Immigration Clinic partnering with municipality of State College to mark Welcoming Week

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- The Penn State Law Center for Immigrants’ Rights Clinic is collaborating with the Municipality of State College to recognize Welcoming Week with an Immigration and Equity Summit on Sept. 17.

The event is free and open to the public and will include speakers from the clinic and the municipality as well as members of the community discussing the local commitment to inclusivity and openness. The summit is scheduled for 5 to 6:30 p.m. at the State College Municipal Building at 243 South Allen Street. That same evening State College Mayor Donald Hahn will issue a Proclamation marking Welcoming Week in State College.

“It is a privilege to be partnering with the municipality and to witness their commitment to the inclusion of immigrants, refugees, and all residents in State College," said Professor Shoba Sivaprasad Wadhia, director of the Center for Immigrants’ Rights Clinic.

The municipality of State College has been a client of the Center for Immigrants’ Rights Clinic for several years, collaborating with the clinic in an effort to inform the community and help shape local policy regarding immigration.  Over the years, Wadhia and clinic students have delivered testimony before the State College Borough Council on immigration law and policy, held several community educational events with the borough, and helped craft a revised local policy on anti-bias-based policing, among other initiatives.

Organized by Welcoming America, Welcoming Week—occurring Sept. 14-23 this year—is an annual celebration bringing together thousands of people and hundreds of local events to build unity between the contributions of immigrants and refugees and the role long-term residents play in fostering greater welcome. The municipality of State College and Center for Immigrants are proud members of Welcoming America. This is the third year in a row the clinic has participated in Welcoming Week. The clinic joined Welcoming America in 2016 as the organization’s first collegiate member.

Constitution Day

The Center for Immigrants’ Rights Clinic will also have a booth at Constitution Day Centre, a free celebration of the U.S. Constitution, which will be held  from 1 to 6 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 16, at Grange Park in Centre Hall.