One out of every 4 millennials in Philadelphia is foreign-born. That made us look into how many of our participants in conversation circles are millennials, and we found out that it’s actually about 80%. This tells us that our main target group is not only recently arrived immigrants but millennials, as well.
Let’s Talk Philly! Is working to address the different dimensions of wellness, such as social (developing meaningful relationships), intellectual (engaging in learning), emotional (learning to interpret and manage how we feel), physical (developing a broad understanding of health), and awareness of the other areas important to immigrants such as the centrality of the family, the stressful acculturation process, and the importance of receiving competent guidance in our integration process. When we do well in these areas, where everything is connected, we work well and participate in social and civic life.
We are creating a space where the talents and skills of immigrants are recognized, promoted and protected. Working in partnership with The Welcoming Center, we aim to increase immigrant wellness and contribute to the retention of an immigrant workforce in our region by providing a fun and safe space where people can build their language skills, share information, and develop confidence and meaningful relationships. Immigrants play a critical role in the economic growth and health of the city, although we are often seen through a deficit lens instead of understanding the assets we represent.
Using a non-clinical approach that is built on the strengths, experiences and cultural values of immigrants, our conversation circles are powerful. The beauty of this approach is that participants take responsibility for their own learning. Through thematic conversations that reinforce meaningful practice of language skills, we serve as a platform of growth, organization, and opportunity. We aim at increasing awareness and helping immigrants develop new skills to overcome barriers that threaten our sense of wellness and wellbeing.
