Immigrants in the Philadelphia Region: Trends, Contributions, & Gaps in Opportunity with Elizabeth Jones & Andrew Nguyen
Please join us for our January GVFHRA Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging Lunch & Learn. Our virtual events are free for our members to attend.
If you're currently unemployed, GVFHRA offers 6-month In-Transition Memberships to support you during your job search. These memberships include free access to virtual credit-earning events, discounted rates for in-person programs, and valuable networking opportunities. For those facing financial hardship, our Joe Giamboi Inclusion Fund can also help cover the cost of attending in-person events, ensuring that all professionals have access to the resources and connections they need. To request an In-Transition Membership, please email us at [email protected].
Date: Wednesday, January 7, 2026
Time: 12:00 to 1:15 PM EST
Virtual meetings: Zoom link will be provided when you register
Approved for 1.25 SHRM PDCs and 1.25 HRCI Business Credits
Immigrants in the Philadelphia Region: Trends, Contributions, & Gaps in Opportunity
SUMMARY
KEY OBJECTIVES
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Understand how immigrants contribute to a strong regional economy and help counteract population decline across key industries.
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Recognize how aligning immigrant talent with roles that match their education and skills improves organizational performance, strengthens communities, and generates broader economic benefits.
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Identify how short-term employer investments that address barriers facing immigrant workers lead to long-term returns on talent retention, productivity, and workforce stability.
SPEAKER
Elizabeth Jones serves as the Chief Program Officer at The Welcoming Center, where she leads strategic program development, cross-sector partnerships, and the organization’s data and research initiatives. With a career spanning nonprofit leadership, community development, and urban planning, she has designed evidence-driven systems that strengthen economic mobility pathways for immigrants across the Philadelphia region. Elizabeth previously held senior roles at The Welcoming Center, including Director of Strategy & Impact, where she guided major organizational initiatives such as a comprehensive Theory of Change, multi-year strategic plans, and the expansion of monitoring and evaluation capacity. Before entering the nonprofit sector, she spent two decades as a founding principal of a planning and architecture firm serving community development organizations. She holds a BA in Geography from the University of Missouri–Kansas City, an MA in Geography and Urban Studies from Temple University, a CELTA certification in teaching English to adult learners, and speaks French (B2).
Andrew Nguyen serves as the Senior Director of Work Readiness at The Welcoming Center, where he leads the organization’s strategic vision for immigrant talent development and industry partnership across the Pennsylvania region. He oversees a portfolio of workforce initiatives—including the International Professionals Program and the Global Skills Union Pathway Project—that connect globally trained immigrant professionals to high-demand sectors and strengthen employer pipelines in healthcare, business operations, manufacturing, and skilled trades. With over a decade of experience in employment programming and labor organizing, Andrew previously served as the Employment Program Manager at HIAS Pennsylvania, where he directed a $1.5M+ portfolio of employment services and launched new partnerships with government, philanthropic, and corporate stakeholders. His background includes strategic planning, program design, grant stewardship, and negotiating labor contracts on behalf of thousands of workers. Andrew is committed to advancing economic mobility and building equitable systems that unlock the potential of underserved communities. He holds a BA Double Major in Sociology and Anthropology from Brandeis University.
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Contact: Jennifer Walkowiak
