Esperanza’s Health and Job Fair, a nonprofit organization based in North Philadelphia, was held successfully on April 30 at Esperanza College. For the first time, the event combined health service providers focused on community well-being with more than 20 employers offering job opportunities and more than 20 informational tables.
Dr. Nilsa Graciani, academic dean of Esperanza College of Eastern University, said: “We thank the employers and health service providers for their participation. We especially recognize Cities for Better Health for sponsoring the fair and the program Champions of Esperanza: Latinos Preventing Diabetes, which aims to educate our community on how to maintain good health.”
Carmen Infante, Director of Career Services for Esperanza’s Workforce Development Department, highlighted that this was the first time collaborating with Esperanza College and with the health and economic development departments. The event also included the participation of Dr. Jamile Tellez-Lieberman, Senior Vice President of Community Engagement, Research, and Health Equity, who shared: “We had close to 45 vendors in total—including health organizations and employers—and welcomed approximately 200 attendees at the event, reflecting the strong interest and engagement of the community.”
The community event featured free screenings for blood pressure and diabetes, CPR demonstrations, and training on how to administer naloxone (Narcan), a substance used to reverse opioid overdoses. It also included cooking demonstrations, raffles, and Zumba and yoga classes, among other activities.
Zulma Guzmán, a community health promoter with Crisol, offered virtual talks open to the public focused on the well-being of the Latino community. “We talked about depression and various topics related to mental health,” she explained.
The informational table led by Elvis Rosado, a specialist with the city’s Department of Health, addressed medetomidine, known as “rhino tranq,” a sedative stronger than xylazine that has been found in numerous drug samples in the city.
Esperanza López, a bilingual health educator with Fox Chase Cancer Center, stated: “I provide presentations in Spanish on cancer prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. All the information is available in both English and Spanish.”
Juana Gutiérrez, community engagement administrator for the Pennsylvania Treasury Department, shared key resources with the public. She explained programs such as Keystone, which provides $100 to children born in the state since 2019; savings initiatives for people with disabilities that allow them to save up to $20,000 per year without losing benefits; and the unclaimed property program through which the state returns funds to their rightful owners.
The event made it clear that, beyond services and opportunities, its true value lies in strengthening community ties and building a healthier, more equitable future for all.
