“Everybody can be great, because everybody can serve.”

On February 17, 2023, YMWIC high school Scholars, their parents or guardians, and YMWIC Staff were delighted to attend the play, The Mountaintop. The play was a fictional reimagination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s, missing hours on April 3, 1968, a day before his untimely death.

We thank Uptown! Knauer Performing Arts Center and the AALC at DePuy Synthes for making it possible for YMWIC to offer this wonderful experience for our Scholars to attend this exciting, riveting event. Special thanks to Mr. Blayne Easter, Uptown! Knauer Performing Arts Center Board member.

On February 7, 2023, in honor of African American History Month, The Exelon African American Resource Alliance (EAARA) and PECO hosted a Panel Discussion event, Titans of the Industry Community Investment Leaders.

Mr. Roberts shared the stage as a panelist with Mr. Mike Banks, Executive Director of The Promise, as they discussed their individual experiences and how PECO employees can support their organizations.

Following a five-star lunch, opening comments and panelist introductions were provided by Partner Leader, Ms. Jennifer Hanna, the panel questions and discussions were administered by Ms. Stephanie J. Hansen.

Mr. Banks and Mr. Roberts shared their personal experiences with the audience about the importance of investing in the community. PECO provided YMWIC Foundation, Inc., and The Promise with generous donations.

In the picture with Mr. Roberts is Ms. Stephanie J. Hanson, PSJM Professional Business Partner.

William Jackson, a valued volunteer, shares his knowledge, passion, and commitment to serving others when supporting Scholars on the Robotics Team and developing Job Shadowing opportunities and exciting workshops for Scholars.

William stated, “I want to help build, encourage, and direct the next generation of young people in our communities. It’s critical we help them learn to make good choices that add value to their lives. Good decision making is essential.” William believes success is not just about individual accomplishments. “I believe you must bring people along. That defines success and makes a difference. Success is bringing everyone else with you.”

YMWIC is a proud member of the Greater West Chester Chamber of Commerce. We value our relationship with the GWCCC, support local businesses and happily support our local Chamber.

YMWIC is also proud to be a member of the African American Chamber of Commerce, an organization that supports the economic growth of African American businesses located in the Greater Philadelphia area.

YMWIC expects and celebrates academic excellence. We congratulate our Scholars who earned Honor Roll status for the first two marking periods.

Chester Upland Chapter: Amya Emerson is in the 6th grade at Chester Community Charter School and joined YMWIC when she was in the 4th grade. She has received numerous awards in the 4th, 5th, and 6th grades.

Amya most enjoys that YMWIC is so welcoming and believes resources, such as tutoring, have helped improve her grades. She would tell younger or new Scholars not to take the Foundation support or resources for granted. If they are committed and work hard, they will benefit.

She would like to be a lawyer in the future and enjoys playing videos in her free time.

Continue working hard, Amya, to reap the benefits offered by YMWIC!

Coatesville Chapter: Victor Ortiz attends Coatesville Area Senior High School and is in the 12th grade. He made the Honor Roll for the first marking period. He is a new member to YMWIC this program year. Victor enjoys doing fun things as a member, such as the Science Project. He appreciates the help he receives when he needs it and advises other Scholars to, "Stay motivated and do what you must to stay focused." His advice to others who are considering whether to join YMWIC is, "Join the Program; it will help you to be more productive."

Victor would like to attend Lincoln University or Delaware State University to become a therapist. In his spare time, he enjoys reading.

Welcome to YMWIC, Victor! Continue doing well.

Norristown Chapter: Ala’Nah Swint believes that YMWIC is amazing! She attends Norristown Stewart Middle School where she is in the 8th grade and joined our Norristown Chapter last year. Ala’Nah most enjoys meeting new people as a member of YMWIC and says, “Everyone is always nice and looks after each other, even the first day we met.” She also notices that since becoming a member, she has learned how to focus, how to be professional, and is more productive; because the program always keeps her busy.

Her advice to younger and/or new YMWIC Scholars is, “Everything you do may seem new and confusing but you’ll get the hang of it.” Read more.

Phoenixville Chapter: Savannah Thomas is in the 6th grade at Phoenixville Area Middle School. She earned Honor Roll status this year and has received the Dr. Maryanne T. Cox Award. She joined YMWIC when she was in the 5th grade and enjoys the people she has met. Being a member has taught her that she must work hard for what she wants. Savannah’s advice to younger, new, and prospective YMWIC Scholars is, “Expect the unexpected!” and “Get ready to do challenging work.”

Savannah would like to attend an out-of-state college and become a medical lawyer. She sings in the Chorus at her school and enjoys participating in tennis, volleyball, and basketball. She enjoys karate and working with electronics in her spare time.

Keep up the great work, Savannah!

Upper Darby Chapter: Emmanuel Isles is in the 7th grade at Beverly Hills Middle School in the Upper Darby School District where he has received the Silver Presidential Award. Emmanuel joined YMWIC this year and enjoys the interactive workshops and events he participates in as a member.

Emmanuel is active in the performing arts and would like to become an actor. In his spare time, he enjoys playing video games.

You are an asset to the Foundation, Emmanuel. Welcome aboard!

West Chester Chapter: Olivia Cooke is our West Chester Chapter featured Scholar this month. She attends Lionville Elementary School where she is in the 4th grade. Olivia joined YMWIC when she was in the 3rd grade and likes the diversity she finds as a member of the Foundation. Since becoming a member, she has learned so much she didn't know by participating in the engaging workshops and events, especially about science. She was 2nd Place winner in last year's YMWIC Science Expo for her Future Stars grade group!

Olivia would like attend college to become a business owner and a middle school teacher. She enjoys participating in basketball and gymnastics and plays the piano and violin. In her free time, she likes to play video and card games.

Congratulations again, Olivia! You are certainly an asset to YMWIC.

William Penn Chapter: Aaliyah Williams is a 3rd grade student at Evans Elementary School where she has performed exceptionally this year, and has also received a Citizenship Award, Excellence in Math Award and Reading Award. She is a new YMWIC Scholar this year. When we asked Aaliyah what she likes most about YMWIC and what the biggest impact being a member has had on her, she said, "I enjoy the fun science activities we do in our exciting workshops and meeting new people. It has made me more interested in science because of the fun learning projects we do and how we can use science to improve our lives and the lives of others."  Read more.

Our Chapter Project Coordinators invited YMWIC alumni members to lead a workshop in which they answered questions regarding their time in the Program, college life, and their future plans. The Scholars were at full attention as they listened to the alumni speak about their experiences with YMWIC and how they were better prepared for college and their careers. They also received insider information on college life and what they can expect after they graduate from high school and YMWIC.

Scholars worked with volunteers from the Da Vinci Science Center to learn about viruses and how they attach to healthy cells and affect the body. They made their own version of viruses and played an educational game of cell attack where they used the viruses they created to see whose virus could stick to the healthy host cell and infect it. Read more.

The staff at Life in Christ Ministries in Chester was so impressed with our Scholars and grateful for the volunteer services they provided in January, that they invited them back. Building on what they learned in the Life-Skills Food Preparation class they took part in with Life in Christ Ministries Staff in January, our Scholars prepared meals for the homeless and then went out into the community to distribute them.

Scholars from our Coatesville Chapter participated in their second Community Service event collaborating with Hope Beyond Boards and Soap for Hope. Scholars and parents had the opportunity to make soap bars as well as lotions. Hope Beyond Boards sells the soaps and lotions online or inside their shop location. All of the proceeds goes toward helping children and youth in low-income households in the Coatesville community. Read more.

Claudette Colvin is considered to be an American Pioneer of the 1950s, yet very few people know her story. At the age of 15 she made it into history as “The first Rosa Parks.” But why wasn’t she recognized? Why wasn’t her story told?

On March 2, 1955, Claudette Colvin sat down on the bus in one of the designated seats for Black people on her way home from school. The bus was starting to get full. In segregated buses, if the seats were all occupied, Black people would stand up for the Whites to sit down. The bus driver told Colvin and the Black woman sitting next to her to get up from their seats. Ms. Hamilton, the lady sitting next to Colvin, said  she was not going to get up because she was tired and Colvin said the same. Read more.

The stereotype goes as follows: pink is for girls, blue is for boys. Video games and sports are for boys; whereas, dolls and baking are for girls. Women are in charge of caregiving and cleaning while guys should go to college and study computer science and engineering. Not always observed, society creates constraining boundaries for children, cultivating an acceptance of gender stereotypes that carry over to adulthood in regards to gender identity. This gendered oppression significantly impacts the opportunities and hopes for young girls whose dream is to enter a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) career which is heavily dominated by men. I'm writing this in order to enlighten people on the lack of women who are pursuing a STEM field due to society's stereotypes. Read more.

In this third installment of the College Prep Series, Dr. Koreem Bell, School Counselor in the Lower Merion School District at Harriton High School; Adjunct Professor at West Chester University of Pennsylvania and recipient of the 2022 YMWIC Community Leadership Award, outlines the steps YMWIC Scholars who are in the 10th Grade should be thinking about and doing as they contemplate and prepare for applying to college.

Shamar Hunter, a 2017 YMWIC graduate, attended the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown, class of 2021, where he majored in computer engineering. Shamar is grateful that he was exposed to all types of STEM subjects while he was at YMWIC, especially all types of engineering and robotics. This exposure led to his choosing computer engineering as a career path. He advises current YMWIC Scholars who may be considering careers in Engineering to study hard, get good grades, and make sure to brush up on the basics of coding.

Shamar is excited to announce that he has accepted a Hardware Engineer position with L3Harris Technologies, Inc., an aerospace and defense company. His advice for others who are beginning their job search is to research the companies they are applying to, and not to give up; because they may not get the first, second, or even third job they apply for. Just keep on applying!

Congratulations, Shamar; you continue to make us proud!

According an article on website cnbc.com, a recent New York Federal Reserve study shows that 8 of the 10 college majors that lead to the highest-paying jobs five years after college graduation (with a bachelor's degree) are subsets of engineering, with Chemical Engineering offering the highest median starting salary at $75,000. Rounding out the top 10 professions are Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Miscellaneous Engineering, Business Analytics, and Civil Engineering. The article also states that, "STEM jobs are expected to grow twice as fast as non-STEM jobs through 2031."

YMWIC is proud to be supporting and preparing the STEM professionals of the future for these exciting and fruitful careers. You can view the full article by clicking here.

It's almost here! On Saturday, March 4, 2023, YMWIC will host our Annual Science Expo. Beginning in September, YMWIC Scholars selected a Science Project and used the Scientific Method to execute their projects. They are required to meet specific deadlines for their Project Research Plan, Lab Report, Project Board, and PowerPoint Presentation. The culmination of their project is the presentation and defending their Project at the Expo.

Volunteers from many YMWIC partner corporations and universities serve as mentors to the Scholars throughout the project process and also as judges for the Scholars’ presentation boards and oral presentations. During the Afternoon Session, you can view all the Science Project Exhibits. After the exhibits, our dynamic keynote speaker will deliver an inspiring science-related message. Scholars' parents, guests and members of the community can register here.

This year, YMWIC will host our 13th Annual Scholarship & Awards Banquet. This exciting event will be held at the Sheraton Valley Forge Hotel in King of Prussia, PA, on Thursday, May 25, 2023. During the Banquet, we showcase our Scholars for their achievements, reward our graduating senior Scholars with the college scholarships they have earned to attend the colleges of their choice and recognize service leaders who have made significant contributions to our communities. Attendees will enjoy a delicious dinner and a poignant message from our Keynote Speaker.

Join us as we celebrate our Scholars, Community Leaders and enjoy an evening of fellowship and fun! To register to be a part of this amazing event or to make a donation, use this link.

The YMWIC 2023 Elementary School STEAM & Language Arts Camp is an exciting, educational, and fun-filled six-week experience for rising 1st through 6th grade junior Scholars, who will have great experiences exploring new concepts in math, chemistry, biology, computer science, robotics, language arts, reading, art, and much more!! There will be weekly field trips. Previous educational trips have included The Franklin Institute, Philadelphia Zoo, Camden's Adventure Aquarium, and The Academy of Natural Sciences -- all included with registration!

Camp will take place June 20 through July 28, 2023, Monday through Friday; locations will be within the YMWIC partner School Districts of Chester Upland, Coatesville, Norristown, Phoenixville, Upper Darby, West Chester, and William Penn. We are accepting applications now! To register, click here.

Young Men and Women In Charge Foundation, Inc., is hosting our 2023 Annual YMWIC Upward Bound Summer Program for 8th through 11th grade students who meet Upward Bound requirements. This six-week experience will enrich, expose, and prepare Scholars for college and provide insight into future employment opportunities. They will experience projects in the arts, entrepreneurship, mentoring, leadership, golf and much more.

The program takes place from June 20 through July 27, 2023, on Monday through Thursday, 8:30AM - 3:30PM. Scholars will participate in college campus tours of six Philadelphia-area colleges and visit Fortune 100 corporations. The Program ends with our very popular and well-attended complimentary buffet dinner recognizing the end of the Upward Bound Summer Program with Scholars and parents at the Penn Oaks Golf Club. Click here to register.

Be sure to calendar the date to join us on Monday, August 21, 2023, at the fabulous Penn Oaks Golf Club in a Scramble Golf Tournament and Fundraiser to support our Scholarship Program for the Young Men and Women In Charge (YMWIC) Foundation, Inc. You will meet our Scholars, network, and have fun as you help us raise Scholarship funds.

Golfers will receive gifts and enjoy an open buffet lunch and an open buffet dinner. There will be prizes for our guests and winners. For non-golfers, please join us for the evening banquet and networking dinner event, which will include a delicious buffet dinner and much more. To sign up for this exciting event, click here.

Stay on top of what YMWIC Scholars are doing by following us on both of our social media platforms, Instagram and Meta (formerly Facebook). This is a great way to receive constant updates on what’s happening at YMWIC. All you must do is go on your Instagram and/or Meta (Facebook) app and type YMWICscholars. Once you see our logo pop up, click Follow. Drop a Comment to say hello! Welcome to our social media family! Looking forward to seeing you join in on the fun.  

To connect with us online on Meta/Facebook select this Link! To stay up to date with what’s happening at YMWIC via Instagram, you can select this Link.

Click Here for more information about these positions. If you are interested in applying for a position listed above, please let us know your preference and submit your resume to [email protected]. All candidates must have the required clearances: Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Clearance, Pennsylvania State Police Criminal History Clearance, and the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) Criminal History Clearance which is required for all employees and some volunteers.

If you or your organization would like to be a valued volunteer for YMWIC, please use this link. We welcome and appreciate your talents, time, and willingness to work with us!

Education Improvement Tax Credit (EITC): YMWIC Foundation, Inc. is eligible to receive funds from the EITC Program which is administered by Pennsylvania’s Department of Community and Economic Development. We thank those businesses that donate their EITC funding to YMWIC Foundation and encourage others to consider directing funding to our impactful community nonprofit that provides college and career preparation for K-12 students; empowers their families; counseling, financial support and internships for YMWIC college alumni; and enriches our communities by developing a talented and skilled workforce. Please contact Rick Roberts at (610) 340-2844 if you would like to consider our YMWIC Foundation, Inc., as the recipient of your company's EITC funds.