Participant Voices Archives

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?” [...]

From “Alien Kid” to New Immigrant – Part 2

December 3, 2018 By The Welcoming Center In Participant Voices No Comments

by Tina Tan Believe it or not, being literally free has been quite a challenge for me after I moved to the States. Especially because I had been that kind of workaholic who used to work around the clock. I was an Area Manager in an apparel company back in China. I'd always considered my [...]

From “Alien Kid” to New Immigrant – Part 1

November 29, 2018 By The Welcoming Center In Participant Voices No Comments

by Tina Tan “Where are you from?” It has been the most common question for me since I came to Philadelphia. My appearance, my dressing style, together with my accent obviously indicate by no means am I American. I am Tina. I came from Shenzhen, China. When I was eight-year-old, I moved with my parents [...]

How I Found My Voice as an Immigrant in Philadelphia

October 29, 2018 By The Welcoming Center In Civic Engagement, Participant Voices No Comments

by Luciana Amorim I am from Brazil and my country has a lot of diversity—from beaches to mountains, to the different ways of speaking Portuguese with accent, some special words that define our culture. I never had an American Dream, or the dream of living in another country, or having the experience of living in [...]

My Experience Looking for a Job as an Immigrant Educated Abroad

August 23, 2018 By The Welcoming Center In Participant Voices, Workforce Development No Comments

by Irene Contreras Irene (second from right) with fellow IPP graduates. In January I started the International Professionals Program (also known as IPP). Even though I have work experience, university degrees and full work authorization without need future sponsorship, it has been hard for me finding a job in my field. After three years in [...]

Recent Posts