Concilio, the oldest Latino organization in Philadelphia, is primarily dedicated to supporting vulnerable families in the northeast part of the city. Grace Castro, Marketing Manager, detailed the services they offer and the activities planned for this year, highlighting the Hispanic Fiesta as one of the main events on the calendar.
Castro is responsible for increasing the organization’s visibility with her extensive experience of over 13 years in advertising, writing, creating marketing campaigns, web design, and internal communications. She is passionate about working to support society and the work of non-profit organizations to develop highly effective partnerships and programs that have a positive impact, especially on the Latino community.
In an exclusive interview with El Sol Latino Newspaper, Grace Castro detailed the various activities that make up Concilio’s calendar, which are aimed at the entire Latino community in Philadelphia and residents in general. Among these is the Hispanic Fiesta, held annually as part of the PECO Multicultural Series and Wawa Welcome America. The event features entertainment and includes local vendors offering Latin-style food, music, clothing, and much more. Castro also highlighted the services offered by the organization.
Tell us what Concilio has planned for this year. How is the calendar looking?
At Concilio, we have various cultural events, most of them completely free, such as the Senior Citizens’ Luncheon, which took place on May 23, and the Hispanic Fiesta, which will be held in June at a new location. This year, we will be at the JFK Bridge or John F. Kennedy Bridge.
What changes are coming to the Hispanic Fiesta this year?
The Hispanic Fiesta brings many new things this year. We are focused on the entire Hispanic community, so we want to mention the 19 countries that correspond to us. Being called Hispanics is very important to us, so we want to add a bit of culture, music, color, and flavor. We will have two major performances this year. The first is on Saturday the 22nd with merengue artist Joseph Fonseca as the headliner, and on Sunday the 23rd with salsa artist Huey Dunbar, a very famous and well-known artist from the 90s. We are very excited to have these two artists who will connect with all our people and the Hispanic community. This year, everything is new, but we will continue to be characterized by the usual variety through music and food.
What businesses will be at the Hispanic Fiesta, and how can they participate?
The good news is that through our new location, we have space for everyone. This means that food trucks, restaurants, and vendors of clothing, crafts, or startups can participate. It is an opportunity to show the city and its inhabitants what you have. To participate, you can contact us at (215) 627-3100.
Student Scholarship Opportunities
We have three programs: Community Based Services, Family Social Services, and CUA3. Additionally, we offer the Annual Scholarship, which is our scholarship fund designed to provide financial support to qualified students enrolled or accepted in accredited colleges, universities, or vocational/trade schools. The amount for each category is determined annually.
These scholarships can be used for tuition, academic fees, room, board, and the purchase of required academic materials and books.
The eligibility requirements for the scholarships are as follows:
- Be U.S. citizens, legal permanent residents, or have Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) status.
- Be enrolled in a college, university, or vocational/trade school leading to an associate degree, bachelor’s degree, or certification. Graduate students must be accepted or enrolled as part-time students at a college or university.
Regarding the scholarship application process, the following requirements must be met:
- The application form must be completed and signed.
- Academic transcript from high school, university, or vocational/trade program, including cumulative GPA.
- Acceptance letter, registrar’s letter, or transcript from the institution you plan to attend or are attending.
- A personal essay, typed or neatly printed, of no more than 500 words, or a video of no more than 5 minutes in length.
Applications were received in May, selected candidates will be notified in mid-June, and funds will be disbursed in mid-July.
Those interested in participating in the Annual Scholarship or other services offered by the organization can visit our website at www.elconcilio.net.
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