Event – Detail

Did you enjoy The Athenaeum's Salon in past seasons? Or was it always sold out?

Join us in March for its new iteration, with an in-depth discussion about the impacts of national immigration policies on immigrants living in Philadelphia and, by extension, on the city itself.

Held in the Busch Room, Philly Unfiltered is a moderated, "off the record" discussion among local experts and leaders for Athenaeum members and their guests. Attendees are welcome to continue the conversation afterward over light refreshments. A committee of Athenaeum members organizes Philly Unfiltered to showcase civic debates and developments that keep Philadelphia vibrant in a changing world.

Anuj Gupta is President and CEO of The Welcoming Center, an organization he helped start with his graduate school research in 2003. In this role, he leads the organization’s strategic vision towards catalyzing Philadelphia’s growth through immigrant economic integration. He previously served as Chief of Staff to Congressman Dwight Evans (PA-03), leading successful legislative strategies towards passage such as the $1B Reconnecting Communities fund in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Act. Prior to this, he was General Manager of the historic Reading Terminal Market, overseeing all aspects of the nearly 80 merchant market’s day-to-day operations including leasing, marketing, special events, as well as guiding the non-profit corporation’s strategic direction. During this time, Anuj was selected as a Public Space Fellow by the Knight Foundation for his work in making the Reading Terminal an inviting, accessible space for all Philadelphians.

Charlie Elison serves as the Executive Director of the City of Philadelphia’s Office of Immigrant Affairs, overseeing the office’s charge to facilitate the successful inclusion of immigrants into the civic, economic, and cultural life of the city and leading policies, programs and services that promote the well-being of new Americans in Philadelphia. Prior to joining the City of Philadelphia leadership team in 2025, he served as a strategic communications leader for the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), supporting USCIS’s mission to uphold America's promise as a nation of welcome and possibility with fairness, integrity, and respect. Prior to USCIS, he served as an external affairs officer with the Federal Emergency Management Agency. In that role, he led strategic communications teams for several large-scale incidents and federally declared disasters, including nearly a dozen hurricanes, wildfires, floods, COVID-19 response, and Operation Allies Welcome, the nation’s largest humanitarian resettlement operation in 50 years.