Partnership with The Welcoming Center Brings Civic Education Resources to Non-English Speaking Residents
For Immediate Release: Tuesday, June 24, 2025
Contacts:
Genevieve Greene, The Committee of Seventy, ggreene@seventy.org, 617-785-6991
Sarah Reyes, The Welcoming Center, Sreyes@bellevuepr.com, 267-980-8104
Philadelphia, PA – The Committee of Seventy was joined by The Welcoming Center, Philadelphia City Councilmember Isaiah Thomas, Philadelphia Chairman Commissioner Omar Sabir, Philadelphia Commissioner Seth Bluestein and community partners today to announce that its How Philly Works Guide is now available in Spanish and Chinese, with a French version expected to be released soon. The multilingual expansion was developed in collaboration with an action project team within The Welcoming Center’s Immigrant Leadership Institute (ILI).
The Committee of Seventy also announced three additional civic education resources currently in development: How the School District Works, How the Ward System Works, and How Harrisburg Works.
“Democracy doesn’t happen to us, we create it together,” said Lauren Cristella, President and CEO of the Committee of Seventy. “Understanding how government works empowers people to speak up, get involved, and shape the future of their communities. By translating the How Philly Works guide into multiple languages and expanding this initiative, we’re removing barriers and making government easier to navigate. Because that’s how we strengthen democracy: by making sure everyone is able to participate.”
The How Philly Works Guide serves as a comprehensive resource explaining Philadelphia’s local government structure and processes. The multilingual versions aim to increase civic engagement among the city’s non-English speaking and foreign-born residents by making government information more accessible and easier to understand.
“This project is exemplary of what The Welcoming Center’s Immigrant Leadership Institute is designed to do,” said Anuj Gupta, President and CEO of The Welcoming Center. “Participants identified a critical need for expanded access to civic information and worked with the Committee of Seventy to make a vital resource more accessible for all Philadelphians. Their work demonstrates the impact we can have when communities and partners work together toward a common goal.”
The Spanish and Chinese versions of How Philly Works are available through the Committee of Seventy’s website here. Printed copies will also be distributed throughout Philadelphia.
The How Philly Works guide is a part of Every Voice, Every Vote, a collaborative project managed by The Lenfest Institute for Journalism. Lead support is provided by the William Penn Foundation with additional funding from The Lenfest Institute, Peter and Judy Leone, the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, Harriet and Larry Weiss, and the Wyncote Foundation, among others. To learn more about Every Voice, Every Vote and view a full list of supporters, visit www.everyvoice-everyvote.org. Editorial content is created independently of the project’s donors.
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About The Committee of Seventy
The Committee of Seventy is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that has promoted, supported and facilitated government ethics and election integrity for more than a century. Seventy advocates for more free, fair, safe and secure elections and works to ensure that every eligible voter votes, is informed when they vote, and votes with confidence. For more information, visit: https://live-c70.pantheonsite.io/.
About The Welcoming Center
The Welcoming Center (TWC) is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization based in Philadelphia that promotes inclusive economic growth through immigrant integration. Founded in 2003, TWC works to open doors of economic opportunity for immigrants of all education and skill levels and build immigrants’ individual and collective agency to address barriers to integration and wellbeing. TWC collaborates with its participants, a broad spectrum of organizations, and public and private sector institutions to advance learning, shape policy, and grow the economy.