The Prosperity Brief

September 2026

 

¡Feliz mes de la herencia hispana!


This month, with a spotlight on our heritage, we want to take a look back at how we started, and where we are today, thanks to supporters like you. 


Xiente was founded in 1982 by a group of Puerto Rican women in North Philadelphia who saw a need and took action. With no external help available, they built their own organization to create safety, opportunity, and dignity for families in Norris Square.


From the beginning, we believed that the people most impacted by poverty should be the ones shaping the solutions. That principle still guides us today.


Forty years later, we have:

  • Built and rehabilitated over 200 units of affordable housing
  • Educated thousands of infants and toddlers through Head Start & Early Head Start
  • Supported hundreds of teens through our Youth Take Action Center
  • Provided after-school and summer programs for thousands of youth
  • Offered workforce development and education programs to neighbors of all ages
  • Launched the Prosperity Project, a holistic program supporting multiple generations of a family to achieve economic mobility 

 

We’re excited to continue and build on this work to break the cycle of poverty and create lasting prosperity and invite you to join us!

Groundbreaking


On Thursday, September 24 at 9am, we are holding a groundbreaking for our new Prosperity Center.


Tentatively set to open in 2027, the new center will serve 500 families and 2,000 individuals a year through programming such as teen services, workforce development, economic mobility counseling, and housing support, as well as offer community meeting space, and more.


RSVP Now→

Festival del Jibaro


We are excited to bring this traditional Puerto Rican celebration to Norris Square on Saturday, October 24 from 1-7.


We'll celebrate all Latino cultures with live music, dancing, local food, artisans, history displays, and family-friendly activities.

This event is free and open to the public -- we hope to see you there!


Get Your (Free) Ticket→

 

Giving Thanks: Capital One and Finanta

We are so excited for the opening of our Prosperity Center and grateful to those funders who helped make this happen. This project was made possible through an $8 million New Markets Tax Credit allocation from the U.S. Treasury's CDFI Fund to nonprofit lender Finanta, which was purchased by Capital One Bank.


Additional funding provided by: the State’s Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) through the Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation (PIDC); Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development; and The William Penn Foundation.

 

In The News

Latinos are Split on Whether the American Dream is Achievable BRAND NEW! (Via Pew Research Center)

While one in five Latinos say they’ve achieved the American dream, and 33% say they are on their way to achieving it, another 45% are skeptical.


Mobility Monitor: Expanding American Housing Supply Will Require Invesment in Workforce Development (Via NCRC)

This article proposes that to accomplish the housing goals set forth in the 21st Century Housing Act, we'll need to amp up apprenticeships in construction and the skilled trades. 


We're Hiring!

We have available positions for people with a variety of different skillsets and professional backgrounds, from teachers to case managers to drivers to executive staff and more!


View open positions.

 

Save the Dates:

Thursday, September 24: Prosperity Center Groundbreaking

Saturday, October 24: Festival del Jibaro

Your Support In Action

All four of Stephanie Rodriguez’ children have been part of Xiente’s Early Head Start, and/or Head Start.


Xiente headstart programming offers free before and after care, and access to an extended day meant Stephanie was more available to work. So she applied to -- and got! -- a better job with more flexible hours. Because she began working in home care, she was able to help care for her mother.


Then Stephanie accomplished one of her biggest goals: She purchased her first home.


Home ownership equals stability for the Rodriguez family, and it all became a reality thanks to Xiente's Head Start.


Your support ensures families like Stephanie's get the education and support they need to succeed.


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