Community Health and Wellness 

The mission of the Community Health and Wellness Department at Esperanza Health Center is to facilitate preventative health and wellness initiatives that promote physical, emotional, and spiritual health in North Philadelphia. We fulfill this mission by:

  • Building community across generations by creating inclusive spaces for families and community members 
  • Levering resources and partnerships beyond the clinic, across diverse sectors 
  • Providing relationship-centered programming focused on community health education, capacity-building, family engagement, and overall health and well-being.
  • Supporting systems that promote health equity and positively impact the conditions in which people grow, work, live, play, and worship.
The Community Health and Wellness Department is committed to addressing the unique healthcare needs of the North Philadelphia community through collaboration, innovation, and a deep sense of empathy. Currently, we are providing health education programs and resources for families and individuals for the Fall 2023 season. See a list of our programs below!

Current Programs 

Yoga with Yoga4Philly – Starting October 4th, join us every Wednesday from 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm at The CORE (3222 H St. Phila. PA 19134) for a beginner-friendly, FREE yoga class. Childcare will be provided. Drop-ins are welcome, but we encourage you to pre-register here. 
 
Community Health Promoters – Every Wednesday from September 27th to November 15th between 9:30 am – 12 pm join us at The CORE (3222 H St. Phila. PA 19134) for an 8-week training on addressing physical, mental, relational, and spiritual health topics. This course aims to empower participants by enhancing their skills and confidence to discuss health, deliver health-related presentations, and facilitate resource connections. Classes will be offered in English this fall. Graduates are awarded a Health Promoter Certificate and often pursue opportunities to work or volunteer with diverse community organizations, including EHC. We are currently accepting applications, please apply here.                                                                                                  
Young at Heart Seniors Program – With the goal of combating social isolation among a vulnerable population, Young at Heart provides a space for older adults to gather, laugh, learn, and share life stories and experiences together. They bond over food, crafts, games, educational lessons, and occasional field trips. There’s always great joy at Esperanza when the Seniors are around! The program meets every other week on Tuesday mornings.

Additional Programs 

Parent Circles – Our parent circles are a space for parents and caregivers to share, learn, and connect with others on the same journey. Each week, we discuss different topics related to parenting, with the goal of learning from the experiences of others.

CORE Action Team – The CORE Action Team is a resident advisory board that speaks to Esperanza Health Center’s community programming and development decisions in the Kensington area. Members must either live, work, or worship in one of our service zip codes and commit to a one-year term, with the potential of renewal. We meet monthly and accept new members on a yearly basis.    

Esperanza Fresh – Esperanza Fresh is Esperanza’s annual donation-based farmer’s market. Through a generous partnership with America’s Grow-A-Row, we are able to offer fresh produce from a farm in New Jersey at our sites in Hunting Park, Fairhill, and Kensington. The program runs for the growing season roughly August-October.

Practical Avenues to Health – This 4 to 6-week program functions as an extension of the Community Health Promoter Program and is designed to be completed in small groups. It includes a series of short lessons and discussion questions on various health topics, including Relational, Emotional, and Mental Health, Wholistic Health, and Addictions that may be presented at local churches and community organizations.