Alex Jaquez-Peralta reached for the moon and landed on it! Sending out only one college application to his dream school, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Alex was recently accepted and offered a full-ride scholarship. Alex has worked diligently throughout his school years, and it is (quite literally) paying off. The U.S. News and World…

Three local business owners in Hunting Park have become vaccine champions as part of Esperanza’s Our Voices, Our Vaccines Project, Ms. Kim from Kim’s Market, Ms. Ivelissa from El Fogon Latino Restaurant, and Mr. Felix from Maria’s Restaurant. The Our Voices, Our Vaccines project aims to provide the Hunting Park community with accurate COVID-19 information.…

Josiah Cedeño is a Philadelphia native and graduate of the 2021-2022 cohort of the Esperanza Youth Leadership Institute (EYLI), which prepares urban youth workers for effective ministry through a year-long training. He works for Young Life Philadelphia, and is passionate about using photography, music production, and other creative avenues to reach young people throughout the…

Club L&M Nutrition is a small-but-mighty shop owned and operated by a powerful Latina immigrant, Laura Castillo. Today, Laura’s business is flourishing, but that was not always the case since her path to entrepreneurship wasn’t smooth. It came with lots of ups and downs, but Laura’s grit and determination placed her where she is today.…

Andrick first discovered his passion for the performing arts while studying at Esperanza Academy Charter School, known for its academic excellence and vibrant majors programs. Andrick was first introduced to the Teatro Esperanza stage as a student performer of the Esperanza Academy Dance Ensemble. It was a platform to express himself and to envision the…

Elsa Roig is a businesswoman who has been offering hair cutting and styling services for more than 3 decades in the heart of the Hunting Park community, on N. 5th St. Elsa came to Philadelphia from Puerto Rico with her family at a very young age in order to find a better life for herself…

July immigrated to the United States from Colombia with her family at just sixteen years old. Starting at a new school is challenging enough without the added layers of culture shock and language barriers! But at Esperanza Academy Charter School, July was provided with the opportunity to learn in a safe place with the language…

Stephanie Gago, Esperanza Academy Class of 2012, is a woman of intelligence and perseverance now paving the way for other women in a male-dominated field. Working diligently through AP Calculus, attending Esperanza Academy’s Prep Zone for homework assistance, and learning from many financial aid and college scholarship workshops hosted by the College & Career Department,…

The process for obtaining citizenship can be a very stressful one, but that did not discourage Martha. Martha came to the United States in 2013, worked at a bakery, and eventually found her way to working in Esperanza Academy’s cafeteria services. There, she learned of Esperanza Immigration Legal Services (EILS). After speaking to a representative,…

Nohely came to the United States from the Dominican Republic with her father and stepmother at the young age of ten years old. Nohely recalls feeling culture shock as a new student in a new country. When Nohely found Esperanza in her 8th grade year, she finally discovered a safe place to learn and grow.…