Leadership

Rev. Luis Cortés, Jr.
President

Recognized as a national leader of Hispanic concerns and community development, the Reverend Luis Cortés, Jr. founded Esperanza (formerly known as Nueva Esperanza, Inc. and Esperanza USA) in 1987. The inspiration for Esperanza grew out of the Hispanic Clergy of Philadelphia and Vicinity, also founded by Rev. Cortés in 1982. He is board member and founder of United Bank; the first African American owned commercial bank in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Rev. Cortés was honored with two doctorates in divinity, has a master’s degree in divinity, and a master’s degree in economic development from Southern New Hampshire University. Rev. Cortés is the author of several books and has won numerous awards and honors, among them being featured as one of Time magazine’s “25 Most Influential Evangelicals” in January 2005.

Rev. Danny Cortés
Executive Vice President and Chief of Staff

Throughout his tenure at Esperanza, Rev. Danny Cortés managed National Programs and was the chief administrative officer at the Esperanza Academy Charter High School. Currently he oversees executive staff and designs and implements new programs. Previously, as program officer at The Pew Charitable Trusts for 10 years, he was instrumental in enhancing and refining the Trust’s religion grant making efforts in community ministry, Hispanic ministry, and urban ministry education and training. Rev. Cortés has also served as pastor of the First Spanish Baptist Church of Philadelphia. He holds a master’s degree in divinity from Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary and a bachelor’s degree from Eastern University.

 

Arthur Haywood
Executive Vice President and Legal Counsel

Mr. Haywood oversees the Housing and Economic Development Department of Esperanza. During his 20-year legal career, he worked with Regional Housing Legal Services and Community Legal Services, as well as representing numerous nonprofit organizations in their community development endeavors. Mr. Haywood received a law degree from the University of Michigan Law School, a master’s degree from the London School of Economics and Political Science, and a bachelor’s degree from Morehouse College.

Frank McBride
Senior Vice President of Finance and Administration

As Senior VP of Finance and Administration, Mr. McBride provides oversight to Finance, Human Resources, and Information Technology, in order to generate greater synergy among these departments. Before coming to Esperanza, Mr. McBride worked for 16 years at SunGard Data Systems, Inc. He began as a staff accountant and steadily climbed the professional ladder acquiring positions as Controller and CFO, among others. His most recent role was as Director of Financial Planning and Analysis, where he oversaw a $4.5 billion budget consolidation process and integration of company systems and processes. He is a graduate of DeSales University where he earned a BS in Accounting.

David W. Rossi
Senior Vice President of Esperanza and CEO of Esperanza Academy Charter High School

As the CEO for Esperanza Academy Charter High School, Mr. Rossi oversees all aspects of the high school’s operation, including instruction and curriculum. Prior to coming to the academy in 2003 as director of operations, Mr. Rossi was the principal at Calvary Christian Academy Junior and Senior High School. He has also served as a teacher, middle school director, athletic director and coach before transitioning fully into educational administration. He earned his master’s degree in biblical studies at Dallas Theological Seminary and his bachelor’s degree in Bible and secondary education from Philadelphia Biblical University.

José Lastra
Vice President of National Programs

Mr. Lastra provides oversight for Esperanza’s National Programs, including the Hispanic Capacity Project, Workforce Development Program for Adjudicated and At-Risk Youth, the organization’s work on educating clergy and laity on the HIV/AIDS crisis and its effects on the Hispanic community, and a new initiative on healthy marriages. Previously he was the executive director of Impact Ministries International, the media arm of Christ Church, a multiracial congregation of several thousand members in Montclair, New Jersey. Mr. Lastra also worked for industry leaders R.R. Donnelley & Sons and Radio Visión Cristiana in New York City. His professional responsibilities have taken him to over 40 foreign cities in seven Latin American countries. He earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration at Marymount College of Fordham University.

Rev. Dr. Elizabeth Conde-Frazier
Vice President of Education & Dean of Esperanza College

As Dean of the college, Dr. Conde-Frazier is responsible for setting the vision, the strategic direction, and providing leadership and management for the programs and faculty. Previously, she was professor of religious education at the Claremont School of Theology and taught Hispanic/Latino/a theology at the Latin American Bible Institute, in California. As professor, she mentored Latino/a students and wrote in the areas of multicultural education, Latina feminist theology, the spirituality of the scholar and issues of justice as they relate to education. As founder of the Orlando E. Costas Hispanic and Latin American Ministries Program at Andover Newton Theological School, she also developed programs for the development of ministers and lay leaders including youth. She has over ten years experience as an ordained pastor and has been a bilingual teacher