The 2000 Census estimated that there are 2,414 Colombians living in Philadelphia. Most of these people live in the Olney and Northeast sections of the city.

Before the 1960's, a very small group of Colombians lived in Philadelphia. They were mostly scholars, but little is known about them to this day. During the 1960's a wave of Colombian families came to Philadelphia. This was a result of the Immigration Act of 1965, which allowed more immigration from third world countries. In the 1970's and 1980's there was another, larger, wave of Colombians migrating to Philadelphia. Most of these people came from New York, or from Colombia directly. This wave established communities in Olney and Northeast Philadelphia. The community population has been rising in the past ten years. This is due to several factors: family reuniting in Philadelphia from Colombia, the search for economic and educational opportunities, and to escape the ongoing violence in Colombia. The population in Philadelphia has been rapidly increasing over the past couple of years because of the quick rate at which the bolivar (Venezuelan currency) is decreasing in value.

The Colombian population in Philadelphia may not seem large. However, it is a part of the larger Latino community. The Latino people make some great contributions to the city of Philadelphia, and at times could use some support. One organization that supports this community is Congreso de Latinos Unidos. Congreso offers a broad range of services including the first Latina domestic violence program, as well as HIV prevention and case management services. Congreso is strengthening the Puerto Rican (and otherwise Latino) community in part because of partnerships with government agencies, health providers, labor organizations, businesses, and other community-based institutions. The Lighthouse is another organization that supports the Latino community in Philadelphia. This group has been serving the multicultural population of Philadelphia since the late 1800's. It provides services such as day care, before - and after - school care, and a food share program, educational, occupational, cultural, and recreational programs, an Adult Educational Program & ESL, an Economic Development Program, a Teen Parenting Education and Employment Program, and a Young Parenting Fathers Program.



For more information on the Colombian community of Philadelphia and its supporting programs, please visit:

Congreso
http://www.congreso.net/
Congreso's website includes information on the programs that it provides, relevant news, available jobs, information on the community it serves, and its funders.

Latino Philadelphia
http://www.hsp.org/default.aspx?id=103
This is a profile of the Latino community of Philadelphia, created by the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. It has a variety of information such as what it means to be Latino/Latina, Latino history in Philadelphia, what it is like to be an immigrant in Philadelphia, community resources, cultural expressions, and more.

"Recent Trends in Immigration to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania" by Fels Institute of Government at Univeristy of Penn
http://www.sas.upenn.edu/fels/philapopulation.htm
This document contains a brief history of the immigration patterns of this population in Philadelphia, why this population came here, and what parts of the city they live in now.

The World Fact Book
http://www.odci.gov/cia/publications/factbook/index.html
This CIA website contains an extremely large amount of information about all of the countries in the world such as: history, geography, information about its citizens, government, economy, transnational issues, and more. To find out information about this country, pull it down from the menu.

Centro Nueva Creación
http://www.centronueva.org/
Centro Nueva Creación's website has information on its programs, has relevant news, the organization's history, and more.

"Latinos in the United States: Where Are We From?"
http://www.nahj.org/resourceguide/chapter_3.html
This website was created by the National Association of Hispanic Journalists. This section of the website contains information on various Latin American countries, and why their citizens have moved to the US.