About Us

Faith as Mission

Esperanza was founded in 1987, in response to the violence and poverty that plagued the Hispanic community of North Philadelphia. Esperanza was created to bring a sustained response of hope to the individuals and families in the barrio.

Our Transformation

Esperanza has grown from a one-person shop in 1987 to an agency with over 200 employees today. In 2000, Esperanza saw possibilities where others saw an abandoned factory, and the abandoned factory is now our corporate home. In the past 10 years, we have invested approximately $30 million in homeownership and rental projects for low-income individuals, in the renovation of our facilities and in commercial development of our Hunting Park community. We have founded and continue to develop educational institutions, health initiatives, and workforce development programs. We have contributed to the organizational capacity building of over 450 smaller nonprofit organizations across the country.

Expanding Our Reach

Over the past 22 years, Esperanza’s vision and reach has grown to include Hispanics throughout the United States, Latin America and Israel. Although Hispanics are the fastest-growing community in the United States, the population as a whole continues to face barriers to education, employment, health, and well-being. Esperanza’s faith conviction calls us to remove these barriers wherever we may find them, in order to strengthen the Hispanic community.