Project Libertad: Powered by Immigrant Youth

Mission and Vision:

Project Libertad is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that empowers newcomer immigrant youth and their families in the Greater Philadelphia Area by providing essential, youth-led, and youth-centered legal and social services. Project Libertad envisions a world where all newcomer immigrant youth have access to the legal services, social services, academic support, and leadership opportunities needed to thrive.

Who We Serve:

Project Libertad serves newcomer immigrant youth in the Greater Philadelphia Area. While 95% of the youth served by Project Libertad are Central American refugees from the Northern Triangle Countries of El Salvador, Honduras, and Guatemala, Project Libertad has a global footprint, welcoming youth from across the globe, including Angola, the DRC, Haiti, Brazil, Vietnam, China, Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Bangladesh, and more. Project Libertad provides social services primarily in Chester, Bucks, and Montgomery counties, and legal services to youth across PA. Community strengths that further Project Libertad’s work with immigrant youth include resiliency, perseverance, optimism, adaptability, tenacity, and gratitude.

Youth Leadership Model:

Immigrant Youth Advisory Team: Project Libertad alumni and current program participants who direct programmatic decisions for the organization. Project Libertad is the only agency in the area to utilize this unique leadership model.

Programs and Services:

Immigrant Children’s Defense Project: Provides legal representation to immigrant children who are undocumented or facing deportation.

Know Your Rights Project: Educates immigrant youth and families about their legal rights.

Legal-Mental Health Partnership: Partnership with Immigrant Psychology Network that educates youth about mental health and wellness. Increases access to mental health care for immigrant youth.

Conexiones: Provides free, bilingual individual therapy sessions to immigrant youth.

Juntos para Jóvenes: United for Youth: Provides direct case management services to newcomer immigrant youth and their families who are experiencing barriers to their self-sufficiency, in order to meet a variety of their basic needs.

Jóvenes Fuertes: Strong Youth: A culturally-responsive social-emotional learning (SEL) program created by a Latinx immigrant psychologist to support the mental health of Latinx newcomers in schools. Offered in collaboration with partner school districts.

Newcomer Support Programs: Weekly, in-school programs that provide a safe space for newcomer immigrant youth to create community and achieve a sense of safety as they adjust to life in the United States.

Mentoring Program: Provides one-on-one mentorship to middle and high school students in order to promote academic success and improve postsecondary outcomes for newcomer youth.

RISE: Refugee and Immigrant Students Excelling: Girls’ empowerment program that provides high school refugee and immigrant girls with leadership skills, academic support, college preparation, and other life skills.

Educator Training Program: Trains educators and other professionals on best practices for supporting immigrant youth.

Scholarship Fund: Benefits a graduating Project Libertad senior annually.

Recognition for Project Libertad

2024 Drexel University 40 Under 40 Honor for Executive Director Rachel Rutter for her work with Project Libertad
2023 feature in Gettysburg College Magazine, A Steadfast Spirit: Turning Advocacy Into Action
2022 L’Oréal Paris Women of Worth Honoree, with a short documentary produced by HBO Max
2021 Aerie #AerieREAL Changemaker, as featured in Forbes
2021 and 2020 Sony Music Global Social Justice Fund

Contact Us

Telephone: 484-302-8551

Email: info@projectlibertad.org

Website: www.projectlibertad.org

Instagram: @projectlibertadorg

Facebook: facebook.com/projectlibertad

Twitter: @project_lbrtd

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/project-libertad/

TikTok: @projectlibertad

Project Libertad Art Walk - Fun & Free Event

Come learn more about the incredible immigrant youth we serve!