Philadelphia is home to generations of people who have come to our city in search of opportunity. This history continues today. More than ever, people come to Philadelphia to make a better life for themselves and their families, and Philadelphia has benefited from its immigrant residents.

Like everyone else, immigrants are looking for ways to improve their lives, but oftentimes, immigrants are also more vulnerable to exploitation. Many immigrants are unfamiliar with American workplace culture, labor laws, and are still learning English. Sometimes, immigrants risk deportation when they speak out.

Even with these challenges, many immigrants have helped improve work conditions for everyone. They have fought for higher wages, safer workplaces, and better benefits. They call out discrimination.

When immigrants thrive in the workplace, everyone wins.

This is why the Office of Immigrant Affairs is starting the Immigrant Workers Academy, a program that brings trainings on workplace issues into immigrant communities in different languages. We want to make sure immigrants have the support to speak up.

The first Immigrant Workers Academy will be on May 5, 2018 from 10:30 AM to 2:00 PM at Africom (6328 Paschall Avenue, Suite A, Philadelphia, PA 19142). We are working closely with the African-Caribbean communities of Southwest Philadelphia. For this workshop, we will be providing interpretation and translated materials in French and Haitian Creole.

If you or someone you know would like to attend, please register online.