Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month
Every September, the city comes alive with celebrations, festivals, exhibitions, sporting events and cultural programs in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month. From The City of Philadelphia Office of Immigrant Affairs’ Welcoming Week honoring the multiculturalism of our city, to Greater Philadelphia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce’s Dine Latino Restaurant Week offering a week of deals at Latino restaurants throughout Philly, there are many opportunities to dive into the city’s diverse cultures and neighborhoods.
While embracing the vibrant culture of our Latinx communities through food, art, and entertainment, we also want to highlight some of the nonprofits that provide support, resources, and services to the Latinx community year-round.
Members of Congreso
Congreso de Latinos Unidos
Based in the Fairhill section of the city, this nonprofit has a mission to empower Latino individuals and families to achieve economic self-sufficiency and well-being. Congreso offers a range of services, including youth and adult education and workforce programs, family and housing supports, and health and wellness support.
You can support Congreso by registering for volunteer opportunities or making a donation: http://www.congreso.net/get-involved/
Asociación Puertorriqueños en Marcha, Inc. (APM)
APM’s mission is to help all families achieve their greatest potential. By providing basic social services typically unavailable to Philadelphia’s Latino residents, they aim to build a foundation where “every resident is engaged, encouraged to lead and given opportunities to become self-reliant.” This organization provides support for a range of challenges faced by their community, including affordable housing, food security, employment assistance, early childhood education, foster care and adoption, substance abuse treatment, and behavioral health.
Photo: El Concilio
You can support APM by making a donation or volunteering in the community: https://apmphila.org/get-involved/volunteer/
Concilio
The Council of Spanish Speaking Organizations, Inc. (Concilio) is the oldest Latino organization in Philadelphia and has a well-established reputation as a leader for Latino family services. Through these programs and social services, Concilio strengthens the quality of life in our city’s diverse communities. They provide an array of social, educational, cultural and intervention programs to underserved young people and families while focusing on maintaining and celebrating the cultural heritages and histories of our region’s diverse Latino communities.
You can support Concilio by attending a charity event, exploring sponsorship opportunities, making a donation, or volunteering your time: https://www.elconcilio.net
Puentes de Salud
This nonprofit provides high-quality health care, innovative educational programs, and community building to the city’s rapidly growing Latinx immigrant population. They aim to improve community and individual health and wellness by providing immediate services while addressing the economic and social conditions that prevent equitable access to health care and education. They provide low-cost, high-quality, culturally sensitive primary care services, community wellness initiatives, and educational programs that improve the community’s health literacy.
You can support Puentes de Salud by making a donation or volunteering: https://www.puentesdesalud.org/volunteer/
La Puerta Abierta
LPA’s goal is to improve access to quality mental health care services for the Latino immigrant and refugee communities who typically face barriers to access this care. LPA offers a bilingual, culturally and trauma-informed source of pro bono counseling support. Additionally, they work to empower youth and families through a peer-mentor training model to function as “first responders” in the local immigrant and refugee community.
Explore their website for partnership, volunteer and donation opportunities: https://lpa-theopendoor.org/
