Last Saturday, July 19, 5th Street in North Philadelphia transformed into a vibrant cultural scene with the celebration of “Arte en las Calles: Summer Party,” a free, family-friendly event organized by the Esperanza Arts Center.
Presented at Marz Auto Central, the event brought together families, artists, and merchants to enjoy an afternoon filled with Latino flavor, art, and solidarity. More than just entertainment, it was a space to share, learn, and celebrate, featuring music, food, exhibitions, and community resources that promoted health and cultural empowerment.
Highlights included live performances by Timbalona, a group renowned for its Caribbean percussion, and the youth rock band Blaze Born from the AMLA program.
In addition to music and local cuisine, the event offered spaces for artistic expression, entrepreneurship, and community health. In partnership with various organizations, Esperanza promoted awareness about the effects of extreme heat on health.
“Heat is a barrier to health and well-being, and at Esperanza we understand that. But we also want to know what our people think. That’s why we included surveys about the heat experience, and those who completed them received a kit with useful information, a guide to staying cool, a cooling towel, and a fan,” explained Dr. Jamile Téllez Lieberman, SVP, Community Engagement, Research & Community Health Esperanza Housing and Economic Development.
Among the participants, there were inspiring stories. Nerina Pérez-Delgado, a retired teacher, shared her experience exploring watercolor and acrylic painting inspired by Taíno culture: “It has been a deeply satisfying experience for me. I’m very happy to participate in an event like this,” she said.
Also participating was Aura de León, attending “Art in the Streets” for the first time to showcase her line of handmade organic soaps: “I started making them after dealing with a skin condition. Now, I want to help others in my community with natural products,” she explained.
The event offered much more than entertainment: good music, food, exhibitions, and above all, a space where painters, artists, community leaders and neighbors came together to share, learn, and celebrate. Useful information on health and access to community resources was distributed, promoting cultural empowerment.
“Arte en las Calles” is part of a series of events designed to bring arts and culture directly into Philadelphia’s neighborhoods. The initiative continues to strengthen ties among residents while celebrating the richness, diversity, and creativity of the Latino community.
For more information about these initiatives, visit @esperanza.us
