Esperanza Inc. located in Hunting Park is continuing to expand!

On Monday, May 16, Congressman Brendan Boyle and Nueva Esperanza Executive Vice President & Chief of Staff Rev. Danny Cortes announced that Esperanza received an award of $1,075,000 through a Community Project Funding grant.

The Community Project Funding (CPF) is a federally funded initiative that requires a person of Congress to request funding for their area. The person in Congress will then use the grant and put it towards a project that will benefit their community.

Christine Nieves, senior vice president of development at Esperanza, told AL DÍA News that the money will go towards adding more health and science centers, while also resolving accessibility within their locations.

“The funds will be used to improve the access ways from the parking lot to the sites where new services will be housed within the facility, and a courtyard area families can use while they are here,” Nieves said to AL DÍA News. “We will not be able to host the new services without these improvements.”

The health clinic is also in negotiations with a partner who will work inside of the center once renovations are completed.

“We expect the renovations to be completed within a year,” she added.

Overall, Esperanza’s main goal is also to provide dozens of job opportunities for Latinos in a field where they are least represented.

“It is an important recognition that our community here in North Philadelphia, and our residents’ needs matter,” said Nieves.

In addition to creating a broader space for their community, Esperanza has also been one of the biggest vaccination sites in North Philadelphia, and they continue to do so.

“It was important to us to ensure that our community had information about and ease of obtaining vaccinations within the area,” said Nieves.

According to the City of Philadelphia, approximately 1,269,898 residents have received their first and second COVID-19 vaccinations, as of May 16, 2022.

“We believe the improved vaccination rates were seen due to immediate access to North Philadelphia, recognition of Esperanza among local residents as a trusted resource, and our outreach within the neighborhood,” she said.

Esperanza was initially founded in 1986, with the promise to help the Latino community in North Philadelphia.

The organization first began providing housing counseling services. They now provide the community with health clinics, workforce development, music and arts programs, and immigration services.

Since then, Esperanza has also created a thriving high school, an online charter school, and developed a branch of Eastern University, called Esperanza College.