Guadalupe A. Velasquez is the Managing Director of Welcoming City LLC., a social enterprise that focuses on a holistic approach to economic and workforce development integration specializing on career pathways. She is currently the Co-lead of the Ohio Welcoming Initiative Network (OWIN) and was instrumental in working with the Governor’s office to create the Office of Opportunities for New Americans for the State of Ohio. In her previous role she served as the Assistant Director of the Department of Neighborhoods for the City of Columbus and was over many key initiatives within the Community Relations division. She also served as leader of Policy and Advocacy for the New Americans Initiative. Velasquez led the creation of “Refugees in Central Ohio”, a collaborative report that examines the economic and cultural impact of refugees on Central Ohio. Her devotion to promoting the positive social, cultural and economic impact of both immigrants and refugees is a chief component in her mission to cultivate and bring recognition to Columbus as a “Welcoming City.”