Daniela Rodrigo Newman made it her life work to help children! Originally a family lawyer from Bogota, Colombia, she moved to Philadelphia in 2021 as an au pair. During that time, she developed a passion for early childhood development, which led her to a job as an assistant teacher at Mi Casita, a Spanish-immersion preschool.…

Daisy Torres believes there’s always something waiting for you! Originally from Puerto Rico, Daisy moved to Philadelphia with her first son, Bryan Daniel, in 2010. Because of her passion for working with kids, she got a job at Brightside Academy, and while working there, Daisy enrolled in Esperanza College’s Child Development Associate Certification program. With…

From the beginning, Alandrea “Alex” Lugo knew she was a star. And as she grew, her love of singing and songwriting thrived. Unfortunately, once in middle school, Alex experienced bullying. She felt excluded and needed to find a positive space to be herself. When her grandma told her about Artistas y Músicos Latino Americanos (AMLA),…

As founder of Café Tinto, Rosemary Caicedo is committed to Esperanza’s Hope Digital Skills computer workshops. In 2001, she and her ex-husband moved from Colombia to Philadelphia for a fresh start. He suggested opening Café Tinto in the Hunting Park neighborhood, and despite challenges, their determination led to the creation of two small businesses. “I…

When Yavierlis Martinez graduated from Esperanza College in May, she accomplished the dream of a lifetime. In 2010, as a teen mom, Yavierlis became captivated by her daughter’s development and wanted to turn her passion into a career. Encouraged by her high school nurse, Noelia, she enrolled in Esperanza College’s Early Childhood Education program. While…

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…