About Us

Welcome to Providence Center!

Providence Center has been providing joy and hope to the Fairhill section of Philadelphia through educational programming since 1993. While we welcome the entire community, most of our students come from Fairhill’s substantial Puerto Rican and Latino population. Though our community has the highest poverty rate in Philadelphia, we are committed to helping hard-working families embrace futures filled with hope and opportunity. Join us, and be part of something truly meaningful!

Who are we?

Our Mission

Committed to North Philadelphia’s Fairhill community since 1993, Providence Center offers education programming for children, youth, and adults. Our mission is to educate people to have the power and spirit to transform their lives and community.

Our History

Providence Center was founded by the Society of the Holy Child Jesus in 1993 in response to the closing of St. Edward parish and school, where the Sisters had taught and worked for over one hundred years. From the beginning, when the Sisters went door-to-door asking neighbors what they needed, Providence Center has focused on addressing the pressing needs of our community. We are guided by the Sisters’ commitment to “meet the wants of the age”, and we carry out their legacy of being “a love full of action”.

Our Community

Providence Center is located in the heart of Fairhill, a vibrant community in North Philadelphia. The people we serve are primarily from Puerto Rico or immigrants from the Dominican Republic, Mexico, or Central America. Our community faces many challenges, including poverty rates that are the highest in Philadelphia. Over half of our community lives below the poverty line, and the median household income is under $15,000. In addition, Fairhill struggles with Philadelphia’s highest murder rate, more than five times the city’s average. At the same time, the spirit and resiliency of our neighbors inspires us, and they are working hard to build better lives for themselves and their families. Providence Center supports revitalization efforts in our community, and we accompany our students as they strive for futures full of possibility and grace.

Meet Our Team

Siria RiveraExecutive Director

Director of Youth Programs

Gretchen SpencerDirector of Adult Education

Carolann TorresDevelopment Director

Carolann Torres is the Director of Development at Providence Center. She studied Community Planning and Development, and Social Policy at CUNY Hunter College. Carolann became passionate about serving Latino communities while doing community development work in East Harlem. She developed an interest in fundraising and development while working with a mental health and housing services provider for people experiencing homelessness. Carolann also has experience teaching and mentoring at Fordham University, where she developed and implemented a social justice curriculum for high school students.

Charito MoralesCommunity Organizer

Charito supports the residents of the Fairhill community in her role as Providence Center’s Community Organizer. She also facilitates our teen service and advocacy program, ¡YÁ!. Charito passionately supports youth and adults as they build on the strengths in their community. She leads the ¡YÁ! team as they advocate for better access to healthy, high-quality food, clean and beautiful community gardens and parks, and social justice in Fairhill and throughout the city.

Bridget MacDonaldYouth Organizer

Bridget earned her Bachelor’s degree in Social Work at St. Edward’s University and loves working with youth of all ages. She is passionate about supporting youth and their positive development. Bridget is working at Providence Center through the Jesuit Volunteer Corps for the 2019-2020 year.

Shaakinaa DrakefordYouth Program Coordinator

Sister Peggy DohertyESL Teacher and Director of Prayer Groups

Sr. Peggy has many years of experience as teacher and a program director. She was the principal at St. Edward School and is a co-founder of Providence Center.

Joe WierzbickiHandyman

Peg WierzbickiBookkeeper

Peg has volunteered with Providence Center for more than a decade, and she serves as our bookkeeper and helps in the office.

Carmen VazquezMaintenance

Carmen is a long time resident of Fairhill and active member of the Legion of Mary at Visitation BVM parish. She provides indoor and outdoor facility upkeep for the center.

ESOL Teachers

Our ESOL teachers have years of experience teaching English to and working with adults.

Teen Leaders

Tymir BennettTeen Leader

Jelilah CruzTeen Leader

Brianna HallTeen Leader

Carlos LugardoTeen Leader

Aisha MoralesTeen Leader

Uriel Powel-HarringtonTeen Leader

Wylmary GarciaTeen Leader

Stephanie TorresTeen Leader

Jordan TruettTeen Leader

Aristides VelazquezTeen Leader

Board of Directors

Chair – Juan Lopez: SVP Finance Shared Services – Independence Blue Cross

Vice-Chair – Sr. Mary Popit, SHCJ: Business Office Coordinator, Cristo Rey St. Martin

Secretary – Chuck Stefanosky: Director Strategic Sourcing & Procurement – Independence Blue Cross

Treasurer – Sam Fleetman: Ret. Business Owner – Mustang Expediting

Ruth Capuzzi: Ret. Director of Development, Society of the Holy Child Jesus

Teleicia Dambreville: Director, Counsel, Employment Litigation – Burlington Stores, Inc

Margaret Doyle, SHCJ: Ministry of Accompaniment – Society of the Holy Child Jesus

Dian Taylor-Pringle: Ret. Director of Human Resources – Society of the Holy Child Jesus

Carmen Torres, SHCJ: Pastoral Associate – St. Peter the Apostle Church

Peter Greenhalgh: Industrial Real Estate Broker- Avison Young

Palmer Dalesandro: Former Vice President – Capgemini