Hunting Park: Esperanza’s Gabriella Gabriel Paez Uses Trees To Connect Community
On the blacktop next to McClure Elementary School, Gabriella Gabriel Paez (above) stood in front of what looked like a forest-in-the-making — rows of short and sparse baby trees in planters. She gave them out, free of charge, to families as they left parent-teacher conference night at the school. Gabriel Paez organized the yard tree […]
Hunting Park: Community Members Discuss Solutions to Neighborhood’s High Heat
Hunting Park residents and city officials discussed heat-related issues and solutions at the “Beat the Heat” design workshop on Oct. 18 at Esperanza’s headquarters, located at 4261 N. Fifth St. Esperanza is a nonprofit organization that aims to strengthen the Hispanic community in Hunting Park through education, economic development and advocacy. The Office of Sustainability’s […]
Housing: How Ceiba Guides Immigrants Seeking A Home
As a product of collaboration between four other Latino-focused groups (Esperanza, Norris Square Community Alliance, Concilio de Organizaciones Hispanas de Filadelfia and Finanta), Ceiba is an organization which offers a range of services, including advocacy work and financial literacy programs. Another Ceiba program assists immigrants with a fundamental need: housing. It connects a variety of people […]
Hunting Park: Esperanza Aims to Improve Neighborhood Conditions
Esperanza is a faith-based community development corporation and nonprofit organization. It was founded in 1986 by the Hispanic clergy of Philadelphia. At the time, the Hispanic clergy wanted to address some of the larger problems that the community faced – access to affordable housing, access to jobs, safe communities and an education. Philip Dawson, 29, […]
Education: English Teacher Aims To Improve Opportunities Inside And Outside The Classroom
Kayla Conklin currently serves as the department head of the English department at Esperanza Academy Charter High School in West Hunting Park. That title is just one of many she holds at the school, mainly comprised of minority students in the surrounding neighborhoods. Between the hours of 8:50 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Conklin is either […]
Hunting Park: Bodegas and Bodyshops Revive The Economy of North 5th Street
Specks of sawdust shimmered in the sunlight as the shrill of power tools echoed throughout the skeleton of a body shop. The sight is no longer uncommon along the 5th Street Corridor of North Philadelphia, between Luzerne and Wyoming streets, but rather serves as evidence to the recent economic influx of Hunting Park. “I’ve been […]
Hunting Park: Esperanza Trains Young Martial Artists
A line of children stood stiff as boards as Tony Gonzalez carefully examined their stances. Students who did not listen to instructions did pushups. Students who arrived late did pushups. No, this was not a Marine Corps boot camp but the new Taekwondo class taught at Esperanza Health Center in Hunting Park. Esperanza, a Christian […]
Fairhill: Promoting Latino Culture and Resources Through Community Events
El Centro de Oro, the golden center, fosters Latino dance, music and culture in Fairhill, while also bringing light to an abundance of resources available in the community. This has been showcased since 1979 at the Feria Del Barrio celebration. The annual celebration is put on by Taller Puertorriqueño, Congreso de Latinos Unidos, HACE and Raices […]
Hunting Park: Esperanza Receives Grant for Community Renewal
Esperanza recently announced receipt of a $681,000 grant from Wells Fargo Bank. The multiple-mission organization received this grant to help fund its Hunting Park Neighborhood Strategic Plan 2022, which aims to revitalize the Hunting Park community through educational, commercial and residential efforts. “One of the biggest changes for us internally was being able to hire […]
Hunting Park: Esperanza Health Center Provides Care for the Community
Along with an experienced bilingual staff, heath and wellness programs, and a connection to the Christian faith, the Esperanza Health Center has added a medical dispensary to its growing list of patient amenities. The Esperanza Health Center, located on the 4417 N. Sixth St., is a haven for residents who want their medical care and […]