Participant Voices Archives - The Welcoming Center

A Conversation Between James Hancock and Olena Hart

Our International Professionals Program graduate, Olena Hart, recently interviewed Welcoming Center volunteer, James Hancock. Read their conversation below. Hello James! Thank you for agreeing to talk about yourself, the company you work for and your experience, as a volunteer, with the Welcoming Center. Could you please introduce yourself first? Yes, sure. My name is James [...]

Overcoming Barriers as a High Skilled Immigrant in Philadelphia

June 9, 2020 By The Welcoming Center In Community Engagement, Participant Voices, Workforce Development No Comments

I am Fode Kaba Traore. I am from Guinea which is in West Africa. In 2012, I earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from University Gamal Abdel Nasser of Conakry. Also, I earned certificates in HSE and transportation. Afterwards, I worked for different companies in the transportation field in Conakry and the countryside of [...]

A Journey of a Thousand Light Years Begins With a Single Step

October 25, 2019 By The Welcoming Center In Community Engagement, Participant Voices No Comments

by Shan Yang Shan (back row, 2nd from left) May 28, 2016: Waking up at 2:00 a.m. in Philadelphia, I cannot help thinking about where I am in the boundless darkness and endless silence. Just a few hours ago, I was thankful for the thick curtains that perfectly blocked the blazing sunlight so I could [...]

I Am Just Where I Belong

June 11, 2019 By The Welcoming Center In Civic Engagement, Participant Voices No Comments

by Ben Goebel For as long as I can remember I always wanted to come to America. Maybe not to live here at first, but this country had always been on my mind since my uncle told me how great it was. I finally received my Green Card a couple months ago. I am not [...]

My Rural Childhood Life

January 28, 2019 By The Welcoming Center In Participant Voices No Comments

by George Dong One day, my mom and I were arranging firewood beside a creek. All of a sudden, a pig came rushing down, with shrill screaming, from halfway up the mountain. We frightenedly looked in the direction of the sound. “Look, a wolf.” my mom shouted with a finger pointing at the mountain. “Where?” [...]

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