About Us

Finding a good hospital, an attorney or a school in Southwestern Pennsylvania may seem easy to someone who has lived here for awhile or moved from another state. But if you hail from another country, with a totally different culture and language, these things can be anything but simple.

The Welcome Center for Immigrants and Internationals has been established to provide our global citizens with the help they need to feel more comfortable--and at home--here.

Our Mission: The mission of the Welcome Center for Immigrants and Internationals is to help immigrants and internationals successfully live in or relocate to Southwestern Pennsylvania so they will contribute to the economic vitality of the region.

The Center is designed to be a key entry point for immigrants and internationals, bringing together services providers, community groups and international organizations in order to serve as a central hub for direct WCII services and referrals to the many other organizations in our region that provide services to immigrants and internationals.

Our multi-lingual staff will assist internationals with myriad issues, from finding appropriate housing and legal services, providing referrals to English as a Second Language instruction, job search assistance, and helping them access necessary health care, education and translation services.

The Welcome Center currently operates in Squirrel Hill, within walking distance of thousands of immigrants who have resettled in Pittsburgh's East End. The community center is located at 5743 Bartlett Street, near large concentrations of recent arrivals from a variety of countries, including China, Haiti, India, Iraq, Israel, Nigeria, Russia, Turkey, and Yemen. It is home to computer and other classes, and bilingual caseworkers who provide information and/or conduct in-depth interviews to determine how best to help our clients.

Plans are afoot to expand WCII to include a space for meetings, workshops and congregating; displaying of art; and a place where other services providers could meet clients.

How much do you know about immigration issues? Click here to take our quiz.