Language Programs, where she developed resources and online training for educators worldwide. She holds an MA in TESOL from American University and a BA in Communication from Loyola University Maryland. Beyond her professional work, Katie enjoys exploring new hiking trails with her partner and young child, reading short stories, and discovering new music.

Ana Riccomi is the Strategic Partnerships Manager at The Welcoming Center, where she builds meaningful relationships with employers, organizations, and community partners to expand opportunities and strengthen the impact of the organization’s mission. 

Originally from Brazil, Ana moved to the United States in 2019 and experienced firsthand the challenges of rebuilding a professional career in a new country. Navigating a new labor market, developing new connections, and finding opportunities shaped her understanding of how important access, support, and strong networks are in creating successful career pathways. 

Ana’s journey with The Welcoming Center began as a participant, and that experience became the foundation for her commitment to supporting immigrant communities. Before transitioning into her current role, she served as Employer Partnership Coordinator, where she developed employer relationships, connected organizations with talented immigrant professionals, and supported participants in accessing meaningful career opportunities. 

With a bachelor’s degree in Psychology, a master’s degree in Strategic People Management, and a Career Coaching Certification, Ana brings experience in recruitment, talent management, workforce development, learning and development, and strategic partnerships. 

In her role as Strategic Partnerships Manager, Ana collaborates across departments to engage corporate partners through workforce development initiatives, volunteer opportunities, sponsorships, and philanthropic partnerships. She is passionate about creating connections that open doors, strengthen communities, and create lasting opportunities for immigrants and employers alike. 

Zachary Shapiro is the Grants & Strategic Research Manager for The Welcoming Center (TWC). At TWC, Zachary is responsible for grant writing, reporting, funding research, and developing relationships with funders. He has experience in research, facilitation, community engagement, strategic planning, and funding development. Most of his professional work has focused on education, workforce development, housing, human trafficking, and harm reduction. Zachary is excited about grant writing at TWC because it’s an opportunity to tell the inspiring stories of both program participants and TWC staff.  

Zachary has a Master of Social Work from the University of Michigan with a concentration in Social Polices and Evaluation, and a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Western Michigan University. He is from the Detroit-metropolitan area and loves reading and writing. His interests include history, education, labor, social welfare, and international affairs.

Taj is the Project Manager for Breaking Bread, Breaking Barriers, an initiative that aims to bridge native-born and foreign-born Philadelphians through the power of food and culinary exchange, while fostering deeper connection to their communities. Prior to joining The Welcoming Center, Taj served as the Refugee Resettlement Program Manager at HIAS Pennsylvania, overseeing the resettlement of 800+ refugees in the greater Philadelphia region. A Texan at heart, Taj received her Master of Social Work with a focus in administrative and policy practice from the University of Texas at Austin and also brings over a decade of experience working in various legislative capacities, including the Sunset Advisory Commission and Department of State Health Services. Her expertise includes program evaluation, policy analysis, and nonprofit management. In her free time, Taj can be found reading on a sunny patio or checking out the latest addition to the diverse Philly food scene (of which there are many!) She is proud is to serve the immigrant community in the greater Philadelphia area.

Kara Thomany is the Participant Support & Intake Manager (ESOL-DS) at The Welcoming Center.

Linlin Wang (she/her/hers) is the Program Manager of ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) program. Dedicated to language education, Linlin has extensive teaching and administrative experience in programs serving diverse students of all ages and cultural backgrounds. Having worked in public, private, and higher education sectors, Linlin has always enjoyed the most supporting immigrants since she first came to the U.S. in 2014. Linlin has many personal interests such as arts and crafts, cooking, baking, wiffle ball, badminton, board games, (cute) video games, among others. Linlin is also a mom of two cats, one chinchilla, and two hamsters.

Timothy Wroten is an ESOL instructor and communications consultant with experience teaching in nonprofit and community college settings in the United States and Spain. He partners with adult learners to build practical English skills for the workplace, career advancement, and everyday life. He holds a TESOL certification from Arizona State University, a master’s degree from Baruch College, and a bachelor’s degree from The New School.
 
Before entering adult education, Timothy spent more than a decade working in the arts and philanthropy, managing public relations, content strategy, and community engagement initiatives. A dual citizen and conversant in French and Spanish, he is committed to supporting English language learners from diverse backgrounds and helping them feel confident, connected, and empowered in their communities. Outside of work, he enjoys film, hiking, history, and the performing arts.

Hitomi Yoshida (she/her), MS. Ed., MPhil OD, is a Qualitative Analysis Specialist on the Strategy and Impact team, where she designs and conducts human-centered qualitative evaluation to strengthen the Center’s learning and impact. 

Her previous research has focused on the needs and contributions of immigrant and refugee communities, including co-authoring qualitative research reports at Temple University and documenting a participatory capacity-building initiative with immigrant nonprofit leaders for the Scattergood Foundation. Across her work in research, education, and community partnerships throughout her career, Hitomi has collaborated with immigrant-serving organizations to advance immigrant integration efforts. 

As a first-generation immigrant originally from Osaka, Japan, she is honored to support the Center’s mission and is committed to helping build welcoming, thriving communities where immigrants can flourish. 

Sofian Zapf is the Communications & Development Associate at The Welcoming Center, where he supports marketing, communications, and development efforts. He works to craft messaging and strengthen program marketing, while building the internal systems and processes that support fundraising and development operations. He collaborates closely with program teams to promote services and increase opportunities for new immigrant audiences. Previously, Sofian worked as a Market Research Assistant at Zaslow Marketing Group. He holds a B.A. in Advertising with a concentration in Brand Strategy and Research from Temple University.

 
Andrew Zidel is the Associate Director of Workforce Partnerships at The Welcoming Center, where he leads employer engagement and strategic partnership development for manufacturing and skilled trades initiatives. In this leadership role, Andrew works to align employer needs, technical training pathways, and curriculum design with a dedicated, skilled immigrant talent pool.
 
Prior to joining TWC, Andrew served as the Associate Director of Employer Relations at Peirce College, where he expanded employer partnerships and networks across all academic areas to create career-advancing opportunities for non-traditional students. With over two decades of experience in full-cycle talent acquisition and higher education career services, Andrew brings a unique perspective from both sides of the “talent desk.”
 
Andrew holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Kansas, a Master of Arts from Gratz College, and a Certificate in Leadership & Management from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School.
 
As a mission-driven leader, the common thread throughout Andrew’s career has been a commitment to equity, human-first relationship building, and community impact. He is passionate about designing creative talent pipelines that support regional employers and strengthen the economy through inclusive workforce development.

Meet Our Board

Hao-Li Loh – Chair 

John Touey – Vice Chair – Trilogy Talent Advisors

Kristy Leong – Secretary – Verdant Growth

Anurag Jain – Treasurer – PrePay Nation

Maleda Berhane – AR Spruce

Miya Choi – Past TWC Participant

Nina Chen – Universal Health Services Inc.

Carlton L. Johnson, Esq. – Archer & Grenier P.C.

Andrew Rachlin – Spring Garden Capital Group

Paula Pritchett – University of Pennsylvania

Daniel P. Bauder – Philadelphia Council AFL-CIO

Shirin Karsan – YPO Peace Action Network and Philadelphia Foundation

Doaa Fahmy – HR Consultant

Anuj Gupta – President & CEO, The Welcoming Center

William A. Stock, Esq. – Klasko Immigration Law

Mary Dickerson – Radian

Anne O’Callaghan – Emeritus – Founder, The Welcoming Center

Our Donors

The generosity of our individual donors, and corporate and foundation funders is what fuels The Welcoming Center’s mission. We’re grateful for their support and optimistic about what we can do together to build Pennsylvania’s economy by providing employment resources for immigrants.

Please contact us about becoming a funder for The Welcoming Center or make a tax-deductible donation.

To see all our Donors, Institutional Funders, and Partners – take a look at our Annual Report!

2025 Annual Report