JUNTOS is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization comprised of Mexican and other Latino immigrants in Philadelphia. Our mission is to build power for justice in the city of Philadelphia and members’ home countries in order to create vibrant, organized, vocal, and healthy communities.
JUNTOS started in September 2002 as a volunteer project involving female clients of Women Organized Against Rape (WOAR) who were looking for more diverse and full services to suit their needs. During its first year of operation, JUNTOS was housed in space donated by St. Thomas Aquinas Church at 18th and Morris Streets. In January 2004, we were able to open our own office, the first Latino community center in South Philadelphia, called la Casa de los Soles. In February 2007, as a result of a strategic partnership with United Communities of SE Philadelphia, we moved into the Houston Community Center at 8th and Snyder Avenue.
JUNTOS combines literacy education, leadership development and community organizing to help immigrants develop the necessary tools to advance economically, integrate into the social fabric of the city, and become active participants in civic life. The bulk of our work involves formal and informal leadership development, community organizing, service linkages, and focused collaborations with other community-based organizations. We remain the only organization in South Philadelphia who welcome and encourage the immigrant community’s input and include the constituency in decision-making.
Leadership development is a structured process that helps our community learn new skills that directly and indirectly contribute to restoring people’s participation in the political process. Nascent leaders from JUNTOS, the Mexican community and leaders from other Latino communities meet regularly to discuss leadership, basic organizing principles, and to conduct issue and power analysis. These leaders identify and prioritize issues, learn how to engage in research and analysis of the issue, and develop negotiation skills oriented toward building partnerships and participation in decision-making.
