For more than 30 years, Centro Nueva Creación has been a source of hope, creativity, and opportunity for children and families in Philadelphia’s Fairhill neighborhood. Founded in 1994 in response to community concerns about the impact of neighborhood violence on children, Centro was created to provide a safe, supportive place where young people can learn, grow, and thrive.
Today, Centro serves more than 125 elementary and middle school students each year through programs at Cramp Community School and its community center on West Tioga Street. For the past five years, Centro has been part of Philadelphia’s Out-of-School Time (OST) network through funding from the City’s Children and Family Support Services.
What sets Centro apart is its deep commitment to culture and community. Through visual and performing arts, students celebrate Puerto Rican traditions while exploring the many cultures represented throughout their neighborhood.
“Young people thrive when they see themselves, their families, and their histories reflected in what they are learning,” Centro staff explain. That belief shapes every aspect of the program, creating experiences that are engaging, culturally relevant, and empowering.
Students participate in activities such as Bomba dance and percussion, poetry, photography, painting, storytelling, sports, piano lessons, and hands-on project-based learning. These experiences provide creative outlets while helping youth build academic, social, and leadership skills.
One of Centro’s signature offerings is Bomba, Puerto Rico’s oldest traditional music and dance form, created by enslaved West Africans in the 17th century. In partnership with the Philly Bomba Plena Cultural Center, students learn both the dance and the Barril de Bomba—the traditional barrel-shaped drum that is central to the art form.
The benefits extend far beyond learning music and dance. Centro staff have seen students strengthen their communication, reading comprehension, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills. Just as importantly, participants develop essential social-emotional skills such
as teamwork, empathy, emotional regulation, conflict resolution, and self-awareness.
At the heart of Centro’s success are the relationships that connect youth, families, staff, and the broader community. Many of Centro’s teaching artists are former students, parents, longtime residents, and community leaders who share lived experiences with the young people they serve. These connections help create an environment where every child feels seen, valued, and supported.
Centro Nueva Creación demonstrates what high-quality out-of-school time programming can achieve when it is rooted in culture, strengthened by community, and focused on helping every young person discover their potential. By honoring students’ identities while providing meaningful opportunities to learn and grow, Centro is helping build brighter futures—one child, one family, and one community at a time.
