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What We Do

We champion our growing community. Our approach is just as diverse as the people we represent, addressing root causes and offering comprehensive support.
La Colaborativa Logo Swish

We're Here to Help

Our programs enrich the lives of those we serve. We are committed to making change by providing solutions to empower and educate Chelsea’s Latinx community.
Economic Development Icon
Economic Development
 Supporting the entrepreneurship journey, rapid re-employment, and job search and placement programs.
Education Icon
Education
 Empowering the Latinx community through supporting financial independence, English courses, citizenship guidance, and more.
Community Wellness Icon
Community Wellness
Promoting health through addressing food insecurity, nutrition, and physical fitness.
Policy Change
Policy Change
Achieving lasting change through community organizing, engagement, and legal efforts.

  • Stabilization Service

    We assess and address urgent community needs, fortifying our overall long-term impact.

  • Health Equity

    We encourage holistic well-being by promoting healthy eating habits and physical exercise.

  • Housing

    We address housing instability by advocating for community members facing eviction, homelessness, or violations of their rights as tenants.

  • Youth

    We ensure stability and success through youth engagement, including job training, music programming, and entrepreneurship guidance.

  • Economic Development

    We offer workforce development pathways, including rapid re-employment, job search, and placement programs to achieve financial independence.

  • Education

    We help community members secure higher-paying jobs and citizenship, by promoting free English (ESOL) and citizenship courses, and providing community awareness and support.

  • Community Organizing

    We empower Boston's Latinx population through civic participation, voter mobilization, and community education.

  • Entrepreneurship

    We empower Greater Boston's Latinx community engage in entrepreneurial endeavors, such as early childhood education, services, and industry programs.

  • Our Impact on the Latinx Community

    We provide vital resources and support through transformative programs and initiatives, empowering Latinx individuals and families. From promoting educational opportunities to advocating for social justice, La Colaborativa is a beacon of hope for many. Our commitment to fostering economic empowerment has resulted in tangible improvements in the lives of our Latinx community members.

    100K+

    Meals provided

    We provide healthy and fresh food to those in need.

    Impact at La Colaborativa
    $0M+

    Stolen wages recovered 

    We educate and advocate for those being taken advantage of.

    HVAC students
    4,100+

    Youth leaders developed

    We develop our leaders of tomorrow, today. Mentorship is in our DNA.

    Youth smiling

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Get insights and answers to common questions asked by community members.

    Contact us

    Where do I have to live to receive services from La Colaborativa? 

    La Colaborativa serves the Metro North region, including Chelsea, Revere, Everett, Lynn, and East Boston. We also serve community members in shelters and transitional housing depending on their circumstances. Call 617.889.6080 to speak with one of our team members about eligibility requirements for specific programming.

    When does the food bank operate? 

    Distribution occurs from 12:00 pm every Wednesday and from 9:30 pm every Friday, until food runs out. Please plan to arrive before the distribution time as we get quite busy. We are proud to serve nutritious and balanced Latin culinary staples. We can only distribute food to adults 18 years and older.

    Who can receive food? 

    Anyone over 18 who lives in our Metro North service area is eligible to receive food from La Colaborativa’s food pantry. We are limited to distributing one full box per household, so only one member from each household needs to come to the distribution area.

    How can I become a volunteer? 

    La Colaborativa has a range of opportunities to support our work. Please visit our Volunteer page and submit an application form if you are interested in volunteer opportunities. You will then be contacted by a member of our team. Volunteer opportunities are open to anyone, but Spanish proficiency is helpful, and all minors under 18 must be accompanied by a group supervisor or guardian.

    What’s the best way to donate? 

    Visit our Donate page to learn more about donating to La Colaborativa. We deeply value all contributions that support our community. Please reach out to development@la-colaborativa.org if you have interests in a particular program.

    Does La Colaborativa accept donated items?

    If you are interested in donating items to La Colaborativa, please contact hola@la-colaborativa.org. We currently do NOT accept used or worn clothing items, only items with the tags still on. School supplies, sanitary items, toiletries, and homeware, and canned goods are always appreciated.

    Land Acknowledgment

    At La Colaborativa, we believe that building a more just, equitable, and healthy future begins with recognizing the histories of the land and the communities that came before us, while confronting the systemic inequities that continue to shape our society today.

    We acknowledge that La Colaborativa is located in Winnisimmet, now known as Chelsea, Massachusetts, on the ancestral and unceded homeland of the Massachusett People, whose deep connections to this land, culture, and community endure today.

    We honor the Indigenous peoples who have stewarded this land for generations and recognize the lasting consequences of colonization, forced displacement, dispossession, and systemic injustice. These histories are not simply part of the past. Their legacies continue to influence access to land, housing, healthcare, education, economic opportunity, and the resources that allow individuals, families, and communities to thrive.

    At La Colaborativa, we understand that health equity cannot be achieved without addressing the social determinants of health, the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work, and age.

    Structural racism, poverty, housing instability, food insecurity, and barriers to education, employment, and healthcare disproportionately affect immigrant, Indigenous, and historically marginalized communities, perpetuating cycles of inequality across generations.

    This understanding is at the heart of La Colaborativa's holistic, community-driven model. Our work recognizes that the challenges facing our communities are deeply interconnected and cannot be addressed in isolation. By integrating housing stability, food access, healthcare, workforce development, education, economic mobility, and community advocacy, we work to address the root causes of inequity, strengthen community resilience, and create pathways toward lasting social and economic opportunity.

    Rooted in our mission of Levantando al Pueblo, we believe that meaningful change begins by centering the voices, experiences, cultural identities, and leadership of the communities most affected by systemic injustice. Just as we honor the resilience and enduring presence of Indigenous peoples, we recognize the strength of immigrant families and historically marginalized communities who continue to shape our collective future.

    For us, a land acknowledgment is more than a statement of respect. It is a reminder of our responsibility to turn recognition into meaningful action, challenge the systems that perpetuate inequality, and advance a model of community well-being grounded in dignity, belonging, self-determination, and justice.

    We offer this acknowledgment with respect and gratitude to the Massachusett People, their ancestors, elders, and present-day communities, and with a continued commitment to learning, solidarity, and building a future where every community has the resources, opportunities, and power to thrive.