Our mission

History of the Esperanza Community Center 

In 2018, our cofounder, Maricela Torres, traveled to the U.S.-Mexican border to volunteer; upon returning home, she was inspired to open a community center in the Northwood area in West Palm Beach. Several years ago, an "open-air labor market" began to develop next to Broadway and 44th Street. Up to fifty-day laborers, primarily Mayan immigrants from Guatemala and Southern Mexico, congregate daily in an unorganized outdoor labor market where employers pick them up for work.

Maricela organized a group of concerned citizens to address the problem in early 2019, and Esperanza Community Center was formed. The initial services provided outreach to the workers, sharing information on labor rights and the English language. Over the years, we have grown to help the entire family unit. We have partnered with other local agencies and nonprofits to provide services such as English, financial literacy, technology, nutrition, mental health, infant health, childcare, etc.

Through the support of invested community members and organizations, we provide these services free of charge for those in need within our community. In 2024, Esperanza was given a lease agreement for a West Palm Beach city-owned property, allowing it to serve more families and individuals throughout the community.