Built one hundred years ago, Trinity Lutheran Church (West 100th Street between Columbus and Amsterdam Avenues) enjoys a unique location. West and south of the Church are luxury high-rise condominium buildings. Across the street to the north are the Frederick Douglass Houses, one of New York City’s largest public housing projects. The residents of the project are mostly Latino and African-American, many living in poverty and some having just relocated from homeless shelters. In scattered apartment buildings on the outlying blocks to the north, immigrant families, many of whom are Mexican and undocumented, live in circumstances reminiscent of those endured by European immigrants on the Lower East Side 100 years ago. As a consequence, Trinity feels called upon to bridge the social, economic, and cultural distances between their neighbors.

In 2003, a group of struggling Hispanic women met over the course of the year at Trinity Lutheran Church while involving their children in Trinity’s after-school programs. On their own, the women came together as a group. They call themselves Mujeres en Progresso (Women Moving Forward). The church provides a supportive environment where they can emerge from isolation and rebuild trust, confidence, and self-esteem. Invited by the group, church leader Annie M. Lizardi, became their coordinator. Mujeres en Progreso makes a positive difference for women trapped in an environment of negatives. By being members, they experience greater dignity and worth in a society that often either perceives them as a servile underclass or overlooks them entirely. Further, as mothers, the group members model a newfound confidence for their children, providing hope for the future. They make gains in both physical and mental health by acquiring knowledge of healthcare options and developing life skills. They also improve their spiritual outlook through shared prayer and by working together both for themselves and others.