Raices Delco Outreach 2026

The Guatemalan deer dance performed at St. Katharine Drexel Parish in Chester

Campaign

Raíces Culturales Latinoamericanas—Latin American Cultural Roots ("Raíces") is a 501(c)3 nonprofit arts organization based in Aldan. Since its founding in 1991 by Delco residents Michael Esposito and Yolanda Alcorta, Raíces has served Delaware County through vibrant cultural programs and community engagement. We seek to revitalize and expand these activities, particularly those that were active until 2019, by reconnecting with schools, agencies, and community centers across the region. Our legacy includes festivals in Upper Darby Township, educational school workshops such as “Maya Weavers,” and innovative community art projects celebrating Latin American heritage—initiatives that have fostered meaningful cultural exchange and enriched thousands of lives.

To accomplish this vital work, we seek a consulting outreach coordinator with experience in culturally responsive programming and deep ties to Latinx/e communities in Delaware County, who can identify local needs and design initiatives that reflect the diversity of our populations. 

Over the past decade, Raíces school programs have reached more than 2,000 students annually, leading to measurable increases in cultural awareness and participation among recently arrived students. For example, teachers reported a significant increase in classroom participation among Latinx/e students following our “Latino Faces Latino Masks” program. One teacher shared, “I had no idea about the diversity of music, dance, and traditions that come from the 21 Latin American countries, and so many are represented in Delaware County!” School programs tailored to Latinx/e populations and K-12 curricula led to interdisciplinary activities, multiple visits, and sustained engagement, especially during Hispanic Heritage Month.

Raices Co-Founder/President Michael Esposito (front left) poses with members of the Mexican Tecuanis dance group at the Upper Darby International Festival

Stories from our participants further illustrate the value of Raíces’ work. A recently arrived student from Honduras reflected, “After joining the Raíces dance workshop, I felt proud to share my culture and saw my classmates appreciate our traditions.” Families attending our community art events describe a sense of belonging and connection that had previously been missing. The continuity and depth of our outreach have fostered incremental understanding of Latin American traditions and helped bridge cultural divides in the schools and neighborhoods we serve. 

With the right outreach coordinator, Raíces can replicate and expand past successes to sustain our outreach and ensure its long-term growth and effectiveness as we continue to celebrate and strengthen cultural identity through the arts. Your support will allow us to hire this qualified leader, making our programs accessible and transformative for our communities.

History and Demographics

Michael Esposito and Yolanda Alcorta each promoted Latin American culture independently in the 1980s, participating in the Hispanic Festival sponsored by Catholic Social Services for Chester’s Latinx/e population. This festival, initially held in Upland and later at the Sun Center in Aston, laid the foundation for community engagement.

Inspired by a discussion with the Upper Darby Performing Arts Center about the township’s growing diversity, Michael and Yolanda co-founded Raíces and launched a series of Latin American dance and music performances, starting with its first Fiesta event at the Upper Darby Performing Arts Center in 1992, continuing every two years through 2000 and in 2009. Building on early success, Raíces added educational programs in 1996 in the Wallingford-Swarthmore School District. Raíces later participated in international festivals at the Lansdowne YMCA and Upper Darby High School, which evolved into the Upper Darby International Festival. From 2017 to 2019, Raíces featured diverse performers and presentations at this festival, fostering community connections. Outreach grew as Raíces recognized demographic shifts by hosting an event at St. Katherine Drexel Parish in 2019 for Chester’s Guatemalan community, and planned further activities in Delco until the pandemic interrupted these efforts. Raíces continued its mission through this period with virtual programming and live events in Philadelphia when the pandemic subsided.

Delaware County’s Latinx/e population has expanded and diversified with approximately 32,000 residents in 2024. In Upper Darby, Latinx/e residents make up 10% of the township’s population with Ecuadorians, Hondurans, Mexicans, Colombians, Peruvians, and other nationalities. Chester’s 4,000-strong Latinx/e community is predominantly Puerto Rican but increasingly includes Guatemalans and other groups. By adapting its programs and expanding its roster with artists from newly represented nationalities, Raíces supports this evolving cultural identity.