Philadelphia’s Office of Immigrant Affairs (OIA) recognized community leaders, organizations and city government representatives for their contributions to immigrant, refugee and asylum-seeking communities during the 2026 Welcoming Awards ceremony on Thursday, Oct. 1.
Established in 2022, the awards recognize individuals and organizations working to promote a safer and more inclusive city and contributing to Philadelphia’s status as a Certified Welcoming City.
This year’s awards were presented in seven categories: Education Excellence, Public Safety Partnership, Arts and Culture Appreciation, Economic Empowerment, Health and Wellness, Clean and Green, and Youth Leadership. Each category recognized one community member and one city government representative.
The honorees included:
Education Excellence Award
- Lilibeth Castillo and Jessica Carvin, Community Schools coordinators with the City of Philadelphia.
- Rachel Aistrop, Career Pathways Education Manager at the Welcoming Center.
Public Safety Partnership Award
- City of Philadelphia’s Office of the Victim Advocate.
- Lilah Thompson, Chief of Immigration for the Community Defense Unit at the Defender Association of Philadelphia.
Arts and Culture Appreciation Award
- Tu Huynh, Curator of Exhibitions and Programs at Creative Philadelphia.
- Kristal Sotomayor, founder of Sotomayor Productions.
Economic Empowerment Award
- Michelle Price, Senior Director of the Mayor’s Business Action Team.
- Opeyemi Babajide, Adjunct Professor at Drexel University.
Health and Wellness Award
- Laura Carandall, Director of Food Security Initiatives at the Office of Children and Families.
- Arianne Bracho Hernández, founder and executive director of Centro Integral de Mujer Madre Tierra.
Clean and Green Award
- Andrew Emma, LOVE Park Manager with Parks & Recreation.
- Asian Americans United.
Youth Leadership Award
- Marcus Russel Tsai.
- Najibah Bushra.
During the ceremony, Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle L. Parker highlighted the city’s cultural diversity and said a city should ensure that its residents, regardless of where they come from, feel seen and empowered to thrive.
Charles Elison, director of the Office of Immigrant Affairs, highlighted the work of community organizations and city agencies throughout the year. Among the activities he mentioned were events connected to the FIFA World Cup, celebrations marking the 250th anniversary of the United States, festivals representing different communities and more than 50 flag-raising ceremonies.