Esperanza Center’s main building on S. Broadway is temporarily closed – services relocated to St. Patrick’s Assisi House at 1728 Bank St.

(Baltimore, MD. October 1, 2018) The Esperanza Center is temporarily operating out of St. Patrick’s Assisi House, less than a month after a devastating fire forced the S. Broadway location to close temporarily.

The fire early in the morning of Sept. 7, which started at the Budeke Paint store nearby, caused significant smoke and water damage at the Esperanza Center. No one was injured. Cleanup, assessment and other operations continue as we work to get the Broadway location back to habitable conditions.

Services have continued on a limited basis since the fire, but now, thanks to a concerted effort between several parts of the agency and its partners, we are able to offer more complete services to our immigrant neighbors.

“Since the fire, our attorneys have continued to provide services for existing clients’ immigration cases, and our youth and adult ESOL programs are up and running,” said Esperanza Center Director Val Twanmoh. “We’ve also continued to provide family reunification services and assist victims of human trafficking.”

To continue meeting the needs of our clients, the Esperanza Center is seeking the assistance of pro bono representation on one or more cases. The Center will provide mentorship as needed. Other needs include interpreters to assist with client meetings. 

Partnerships with organizations like Johns Hopkins HealthCare and the Enoch Pratt Free Library system have made other services possible.

It’s unclear how long the center will have to operate out of St. Patrick’s Assisi House at 1728 Bank Street.

As of Monday, October 1, the Esperanza Center services are as follows:

  • Registration begins Oct. 1 for our adult ESOL classes.
  • Registration for Youth ESOL after-school program is Mon-Thurs from 4-6 p.m. at Assisi House, 1728 Bank Street. 
  • Classes for the Youth program will be held at the Enoch Pratt Southeast Anchor Branch Library, beginning Oct. 8, from 4-6 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays, and at the Enoch Pratt Brooklyn Branch Library on Tuesdays from 3:30-5:30 p.m.
  • Esperanza’s Spanish classes will begin the week of Oct. 8th on Monday evenings.  Registration is online only. Click here>>
  • Esperanza Center is working closely with our partner, Johns Hopkins, on establishing a temporary health clinic to continue medical services.
    We continue to provide family reunification services and services to immigrant victims of human trafficking.

Once again, while the Esperanza Center’s main building on S. Broadway is temporarily closed, services will be provided at St. Patrick’s Assisi House at 1728 Bank St. Please call the Esperanza Center at 667-600-2900 for information on how to volunteer and/or support the pro bono project.

ATTENTION: The Esperanza Center’s main building at on S. Broadway is temporarily closed due to a fire in a nearby building on Sept. 7. Until further notice, services are available at St. Patrick’s Assisi House at 1728 Bank St. Please call 667-600-2900 for additional information.

ATENCIÓN: El Centro Esperanza en S. Broadway está temporalmente cerrado debido a un incendio en un edificio cercano. Estamos brindando servicios en St. Patrick’s Assisi House en 1728 Bank St. Llame al 667-600-2900 para obtener información adicional.