Community Profiles
Profiles of some of the communities Project SHINE serves:
The 2000 census shows that 1,566 ethnic Albanians reside in the city
of Philadelphia. There are no large pockets of residency within the
city as the population is spread uniformly throughout.
Immigration to the city has been slow and inconsistent with the
latest wave of immigration coming in the late 1990’s when NATO
launched a military campaign in Kosovo to halt the massacre of
ethnic Albanians in the region. Many Albanians and Kosovar
Albanians immigrated to the United States to escape the war. Other
Albanians left their native country because of an unstable corrupt
government left them with high unemployment. Some chose
Philadelphia for their new home.
It is interesting to note that though Albania is a very small
country (which size has changed over the years), its citizens are
quite diverse in religion, ethnicity, and native languages spoken.
Like all communities, this is not one that should be stereotyped.
Albanian Americans and the 2004 Presidential Election
This segment of the National Democratic Ethnic Leadership Council
webpage explains the background and issues surrounding the 2004
Presidential Election for Albanian Americans.
The World Fact Book
This CIA website contains an extremely large amount of information
about all of the countries in the world such as: history,
geography, information about its citizens, government, economy,
transnational issues, and more. To find out information about this
country, pull it down from the menu.
According to the 2000 Census, there are 531 Argentineans living in
Philadelphia. People from South American countries are living
throughout the Philadelphia and its suburbs. Numbers of Argentineans
are living in Center City, West Philadelphia, and amongst
established Latino communities in North and South Philadelphia. For
example, some have moved near other Spanish-speaking communities in
South Philadelphia and Olney in the north.
The first significant wave of Argentineans came in the
1960’s. During this time, well-educated people from Argentina moved
to the United States in search of better opportunities. Small
numbers of the community were known to have come to Philadelphia
after the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965. This act allowed
more immigration from third world countries, in particular, many
Latin American countries. There was another wave of Argentinean
migration in the 1970’s and 1980’s, during the years of the Dirty
War. During this “war,” dissidents were “disappeared” by the
military government. This led to an exodus of thousands of people.
The last major wave of immigration was in 1990, due to a huge
economic crisis that set interest rates in the three-figure range.
The Argentinean community in Philadelphia is relatively small.
However, it is a part of the larger Latino community. The Latino
people make some great contributions to the city of Philadelphia,
and at times could use some support. One organization that supports
this community is Congreso de Latinos Unidos. Congreso
offers a broad range of services including the first Latina domestic
violence program, as well as HIV prevention and case management
services. Congreso is strengthening the Puerto Rican (and otherwise
Latino) community in part because of partnerships with government
agencies, health providers, labor organizations, businesses, and
other community-based institutions. The Lighthouse is
another organization that supports the Latino community in
Philadelphia. This group has been serving the multicultural
population of Philadelphia since the late 1800’s. It provides
services such as day care, before – and after – school care, and a
food share program, educational, occupational, cultural, and
recreational programs, an Adult Educational Program & ESL, an
Economic Development Program, a Teen Parenting Education and
Employment Program, and a Young Parenting Fathers Program.
For more information on Argentineans, and the organizations that
serve them, please visit:
Congreso
Congreso’s website includes information on the programs that it
provides, relevant news, available jobs, information on the
community it serves, its and funders.
Latino Philadelphia
This is a profile of the Latino community of Philadelphia, created
by the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. It has a variety of
information such as what it means to be Latino/Latina, Latino
history in Philadelphia, what it is like to be an immigrant in
Philadelphia, community resources, cultural expressions, and more.
The World Fact Book
This CIA website contains an extremely large amount of information
about all of the countries in the world such as: history,
geography, information about its citizens, government, economy,
transnational issues, and more. To find out information about this
country, pull it down from the menu.
Centro Nueva Creación
Centro Nueva Creación’s website has information on its programs, has
relevant news, the organization’s history, and more.
"Latinos in the United States: Where Are We From?"
This website was created by the National Association of Hispanic
Journalists. This section of the website contains information on
various Latin American countries, and why their citizens have moved
to the US.
According to Census 2000, of the people who self-identify as Asian
in some way in Philadelphia, about 6,700 self-identify as
Cambodian. The Census also estimates that there are 4,536 foreign
born Cambodians living in the city of Philadelphia. Immigration
from Cambodia happened in two major waves, both directly related to
the Vietnam War and its aftermath. The initial wave, in the early
to mid 1970s, was smaller and mostly made up of well-educated
professionals. The second wave was much larger and consisted mainly
of less-educated rural peasants coming from Cambodia via refugee
camps in Thailand and the Philippines. This second wave mainly
arrived in the 1980s.
Members of this second wave make up the bulk of Philadelphia’s
Cambodian population. They generally have very low levels of
education, and often have limited literacy in their own language.
Generally they are also at a very low level, even pre-beginner
level, of English as well. Many members of this second wave were
rural farmers in Cambodia, so the adjustment to American life and
culture can be intense and painful.
Since most Cambodians in America came from refugee camps, the modes
and timing of arrival in the United States vary. Some elders would
have come alone and sponsored their families; others may have been
sponsored by family members. Though some families came together,
some emigrated from the camps entirely independently and only
reunited after arriving in the United States.
For More Information:
“Southeast Asian Statistical Profile”
This PDF file contains charts filled with general statistical
information about Southeast Asians living in the United States.
“Deadly Destiny”
This is a City Paper article about Cambodians living in Philadelphia
still haunted by the terrors they had to face in their native
country.
“Recent Trends in Immigration to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania” by Fels
Institute of Government at Univeristy of Penn
This document contains a brief history of the immigration patterns
of this population in Philadelphia, why this population came here,
and what parts of the city they live in now.
The World Fact Book
This CIA website contains an extremely large amount of information
about all of the countries in the world such as: history,
geography, information about its citizens, government, economy,
transnational issues, and more. To find out information about this
country, pull it down from the menu.
There are approximately 19,000 ethnic Chinese within the city of
Philadelphia. Of these, roughly 13,000 are foreign born. As the
majority of the ethnic Chinese population emigrated from Mainland
China, many claim origins from Hong Kong or Taiwan. Immigration
numbers of ethnic Chinese have risen dramatically since the passage
of the Immigration Reform Act of 1965, which banned immigration
quotas. Community providers identify a general immigration trend in
Philadelphia’s population: those who arrived before and during the
early 1980s tended to come from southern China or from other
Southeast Asian countries because of turbulence from wars; those who
have arrived in the last twenty years are more likely to have come
from the more central Fujian Province, including the areas
surrounding Shanghai.
There is a general trend among the elderly Chinese that consists of
a well-balanced education with high levels of social capital. Many
of them fled to the United States during or directly after the
Chinese civil war that lasted from 1945-1949. For example, most
have at least some middle and high school education, while some have
university or professional degrees. The immigrant population of the
ethnic Chinese today consists of lesser-educated, rural individuals
who seek employment in the manufacturing and service sector of the
American economy. While working with the Chinese community, it is
important to note that though these people are from the same
country, they may not be able to communicate with one another. This
is because there are two major dialects of Chinese: Cantonese and
Mandarin).
.
For More Information
“A Brief History of Chinese Immigration to America”
As its title implies, this is a brief history of Chinese immigration
to America created by the American Law Foundation.
“Building the Gold Mountain: Philadelphia’s Chinatown.” An exhibit
by the Balch Institute of Politics
This website is very interesting. It contains old photographs and
essays about history and the rise of Chinatown in Philadelphia.
“Recent Trends in Immigration to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania” by Fels
Institute of Government at Univeristy of Penn
This document contains a brief history of the immigration patterns
of this population in Philadelphia, why this population came here,
and what parts of the city they live in now.
The World Fact Book
This CIA website contains an extremely large amount of information
about all of the countries in the world such as: history,
geography, information about its citizens, government, economy,
transnational issues, and more. To find out information about this
country, pull it down from the menu.
The 2000 Census reported that there are about 182 Chilean
immigrants living in Philadelphia. People from South American
countries are living throughout the city and suburbs. In
Philadelphia, numbers of Chileans are living in Center City, West
Philadelphia, and amongst established Latino communities in North
and South Philadelphia.
Because the Chilean community in Philadelphia is so
small, there is little known about them. South American
revolutionaries, merchants and scholars are known to have visited
Philadelphia in the 18th and 19th centuries. Some were also reported
among Philadelphia’s “Spanish American” colony in 1910. Small
numbers of Chileans were known to have come to Philadelphia after
the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965. This act allowed more
immigration from third world countries. There also may have been
some Chilean migration during the 1970’s and 1980’s, during the rule
of dictator Augusto Pinochet. This was a time in which there were
between 3,000 and 5,000 instances of torture, murder, and
disappearances in the country. Since the 1990s, globalization, and
economic restructuring and crises in Chile have contributed to the
number of Chileans seeking various opportunities and reunifying with
families in Philadelphia.
The Chilean population in Philadelphia is relatively small.
However, it is a part of the larger Latino community. The Latino
people make some great contributions to the city of Philadelphia,
and at times could use some support. One organization that supports
this community is Congreso de Latinos Unidos. Congreso
offers a broad range of services including the first Latina domestic
violence program, as well as HIV prevention and case management
services. Congreso is strengthening the Puerto Rican (and otherwise
Latino) community in part because of partnerships with government
agencies, health providers, labor organizations, businesses, and
other community-based institutions. The Lighthouse is
another organization that supports the Latino community in
Philadelphia. This group has been serving the multicultural
population of Philadelphia since the late 1800’s. It provides
services such as day care, before – and after – school care, and a
food share program, educational, occupational, cultural, and
recreational programs, an Adult Educational Program & ESL, an
Economic Development Program, a Teen Parenting Education and
Employment Program, and a Young Parenting Fathers Program.
If you would like to learn more about this community, and the
organizations that serve it, please visit:
Congreso
Congreso’s website includes information on the programs that it
provides, relevant news, available jobs, information on the
community it serves, its and funders.
Latino Philadelphia
This is a profile of the Latino community of Philadelphia, created
by the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. It has a variety of
information such as what it means to be Latino/Latina, Latino
history in Philadelphia, what it is like to be an immigrant in
Philadelphia, community resources, cultural expressions, and more.
The World Fact Book
This CIA website contains an extremely large amount of information
about all of the countries in the world such as: history,
geography, information about its citizens, government, economy,
transnational issues, and more. To find out information about this
country, pull it down from the menu.
Centro Nueva Creación
Centro Nueva Creación’s website has information on its programs, has
relevant news, the organization’s history, and more.
"Latinos in the United States: Where Are We From?"
This website was created by the National Association of Hispanic
Journalists. This section of the website contains information on
various Latin American countries, and why their citizens have moved
to the US.
The 2000 Census estimated that there are 2,414
Colombians living in Philadelphia. Most of these people live in the
Olney and Northeast sections of the city.
Before the 1960’s, a very small group of Colombians lived in
Philadelphia. They were mostly scholars, but little is known about
them to this day. During the 1960’s a wave of Colombian families
came to Philadelphia. This was a result of the Immigration Act of
1965, which allowed more immigration from third world countries. In
the 1970’s and 1980’s there was another, larger, wave of Colombians
migrating to Philadelphia. Most of these people came from New York,
or from Colombia directly. This wave established communities in
Olney and Northeast Philadelphia. The community population has been
rising in the past ten years. This is due to several factors:
family reuniting in Philadelphia from Colombia, the search for
economic and educational opportunities, and to escape the ongoing
violence in Colombia. The population in Philadelphia has been
rapidly increasing over the past couple of years because of the
quick rate at which the bolivar (Venezuelan currency) is decreasing
in value.
The Colombian population in Philadelphia may not seem large.
However, it is a part of the larger Latino community. The Latino
people make some great contributions to the city of Philadelphia,
and at times could use some support. One organization that supports
this community is Congreso de Latinos Unidos. Congreso
offers a broad range of services including the first Latina domestic
violence program, as well as HIV prevention and case management
services. Congreso is strengthening the Puerto Rican (and otherwise
Latino) community in part because of partnerships with government
agencies, health providers, labor organizations, businesses, and
other community-based institutions. The Lighthouse is
another organization that supports the Latino community in
Philadelphia. This group has been serving the multicultural
population of Philadelphia since the late 1800’s. It provides
services such as day care, before – and after – school care, and a
food share program, educational, occupational, cultural, and
recreational programs, an Adult Educational Program & ESL, an
Economic Development Program, a Teen Parenting Education and
Employment Program, and a Young Parenting Fathers Program.
For more information on the Colombian community of Philadelphia and
its supporting programs, please visit:
Congreso
Congreso’s website includes information on the programs that it
provides, relevant news, available jobs, information on the
community it serves, and its funders.
Latino Philadelphia
This is a profile of the Latino community of Philadelphia, created
by the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. It has a variety of
information such as what it means to be Latino/Latina, Latino
history in Philadelphia, what it is like to be an immigrant in
Philadelphia, community resources, cultural expressions, and more.
“Recent Trends in Immigration to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania” by Fels
Institute of Government at Univeristy of Penn
This document contains a brief history of the immigration patterns
of this population in Philadelphia, why this population came here,
and what parts of the city they live in now.
The World Fact Book
This CIA website contains an extremely large amount of information
about all of the countries in the world such as: history,
geography, information about its citizens, government, economy,
transnational issues, and more. To find out information about this
country, pull it down from the menu.
Centro Nueva Creación
Centro Nueva Creación’s website has information on its programs, has
relevant news, the organization’s history, and more.
"Latinos in the United States: Where Are We From?"
This website was created by the National Association of Hispanic
Journalists. This section of the website contains information on
various Latin American countries, and why their citizens have moved
to the US.
The 2000 US Census reported that there are 501 Costa
Ricans living in Philadelphia. Costa Ricans are spread throughout
the city and its suburbs, but most Costa Ricans live in established
Latino Communities in North and South Philadelphia.
Costa Rica is one of the most stable countries in
Central America. The economy is relatively stable due to its
successful tourism industry. With this in mind, Philadelphia has
very few Costa Rican immigrants. However, some Costa Ricans that
did not benefit so well from the tourism industry migrated to
Philadelphia as a result of the Immigration and Nationality Act of
1965. This act allowed more immigration from third world countries.
Since the 1990s, Costa have come to Philadelphia as part of the
current wave of immigration seeking temporary and permanent
opportunities, and reunifying with families in Philadelphia.
Costa Ricans are a small part of Philadelphia’s
population. However, it is a part of the larger Latino community.
The Latino people make some great contributions to the city of
Philadelphia, and at times could use some support. One organization
that supports this community is Congreso de Latinos Unidos.
Congreso offers a broad range of services including the first Latina
domestic violence program, as well as HIV prevention and case
management services. Congreso is strengthening the Puerto Rican
(and otherwise Latino) community in part because of partnerships
with government agencies, health providers, labor organizations,
businesses, and other community-based institutions. The
Lighthouse is another organization that supports the Latino
community in Philadelphia. This group has been serving the
multicultural population of Philadelphia since the late 1800’s. It
provides services such as day care, before – and after – school
care, and a food share program, educational, occupational, cultural,
and recreational programs, an Adult Educational Program & ESL, an
Economic Development Program, a Teen Parenting Education and
Employment Program, and a Young Parenting Fathers Program.
For more information on the Costa Rican community in Philadelphia,
and the organizations that serve them, please visit:
Congreso
Congreso’s website includes information on the programs that it
provides, relevant news, available jobs, information on the
community it serves, its and funders.
Centro Nueva Creación
Centro Nueva Creación’s website has information on its programs, has
relevant news, the organization’s history, and more.
Latino Philadelphia
This is a profile of the Latino community of Philadelphia, created
by the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. It has a variety of
information such as what it means to be Latino/Latina, Latino
history in Philadelphia, what it is like to be an immigrant in
Philadelphia, community resources, cultural expressions, and more.
The World Fact Book
This CIA website contains an extremely large amount of information
about all of the countries in the world such as: history,
geography, information about its citizens, government, economy,
transnational issues, and more. To find out information about this
country, pull it down from the menu.
Centro Nueva Creación
Centro Nueva Creación’s website has information on its programs, has
relevant news, the organization’s history, and more.
"Latinos in the United States: Where Are We From?"
This website was created by the National Association of Hispanic
Journalists. This section of the website contains information on
various Latin American countries, and why their citizens have moved
to the US.
The Cuban community in Philadelphia is a particularly
slow growing population in Philadelphia. The 2000 Census estimated
that there are 2,730 Cubans living here. Originally, Cubans settled
in the Olney section of the city. Since the beginning of the Cuban
presence in Philadelphia, the community has spread mostly to the
Northern and Northeastern areas of the city.
Philadelphia and Cuba have been linked through trade
ties since the 18th century. During this time, mostly
Cuban pro-independence exiles and organizers, merchants, cigar
makers, trades people, and students lived in Philadelphia. A large
group of Cubans arrived in Philadelphia between 1959 and 1965, after
the Cuban Revolution. Some of these people reunited with friends
and family that already lived in Philadelphia, while the others
moved again, to Florida. Of the Cubans that stayed, many created
Cuban social and cultural groups, which are still in existence.
Another noteworthy group of Cuban immigrants came to Philadelphia in
the 1980s as refugees.
The Cuban community is not the largest minority population in the
city. However, it is a part of the larger Latino community. The
Latino people make some great contributions to the city of
Philadelphia, and at times could use some support. One organization
that supports this community is Congreso de Latinos Unidos.
Congreso offers a broad range of services including the first Latina
domestic violence program, as well as HIV prevention and case
management services. Congreso is strengthening the Puerto Rican
(and otherwise Latino) community in part because of partnerships
with government agencies, health providers, labor organizations,
businesses, and other community-based institutions. The
Lighthouse is another organization that supports the Latino
community in Philadelphia. This group has been serving the
multicultural population of Philadelphia since the late 1800’s. It
provides services such as day care, before – and after – school
care, and a food share program, educational, occupational, cultural,
and recreational programs, an Adult Educational Program & ESL, an
Economic Development Program, a Teen Parenting Education and
Employment Program, and a Young Parenting Fathers Program.
To find out more about Cubans in Philadelphia and the programs that
support them, please visit:
Congreso
Congreso’s website includes information on the programs that it
provides, relevant news, available jobs, information on the
community it serves, and its funders.
Latino Philadelphia
This is a profile of the Latino community of Philadelphia, created
by the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. It has a variety of
information such as what it means to be Latino/Latina, Latino
history in Philadelphia, what it is like to be an immigrant in
Philadelphia, community resources, cultural expressions, and more.
The World Fact Book
This CIA website contains an extremely large amount of information
about all of the countries in the world such as: history,
geography, information about its citizens, government, economy,
transnational issues, and more. To find out information about this
country, pull it down from the menu.
Centro Nueva Creación
Centro Nueva Creación’s website has information on its programs, has
relevant news, the organization’s history, and more.
"Latinos in the United States: Where Are We From?"
This website was created by the National Association of Hispanic
Journalists. This section of the website contains information on
various Latin American countries, and why their citizens have moved
to the US.
According to the 2000 Census, there are about 4,337 Dominican people
living in Philadelphia. Almost all of the immigrants from the
Dominican Republic live in North Philadelphia in the Hartranft, West
Kensington, Fairhill, Harrowgate, Richmond, Hunting Park, Juniata
Park/Feltonville, Logan/Fern Rock, and Olney neighborhoods.
However, there are also some small concentrations of Dominicans
living in West and Northeast Philadelphia.
There were very few people from the Dominican Republic living in
Philadelphia before the year 1990. Since then, the Dominican
population has been growing rapidly. Unlike some immigrant
communities in Philadelphia, Dominicans tend to move to here from
New York, not directly from the Dominican Republic. A significant
number of Dominicans come to Philadelphia in search of work, safe
neighborhoods, and affordable housing (which is especially difficult
to find in New York). After coming to the city, some have opened
bodegas (small shops), travel agencies, and other businesses in and
outside of North Philadelphia. Currently, the growth of the
Dominican population can be attributed to at least two causes. The
first cause is people moving to Philadelphia to be reunited with
their families. The second cause is people moving to Philadelphia
in search of economic opportunities and higher education.
The Dominicans in Philadelphia are a generally tightly knit group in
Philadelphia. However, it is a part of the larger Latino
community. The Latino people make some great contributions to the
city of Philadelphia, and at times could use some support. One
organization that supports this community is Congreso de Latinos
Unidos. Congreso offers a broad range of services including the
first Latina domestic violence program, as well as HIV prevention
and case management services. Congreso is strengthening the Puerto
Rican (and otherwise Latino) community in part because of
partnerships with government agencies, health providers, labor
organizations, businesses, and other community-based institutions.
The Lighthouse is another organization that supports the
Latino community in Philadelphia. This group has been serving the
multicultural population of Philadelphia since the late 1800’s. It
provides services such as day care, before – and after – school
care, and a food share program, educational, occupational, cultural,
and recreational programs, an Adult Educational Program & ESL, an
Economic Development Program, a Teen Parenting Education and
Employment Program, and a Young Parenting Fathers Program.
To find more information on Philadelphians from the Dominican
Republic and the programs that support them, please visit:
Congreso
Congreso’s website includes information on the programs that it
provides, relevant news, available jobs, information on the
community it serves, and its funders.
Latino Philadelphia
This is a profile of the Latino community of Philadelphia, created
by the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. It has a variety of
information such as what it means to be Latino/Latina, Latino
history in Philadelphia, what it is like to be an immigrant in
Philadelphia, community resources, cultural expressions, and more.
“Recent Trends in Immigration to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania” by Fels
Institute of Government at Univeristy of Penn
This document contains a brief history of the immigration patterns
of this population in Philadelphia, why this population came here,
and what parts of the city they live in now.
The World Fact Book
This CIA website contains an extremely large amount of information
about all of the countries in the world such as: history,
geography, information about its citizens, government, economy,
transnational issues, and more. To find out information about this
country, pull it down from the menu.
Centro Nueva Creación
Centro Nueva Creación’s website has information on its programs, has
relevant news, the organization’s history, and more.
"Latinos in the United States: Where Are We From?"
This website was created by the National Association of Hispanic
Journalists. This section of the website contains information on
various Latin American countries, and why their citizens have moved
to the US.
The 2000 US Census estimated that there are
approximately 420 Ecuadorian immigrants living in Philadelphia.
Most of the people in this small population live in established
Latino communities in North Philadelphia, South Philadelphia, and
Olney.
The first real wave of Ecuadorian migration to
Philadelphia was in the 1970’s and 1980’s. Beginning in those years
and still today, Ecuador has experienced an unstable government.
Despite being blessed with exportable goods, the country has faced
many economic hardships. These hardships have made Ecuadorians of
all classes migrate to other countries, including the United States.
The Ecuadorian population in Philadelphia is relatively small.
However, it is a part of the larger Latino community. The Latino
people make some great contributions to the city of Philadelphia,
and at times could use some support. One organization that supports
this community is Congreso de Latinos Unidos. Congreso
offers a broad range of services including the first Latina domestic
violence program, as well as HIV prevention and case management
services. Congreso is strengthening the Puerto Rican (and otherwise
Latino) community in part because of partnerships with government
agencies, health providers, labor organizations, businesses, and
other community-based institutions. The Lighthouse is
another organization that supports the Latino community in
Philadelphia. This group has been serving the multicultural
population of Philadelphia since the late 1800’s. It provides
services such as day care, before – and after – school care, and a
food share program, educational, occupational, cultural, and
recreational programs, an Adult Educational Program & ESL, an
Economic Development Program, a Teen Parenting Education and
Employment Program, and a Young Parenting Fathers Program.
For more information on Ecuadorians in Philadelphia, and the
organizations that serve them, please visit:
Congreso
Congreso’s website includes information on the programs that it
provides, relevant news, available jobs, information on the
community it serves, its and funders.
Latino Philadelphia
This is a profile of the Latino community of Philadelphia, created
by the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. It has a variety of
information such as what it means to be Latino/Latina, Latino
history in Philadelphia, what it is like to be an immigrant in
Philadelphia, community resources, cultural expressions, and more.
The World Fact Book
This CIA website contains an extremely large amount of information
about all of the countries in the world such as: history,
geography, information about its citizens, government, economy,
transnational issues, and more. To find out information about this
country, pull it down from the menu.
Centro Nueva Creación
Centro Nueva Creación’s website has information on its programs, has
relevant news, the organization’s history, and more.
"Latinos in the United States: Where Are We From?"
This website was created by the National Association of Hispanic
Journalists. This section of the website contains information on
various Latin American countries, and why their citizens have moved
to the US.
Guatemalans make up a very small portion of
Philadelphia’s population. The 2000 Census reported that there were
only 518 Guatemalans in the city. It is hard to keep track of this
small community, because they are often mistaken for Mexicans.
Guatemalans typically live in established Latino communities in
North and South Philadelphia.
Central Americans were a part of Philadelphia’s “Spanish American”
colony in 1910. During the 1960’s a small wave of Guatemalan
families came to Philadelphia. This was a result of the Immigration
Act of 1965, which allowed more immigration from third world
countries. The Guatemalan community remained relatively small until
the 1970s and 1980s. During these years, there was a surge in
migration to Philadelphia and other US cities because of political
conflicts, civil war, oppressive governments and US interventions –
all of which were unbearable to people in Guatemala. There has been
another wave in Guatemalan migration to Philadelphia, since the
1990’s. These people are typically looking for temporary and
permanent employment opportunities, and want to reunite with family
living in Philadelphia. An interesting note about Guatemalan
migration is that many Guatemalans do not typically move from their
country directly to the United States. Often times Guatemalans will
first move to Mexico before coming to our country.
This community is relatively small. However, it is a
part of the larger Latino community. The Latino people make some
great contributions to the city of Philadelphia, and at times could
use some support. One organization that supports this community is
Congreso de Latinos Unidos. Congreso offers a broad range of
services including the first Latina domestic violence program, as
well as HIV prevention and case management services. Congreso is
strengthening the Puerto Rican (and otherwise Latino) community in
part because of partnerships with government agencies, health
providers, labor organizations, businesses, and other
community-based institutions. The Lighthouse is another
organization that supports the Latino community in Philadelphia.
This group has been serving the multicultural population of
Philadelphia since the late 1800’s. It provides services such as
day care, before – and after – school care, and a food share
program, educational, occupational, cultural, and recreational
programs, an Adult Educational Program & ESL, an Economic
Development Program, a Teen Parenting Education and Employment
Program, and a Young Parenting Fathers Program.
For more information on Guatemalans in Philadelphia and the
organizations that serve them, please visit:
Congreso
Congreso’s website includes information on the programs that it
provides, relevant news, available jobs, information on the
community it serves, and its funders.
Latino Philadelphia
This is a profile of the Latino community of Philadelphia, created
by the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. It has a variety of
information such as what it means to be Latino/Latina, Latino
history in Philadelphia, what it is like to be an immigrant in
Philadelphia, community resources, cultural expressions, and more.
The World Fact Book
This CIA website contains an extremely large amount of information
about all of the countries in the world such as: history,
geography, information about its citizens, government, economy,
transnational issues, and more. To find out information about this
country, pull it down from the menu.
Centro Nueva Creación
Centro Nueva Creación’s website has information on its programs, has
relevant news, the organization’s history, and more.
"Latinos in the United States: Where Are We From?"
This website was created by the National Association of Hispanic
Journalists. This section of the website contains information on
various Latin American countries, and why their citizens have moved
to the US.
One film that shows life and migration from Guatemala is “El Norte.”
The 13th largest immigrant population, there
are 3,335 Haitian immigrants in Philadelphia. These people tend to
live in close proximity to Dominicans in the Lawncrest/Summerdale,
Juniata Park/Feltonville, Olney, Ogontz, Oxford Circle, West Oak
Lane and Cedarbrook neighborhoods.
There have been two major waves of immigration from Haiti to the
United States, and more specifically to Philadelphia. The first
wave of Haitians came in the 1950’s and 1960’s. These people were
typically middle class and upper class citizens that opposed the
rule of François Duvalier. The second wave of immigrants came in
the 1970’s. These people were generally members of the lower class
and rural communities that were trying to escape economic hardship.
During this wave, the first reports of Haitians arriving in the US
by boat without documentation occurred. After this account in 1972,
Haitians were nicknamed the “boat people.”
Being fairly large, there are plenty of organizations that help
support Philadelphia’s Haitian community. One such organization is
The Haitian Community Help Center. This organization provides such
services as immigration counseling and referrals, job preparation
and job placement, document translation, recreational services to
different age groups, after-school tutoring, GED/ESL classes,
beginner computer classes, a mentoring service for young Haitians
who need assistance successfully and gracefully transitioning from
Haitian to American culture, and more. If you are interested in
working with the Haitian community through Project SHINE, you may
want to consider working at the Life Changing Community Center.
For more information about Philadelphia’s Haitian community and the
organizations that serve them, please visit:
This is a profile on Haitian migration completed by Country Studies
This is an article about the Haitian Unity Day that was held in
Philadelphia
This is the website of the Haitian Community Help Center (mentioned
above)
“Recent Trends in Immigration to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania” by Fels
Institute of Government at Univeristy of Penn
This document contains a brief history of the immigration patterns
of this population in Philadelphia, why this population came here,
and what parts of the city they live in now.
The World Fact Book
This CIA website contains an extremely large amount of information
about all of the countries in the world such as: history,
geography, information about its citizens, government, economy,
transnational issues, and more. To find out information about this
country, pull it down from the menu.
In Philadelphia, a little over 6,500 people self-identified as being
of Korean ethnicity in Census 2000. Of those, 5,209 were foreign
born. Like all of the other groups discussed here, Korean
immigration really exploded after the 1965 Immigration Act.
Philadelphia has a large pocket of Koreans in the Olney section of
the city. There are also a lot of Koreans that start up small
businesses in the city, and move into the suburbs. These people
typically commute to the city every day for work. Koreans represent
the largest Asian minority in all of the counties surrounding
Philadelphia.
Education levels are generally high among Korean immigrants, with
many having received at least a secondary education.
For More Information:
“Recent Trends in Immigration to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania” by
Fels Institute of Government at Univeristy of Penn
This document contains a brief history of the immigration patterns
of this population in Philadelphia, why this population came here,
and what parts of the city they live in now.
The World Fact Book
This CIA website contains an extremely large amount of information
about all of the countries in the world such as: history,
geography, information about its citizens, government, economy,
transnational issues, and more. To find out information about this
country, pull it down from the menu.
The 2000 Census estimated that the total foreign born population
from Latin America to be 32,099 out of 137,205 or just under a
quarter of the total foreign born population. The largest
foreign-born communities are from the Dominican Republic, Mexico,
Cuba, and Colombia. However, this alone does not describe the
Latino population of Philadelphia. There are an estimated 91,572
Puerto Ricans living in Philadelphia, giving Philadelphia the 3rd
largest Puerto Rican population outside of Puerto Rico. Though
Puerto Ricans are not immigrants under law, the Puerto Rican
communities often experience many of the same cultural and
linguistic challenges that immigrant populations do.
The Latino population of Philadelphia is largely
Caribbean, with Dominican, Cuban, and Puerto Rican people dominating
the community. Many of these people immigrated to the United States
in the 1970’s when their homelands were experiencing political and
economic troubles. However, the two largest groups of Latino
immigrants in Philadelphia are Mexican and Cuban. Much of the
Latino population of Philadelphia is made up of secondary migrants;
many come from the larger communities in New York seeking safer
neighborhoods and jobs.
With any immigrant population, the Latino population in
Philadelphia is a mixed group and includes people of all economic
and educational backgrounds. They may have some literacy in their
native language, but many lack even basic literacy skills in
English. In general, the majority of elder Puerto Ricans came as
“children followers,” moving here to be with family. From other
locales, the patterns of migration vary from country to country.
Many immigrants have come to escape political or economic turmoil in
their home country, while others have followed family who came here
for economic or educational reasons before them.
Latinos in Philadelphia have an array of social services
available to them. The Latino people make some great contributions
to the city of Philadelphia, and at times could use some support.
One organization that supports this community is Congreso de
Latinos Unidos. Congreso offers a broad range of services
including the first Latina domestic violence program, as well as HIV
prevention and case management services. Congreso is strengthening
the Puerto Rican (and otherwise Latino) community in part because of
partnerships with government agencies, health providers, labor
organizations, businesses, and other community-based institutions.
The Lighthouse is another organization that supports the
Latino community in Philadelphia. This group has been serving the
multicultural population of Philadelphia since the late 1800’s. It
provides services such as day care, before – and after – school
care, and a food share program, educational, occupational, cultural,
and recreational programs, an Adult Educational Program & ESL, an
Economic Development Program, a Teen Parenting Education and
Employment Program, and a Young Parenting Fathers Program.
The World Fact Book
This CIA website contains an extremely large amount of information
about all of the countries in the world such as: history,
geography, information about its citizens, government, economy,
transnational issues, and more. To find out information about any
of these native countries, pull it down from the menu.
Centro Nueva Creación
Centro Nueva Creación’s website has information on its programs, has
relevant news, the organization’s history, and more.
"Latinos in the United States: Where Are We From?"
This website was created by the National Association of Hispanic
Journalists. This section of the website contains information on
various Latin American countries, and why their citizens have moved
to the US.
The Liberian population of Philadelphia and its surrounding areas
is estimated at about 10,000 to 15,000 people, mostly living in West
and South Philadelphia or Upper Darby. Philadelphia’s Liberian
community is among the largest in the United States. They also
represent one of the largest African communities in Philadelphia,
along with the communities from Nigeria, Ethiopia, and Ghana. The
African immigrant population of Philadelphia is mainly from large
cities; many come from cities that are in fact larger than
Philadelphia.
Liberia has been plagued by civil war for many years, as ethnic
groups and political parties clash over the leadership of the
country; therefore, the Liberian population in Philadelphia
primarily came to the United States as refugees or asylees during
the 1990’s. In general, immigrants from Africa are among the most
highly educated of any immigrant group, many coming from urban
locales and having some college education. However, as with any
immigrant population, the Liberian population in Philadelphia is a
mixed group and includes people of all economic and educational
backgrounds.
For More Information:
Liberia Page of the Africa Studies Center at University of
Pennsylvania
This webpage is a resource guide for finding information about
Liberia and its people. There are over 15 valuable resources.
“African Immigration”
This is a profile on African immigration over the past 30 years was
written by the African-American Migration Experience. The profile
contains descriptions of the waves of migration, the numbers of
migrants, changes and continuity in culture after migration, and
more.
“Recent Trends in Immigration to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania” by
Fels Institute of Government at Univeristy of Penn
This document contains a brief history of the immigration patterns
of this population (and other West African communities) in
Philadelphia, why this population came here, and what parts of the
city they live in now.
The World Fact Book
This CIA website contains an extremely large amount of information
about all of the countries in the world such as: history,
geography, information about its citizens, government, economy,
transnational issues, and more. To find out information about this
country, pull it down from the menu.
The 2000 Census estimated that there were 6,220 Mexicans
living in Philadelphia. Because of rapid growth, the population was
estimated to surpass 12,000 in 2003. For the most part, Mexicans
live in South Philadelphia, which is the fastest growing Mexican
community. There are also small concentrations in Kensington,
Olney, West Philadelphia, and Southwest Philadelphia. It is worth
noting that there are a tremendous amount of Mexicans living
throughout the Tri-state area, especially in suburbs like Kennett
Square.
In the 1910’s and 1920’s, a small group of Mexican men
migrated to Philadelphia in search of jobs. Most of these people
worked in agriculture, construction, and on the railroads. They
typically moved into established Puerto Rican neighborhoods. During
World War II Mexican men were recruited to come live in the United
States and work on railroads. In the 1970’s, another wave of
Mexicans came to Philadelphia – this time men and women. These
people came to establish careers and to open their own businesses.
During the 1990’s Mexican Philadelphians really established a
community. They began to provide service work, left predominately
Puerto Rican communities, and started building their own Mexican
communities.
There is a very large Mexican population in Philadelphia. However,
it is a part of the larger Latino community. The Latino people make
some great contributions to the city of Philadelphia, and at times
could use some support. One organization that supports this
community is Congreso de Latinos Unidos. Congreso offers a
broad range of services including the first Latina domestic violence
program, as well as HIV prevention and case management services.
Congreso is strengthening the Puerto Rican (and otherwise Latino)
community in part because of partnerships with government agencies,
health providers, labor organizations, businesses, and other
community-based institutions. The Lighthouse is another
organization that supports the Latino community in Philadelphia.
This group has been serving the multicultural population of
Philadelphia since the late 1800’s. It provides services such as
day care, before – and after – school care, and a food share
program, educational, occupational, cultural, and recreational
programs, an Adult Educational Program & ESL, an Economic
Development Program, a Teen Parenting Education and Employment
Program, and a Young Parenting Fathers Program. In South
Philadelphia, one organization that serves this community is
Juntos and La Casa de los Soles. Juntos links Mexican people to
the appropriate services and opportunities they need in a manner
that is beneficial for community, institution and city, and offers
services such as English as a Second Language classes and computer
classes.
To find out more about Mexicans in Philadelphia and the programs
that support them, please visit:
Juntos and La Casa de los Soles
Congreso
Congreso’s website includes information on the programs that it
provides, relevant news, available jobs, information on the
community it serves, and its funders.
Latino Philadelphia
This is a profile of the Latino community of Philadelphia, created
by the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. It has a variety of
information such as what it means to be Latino/Latina, Latino
history in Philadelphia, what it is like to be an immigrant in
Philadelphia, community resources, cultural expressions, and more.
“Borderline Realities” by Kate Kilpatrick
This is an article about trends of robberies that take place in the
Mexican community in South Philadelphia. The victims are afraid to
report the crimes because of limited language skill and fear of
deportation.
“Recent Trends in Immigration to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania” by Fels
Institute of Government at Univeristy of Penn
This document contains a brief history of the immigration patterns
of this population in Philadelphia, why this population came here,
and what parts of the city they live in now.
The World Fact Book
This CIA website contains an extremely large amount of information
about all of the countries in the world such as: history,
geography, information about its citizens, government, economy,
transnational issues, and more. To find out information about this
country, pull it down from the menu.
Centro Nueva Creación
Centro Nueva Creación’s website has information on its programs, has
relevant news, the organization’s history, and more.
"Latinos in the United States: Where Are We From?"
This website was created by the National Association of Hispanic
Journalists. This section of the website contains information on
various Latin American countries, and why their citizens have moved
to the US.
According to the 2000 Census, there are approximately
471 Peruvian immigrants living in Philadelphia, out of the 200,000
living in the tri-state area. Right now Peruvians are living in
Center City, West Philadelphia, and amongst established Latino
communities in North and South Philadelphia.
Some Peruvian revolutionaries, merchants and scholars are known to
have visited Philadelphia in the 18th and 19th centuries. They were
also reported among Philadelphia’s “Spanish American” colony in
1910. Small numbers were known to have come to Philadelphia after
the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965. This act allowed more
immigrants from third world countries to move to the US. The
largest wave of immigration from Peru occurred in the late 1980s in
the face of economic and political instability because of the civil
wars with Maoist revolutionary groups such as Sendero Luminoso (or
en English, Shining Path). This organization was a ruthless
terrorist group responsible for drug trafficking, kidnapping, and
over 30,000 murders. Since the 1990s, globalization, economic
restructuring and crises, and political instability in South
American countries have contributed to the increasing number of
Peruvians seeking various opportunities and reunifying with families
in Philadelphia.
Philadelphia’s Peruvian population is relatively small.
However, it is a part of the larger Latino community. The Latino
people make some great contributions to the city of Philadelphia,
and at times could use some support. One organization that supports
this community is Congreso de Latinos Unidos. Congreso
offers a broad range of services including the first Latina domestic
violence program, as well as HIV prevention and case management
services. Congreso is strengthening the Puerto Rican (and otherwise
Latino) community in part because of partnerships with government
agencies, health providers, labor organizations, businesses, and
other community-based institutions. The Lighthouse is
another organization that supports the Latino community in
Philadelphia. This group has been serving the multicultural
population of Philadelphia since the late 1800’s. It provides
services such as day care, before – and after – school care, and a
food share program, educational, occupational, cultural, and
recreational programs, an Adult Educational Program & ESL, an
Economic Development Program, a Teen Parenting Education and
Employment Program, and a Young Parenting Fathers Program. One
other example of this is Asociación Nacional Peruano-Americana
(ANPA). ANPA is a Peruvian American organization whose objective is
to promote Peruvian culture, to advocate for human and civil rights,
and to develop cultural, educational, social, religious, and
labor-related issues. Other community groups that help the
Philadelphia’s Peruvian population also serve the larger Latino
community.
For more information on Philadelphia’s Peruvian community, and the
organizations that serve them, please visit:
Congreso
Congreso’s website includes information on the programs that it
provides, relevant news, available jobs, information on the
community it serves, its and funders.
Latino Philadelphia
This is a profile of the Latino community of Philadelphia, created
by the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. It has a variety of
information such as what it means to be Latino/Latina, Latino
history in Philadelphia, what it is like to be an immigrant in
Philadelphia, community resources, cultural expressions, and more.
The World Fact Book
This CIA website contains an extremely large amount of information
about all of the countries in the world such as: history,
geography, information about its citizens, government, economy,
transnational issues, and more. To find out information about this
country, pull it down from the menu.
Centro Nueva Creación
Centro Nueva Creación’s website has information on its programs, has
relevant news, the organization’s history, and more.
"Latinos in the United States: Where Are We From?"
This website was created by the National Association of Hispanic
Journalists. This section of the website contains information on
various Latin American countries, and why their citizens have moved
to the US.
The 2000 Census estimated that there are 91,527 Puerto Ricans living
in Philadelphia. The largest concentration of Puerto Ricans is in
North Philadelphia, though there are other large concentrations in
South Philadelphia, Frankford, and Juniata Park.
Philadelphia and Puerto Rico have had a long lasting connection.
The relationship began in the 18th century with trade
ties. During this time, Puerto Rican pro-independence exiles and
organizers, merchants, cigar makers, trades people, laborers,
students, and others lived in Philadelphia. During World War II,
the US government recruited Puerto Ricans to work in our country.
Most of the work took place on farms, in factories, and in homes.
Between 1950 and 1970, Philadelphia experienced an economic boom.
This was also a time in which there was a spike in the Puerto Rican
population growth. The population had grown to over 60,000. These
new Philadelphians worked in the factories (particularly in the
Kensington and Port Richmond sections of the city); some created
their own businesses, and some organized their community. The
community is still growing today. Puerto Ricans typically come from
Puerto Rico directly, New York, and other cities with Puerto Rican
communities. Uniquely, Puerto Ricans are a population that tends to
have a circular migration. This means that it is not out of the
ordinary for Puerto Ricans to frequently move between Philadelphia
and Puerto Rico. This happens, in part, because Puerto Ricans are
not immigrants, but United States citizens. Puerto Rico is a US
territory. Among other things, this means that Puerto Ricans may
pass freely between Philadelphia and Puerto Rico.
Philadelphia’s Puerto Rican population is quite large. Still, it is
a part of the larger Latino community. The Latino people make some
great contributions to the city of Philadelphia, and at times could
use some support. One organization that supports this community is
Congreso de Latinos Unidos. Congreso offers a broad range of
services including the first Latina domestic violence program, as
well as HIV prevention and case management services. Congreso is
strengthening the Puerto Rican (and otherwise Latino) community in
part because of partnerships with government agencies, health
providers, labor organizations, businesses, and other
community-based institutions. The Lighthouse is another
organization that supports the Latino community in Philadelphia.
This group has been serving the multicultural population of
Philadelphia since the late 1800’s. It provides services such as
day care, before – and after – school care, and a food share
program, educational, occupational, cultural, and recreational
programs, an Adult Educational Program & ESL, an Economic
Development Program, a Teen Parenting Education and Employment
Program, and a Young Parenting Fathers Program. One organization
geared towards the advancement of Puerto Rican Philadelphians is
Asociación de Puertorriqueños en Marcha. This group offers
services in a number of areas including education, health,
employment, housing, recreation, job training, and children’s
welfare programs.
To find out more about Puerto Ricans in Philadelphia and the
programs that support them, please visit:
Congreso
Congreso’s website includes information on the programs that it
provides, relevant news, available jobs, information on the
community it serves, and its funders.
Concilio
Concilio is the Council of Spanish Speaking Organizations. It is
the main organization behind Philadelphia’s Puerto Rican festival.
Their website also contains information on community services and
links to other community organizations.
Latino Philadelphia
This is a profile of the Latino community of Philadelphia, created
by the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. It has a variety of
information such as what it means to be Latino/Latina, Latino
history in Philadelphia, what it is like to be an immigrant in
Philadelphia, community resources, cultural expressions, and more.
The World Fact Book
This CIA website contains an extremely large amount of information
about all of the countries in the world such as: history,
geography, information about its citizens, government, economy,
transnational issues, and more. To find out information about this
country, pull it down from the menu.
Centro Nueva Creación
Centro Nueva Creación’s website has information on its programs, has
relevant news, the organization’s history, and more.
"Latinos in the United States: Where Are We From?"
This website was created by the National Association of Hispanic
Journalists. This section of the website contains information on
various Latin American countries, and why their citizens have moved
to the US.
According to the 2000 Census, there are approximately 2200 ethnic
Romanians living in the city of Philadelphia. The first major wave
of Romanian immigration to the United States took place between 1895
and 1920, during which 145,000 Romanians entered the country where
the majority hailed from the regions of Wallachia and Moldavia. As
Philadelphia was one of the premier industrial giants in the world
during the early part of this century, many Romanians settled in the
City of Brotherly Love.
Many factors affected Romanian immigration to the United States
since the first wave of immigrants to enter the United States. The
first major influence on overall immigration was the Great
Depression. With the loss of jobs in Romania, many ethnic Romanians
were forced to look elsewhere to live. The hope of financial
security in the U.S. led many to immigrate to this country. The
second major influence on Romanian immigration to the United States
was the downfall of communism. According to the Romanian-American
Network, Inc., “the elimination of communist travel restrictions,
the desire of thousands of people to be reunited with their American
relatives and friends, and the precarious economic conditions in the
new Romania were powerful incentives to come to America for a new
start in life.”
The following websites offer some further information on
Romanian-Americans:
Congress of Romanian-Americans
Romanian-American League
“Recent Trends in Immigration to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania” by Fels
Institute of Government at Univeristy of Penn
This document contains a brief history of the immigration patterns
of this population in Philadelphia, why this population came here,
and what parts of the city they live in now.
The World Fact Book
This CIA website contains an extremely large amount of information
about all of the countries in the world such as: history,
geography, information about its citizens, government, economy,
transnational issues, and more. To find out information about this
country, pull it down from the menu.
The total population self-identifying as being of Russian ancestry
(as their first ancestry reported) in 2000 was 22,273 people in
Philadelphia. Of these, 5,275 were foreign born in Russia. In
addition, the Ukrainian population also represents a significant
Eastern European population in Philadelphia that utilizes many of
the same services and has a similar immigration history as the
Russian population. There were 12,807 who identified their first
ancestry as Ukrainian, of whom 8,326 were foreign born. Combined,
Russians and Ukrainians represent the largest foreign born
population in Philadelphia.
A relatively large proportion of this population are Jewish émigrés
who came to the United States seeking a religious freedom and safety
that was not available in the Soviet Union, before and after the
fall of communism. The first wave arrived in the mid-1970s when the
Soviet Union loosened their emigration laws for Jewish people. The
next wave occurred after the fall of communism, when many people in
the former Soviet Union took advantage of the new freedom to
immigrate to the United States. The Russian neighborhoods, the
Bustleton and Rhawnhurst sections of Philadelphia in the North East,
are home to many Russian stores and other Russian language services.
For More Information:
“Recent Trends in Immigration to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania” by Fels
Institute of Government at Univeristy of Penn
This document contains a brief history of the immigration patterns
of this population in Philadelphia, why this population came here,
and what parts of the city they live in now.
The World Fact Book
This CIA website contains an extremely large amount of information
about all of the countries in the world such as: history,
geography, information about its citizens, government, economy,
transnational issues, and more. To find out information about this
country, pull it down from the menu.
The 2000 Census approximated that there are 337
immigrants from El Salvador living in Philadelphia. Most
Salvadorans are living in established Mexican and Puerto Rican
communities in North Philadelphia, South Philadelphia, and the
Spring Garden areas.
Many Salvadorans migrated to the United States and
Philadelphia between 1980 and 1992. These were the years of a
particularly violent civil war. During the years of the war,
Salvadoran immigration into the United States increased tenfold.
After the war, the vast majority of Salvadorians returned to their
native country.
This is a very small population in Philadelphia.
However, it is a part of the larger Latino community. The Latino
people make some great contributions to the city of Philadelphia,
and at times could use some support. One organization that supports
this community is Congreso de Latinos Unidos. Congreso
offers a broad range of services including the first Latina domestic
violence program, as well as HIV prevention and case management
services. Congreso is strengthening the Puerto Rican (and otherwise
Latino) community in part because of partnerships with government
agencies, health providers, labor organizations, businesses, and
other community-based institutions. The Lighthouse is
another organization that supports the Latino community in
Philadelphia. This group has been serving the multicultural
population of Philadelphia since the late 1800’s. It provides
services such as day care, before – and after – school care, and a
food share program, educational, occupational, cultural, and
recreational programs, an Adult Educational Program & ESL, an
Economic Development Program, a Teen Parenting Education and
Employment Program, and a Young Parenting Fathers Program.
For more information on Salvadorans in Philadelphia, and the
organizations that serve them, please visit:
Congreso
Congreso’s website includes information on the programs that it
provides, relevant news, available jobs, information on the
community it serves, its and funders.
Latino Philadelphia
This is a profile of the Latino community of Philadelphia, created
by the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. It has a variety of
information such as what it means to be Latino/Latina, Latino
history in Philadelphia, what it is like to be an immigrant in
Philadelphia, community resources, cultural expressions, and more.
The World Fact Book
This CIA website contains an extremely large amount of information
about all of the countries in the world such as: history,
geography, information about its citizens, government, economy,
transnational issues, and more. To find out information about this
country, pull it down from the menu.
Centro Nueva Creación
Centro Nueva Creación’s website has information on its programs, has
relevant news, the organization’s history, and more.
"Latinos in the United States: Where Are We From?"
This website was created by the National Association of Hispanic
Journalists. This section of the website contains information on
various Latin American countries, and why their citizens have moved
to the US.
The 2000 Census reported that there are 409 Venezuelans living in
Philadelphia. Numbers of Venezuelans are living in Center City,
West Philadelphia, and amongst established Latino communities in
North and South Philadelphia.
Venezuelan revolutionaries, merchants and scholars are known to have
visited Philadelphia in the 18th and 19th centuries. Some were also
reported among Philadelphia’s “Spanish American” colony in 1910.
Small numbers of Venezuelans were known to have come to Philadelphia
after the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965. This act
allowed more immigration from third world countries. Small numbers
of Venezuelans settled in the area in the 1970s. During this time,
Venezuela was experiencing a huge economic boost, due to the oil
boom. Unfortunately no more than ten years later, the market
started to crash. Since the 1980’s, globalization, economic
restructuring and crises, and political instability in South
American countries have contributed to the increasing number of
Venezuelan seeking various opportunities and reunifying with
families in Philadelphia.
The Venezuelan population in Philadelphia is small, but quickly
growing. However, it is a part of the larger Latino community. The
Latino people make some great contributions to the city of
Philadelphia, and at times could use some support. One organization
that supports this community is Congreso de Latinos Unidos.
Congreso offers a broad range of services including the first Latina
domestic violence program, as well as HIV prevention and case
management services. Congreso is strengthening the Puerto Rican
(and otherwise Latino) community in part because of partnerships
with government agencies, health providers, labor organizations,
businesses, and other community-based institutions. The
Lighthouse is another organization that supports the Latino
community in Philadelphia. This group has been serving the
multicultural population of Philadelphia since the late 1800’s. It
provides services such as day care, before – and after – school
care, and a food share program, educational, occupational, cultural,
and recreational programs, an Adult Educational Program & ESL, an
Economic Development Program, a Teen Parenting Education and
Employment Program, and a Young Parenting Fathers Program.
To find out more about Venezuelans in Philadelphia, and the programs
that support them please visit:
Congreso
Congreso’s website includes information on the programs that it
provides, relevant news, available jobs, information on the
community it serves, its and funders.
Latino Philadelphia
This is a profile of the Latino community of Philadelphia, created
by the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. It has a variety of
information such as what it means to be Latino/Latina, Latino
history in Philadelphia, what it is like to be an immigrant in
Philadelphia, community resources, cultural expressions, and more.
The World Fact Book
This CIA website contains an extremely large amount of information
about all of the countries in the world such as: history,
geography, information about its citizens, government, economy,
transnational issues, and more. To find out information about this
country, pull it down from the menu.
Centro Nueva Creación
Centro Nueva Creación’s website has information on its programs, has
relevant news, the organization’s history, and more.
"Latinos in the United States: Where Are We From?"
This website was created by the National Association of Hispanic
Journalists. This section of the website contains information on
various Latin American countries, and why their citizens have moved
to the US.
According to Census 2000, there are about 11,000 people of
Vietnamese descent in Philadelphia. Most of those born before the
mid-1970s (and some even later than that) were born in Vietnam or in
refugee camps in neighboring nations. The arrival of Vietnamese
immigrants to the United States follows a similar pattern to the
other Southeast Asian populations who were uprooted by the war and
related violence in Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos. During the early
1970s, the first large wave of refugees arrived from Vietnam, mostly
made up of members of a more educated, middle-class.
Later in the 1970s and early 1980s, a second, larger wave of
refugees from less advantaged backgrounds began to arrive. Many of
the members of this wave were the so-called “Boat People”; mostly
rural farmers who escaped Vietnam to neighboring nations via small,
dangerous boats. Many spent years in refugee camps in neighboring
countries before they were able to come to the United States.
After these initial waves, the population of Vietnamese in America
continued to grow as immigrants sponsored their family members.
Again, similarly to the Cambodian population, there is not a clear
pattern of immigration for Philadelphia’s elder immigrant
population. Since the population came from refugee camps, some
elders may have come with their whole family, or been sponsored by
their children later, or have come alone. When working with groups
coming from such chaotic and varied experiences, it is important not
to label the entire community, but to be open to learning about
individual experiences.
For More Information:
“Vietnamese in the United States”
This is a profile on the Vietnamese community in the United States,
in PDF format. It contains an incredible amount of information
including: length of time in the US, family ties, language
retention, religion, customs & taboos, and much more.
“Home and Abroad”
This is a City Paper article about Vietnamese people living in
America – how they hold on to their heritage, but do not forget
about their at times troubling past.
“Boat People: A Refugee Crisis” from CBC’s (Canadian Television)
archives
This website contains 11 video clips that aired in Canada about
Vietnamese immigration. Topics cover such issues as: why people
fled Vietnam, re-education camps, and immigrants being unwanted by
current citizens.
“Recent Trends in Immigration to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania” by Fels
Institute of Government at Univeristy of Penn
This document contains a brief history of the immigration patterns
of this population in Philadelphia, why this population came here,
and what parts of the city they live in now.
The World Fact Book
This CIA website contains an extremely large amount of information
about all of the countries in the world such as: history,
geography, information about its citizens, government, economy,
transnational issues, and more. To find out information about this
country, pull it down from the menu.