Philadelphia has a long history as a new home to global migrants. New arrivals from Italy, Germany, England, and Ireland became part of the fabric of 19th Century Philadelphia. By the early 20th Century, Philadelphia became one of the United States’ leading Puerto Rican cities. And today, Dominicans, Central Americans, and other Latin American migrants have found their way to the neighborhood of El Centro de Oro. Now Dominicans are the third largest foreign born demographic in Philadelphia, following the cities’ Vietnamese & Chinese communities. As the 21st Century dawned on the city, an emerging Mexican community has also grew to have a noticeable presence in the city.
While Philadelphia’s population has grown by about 5% over nearly two decades, the Latino population of Philadelphia has increased by over 35% in the same time period. Philadelphia is not home to a single Latin American people group but represents an intersection of Latin American cultures. Mexico, Cuba, Venezuela, Dominican Republic, and other Spanish-speaking nations throughout the Americas are represented in Philadelphia.
Whether seeking opportunities to mobilize disciple makers from the Latino community or sharing a heart for making new disciples among Latin American migrants, Philadelphia represents an opportunity for making disciples at the world’s crossroads. Making disciples that multiply in Philadelphia represents an opportunity to impact several corners of Latin America as Philadelphians maintain connections to family & friends beyond borders.
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