Over 40 years of community-led transformation. From a group of Puerto Rican women who refused to wait for change, to a movement reshaping economic mobility in North Philadelphia.
Four decades of community-led transformation in North Philadelphia.
40+
Years of Impact
147+
Housing Units Built
300+
Children in Early Ed
70%
Board = Residents
Our Story
From NSCA to Xiente
We're not just breaking cycles of poverty. We're building pathways to intergenerational wealth and opportunity — led by the very people who've always held the solutions.
Xiente (formerly Norris Square Community Alliance) was founded in 1982 by a group of Puerto Rican women in North Philadelphia who saw a need and took action. With no external help available, they built their own organization to create safety, opportunity, and dignity for families in the Norris Square neighborhood.
For four decades, NSCA responded to community needs through holistic support — affordable housing, education, employment, youth development, and neighborhood revitalization. In 2023, our evolution into Xiente marked a renewed commitment to economic mobility, systems change, and intergenerational prosperity.
147+ Housing Units
Built and rehabilitated across North Philadelphia
Hundreds Educated
Infants and toddlers through Head Start & Early Head Start
70 Blocks Organized
Neighborhood-wide civic engagement and safety
Guaranteed Income
Innovative pilot providing $500/month to 10 families
OUR TIMELINE
40+ Years of Milestones
Community-Led
Driven By Our Community
Xiente remains deeply community-led. Families and residents serve on our staff, board of directors, and advisory groups. Seventy percent of our board are neighborhood residents, keeping our work grounded and accountable.
From the beginning, we believed that the people most impacted by poverty should be the ones shaping the solutions. That principle still guides us today — and will guide us tomorrow.
70%
Board = Neighborhood Residents
40+
Years of Continuous Service
100%
Community-Driven Programs
1982
Founded by Puerto Rican Women
Be Part of the Next Chapter
Whether you're a resident, partner, volunteer, or advocate — there's a place for you at Xiente. Together, we can break the cycle of poverty and build lasting pathways to prosperity.
