Angela Transforms Her Life

At HopePHL, we support women who have experienced domestic violence and are working to rebuild their lives in safe environments.

Angela (name changed for privacy) came to us fleeing an abusive relationship with the father of her two oldest children, seeking safety for herself and her family. At that time, she was pregnant with her third child. Despite her quiet demeanor, Angela quickly showed resilience and a dedication to protecting her children. As she built trust with our team, she opened up about her past experiences with her abuser, some of which her children had witnessed. With our support, she began to believe in the possibility of healing and stability.

Encouraged by her mental health team, Angela bravely took legal action against her abuser, resulting in his incarceration. She also pursued legal custody and child support for her youngest daughter, and recently gained full custody while waiting for her child support hearing.

Angela worked diligently to overcome barriers, securing a part-time job and completing her housing paperwork, which led to being matched with a permanent unit. Throughout this journey, she developed healthier coping strategies, improved her mental health, and felt ready to manage a home.

Angela is deeply grateful for the support she received at HopePHL. It has been inspiring to witness her transformation into a stronger and more confident woman, ready to start a new chapter rooted in safety, stability, and healing.

Learn more about our programs here.

10th Annual Men's Wellness Day

Father's Day weekend marked a significant milestone as we celebrated the 10th anniversary of our Men's Wellness Day Event! The idea for the event began in a discussion at our Men’s Coffee Talk event about increasing awareness of health issues impacting men in our communities. Despite the unseasonably drizzly weather this year, our community gathered in Saunders Park Greene to honor not only Men's Wellness Week but also Father's Day, Juneteenth, and the spirit of togetherness that defines our community.

Throughout the day, attendees had access to a variety of valuable resources designed to promote well-being and support improved health outcomes. These included utility assistance for those in need, free haircuts for a fresh look, and the fun opportunity to blend their own smoothies on a smoothie bike, encouraging healthy habits.

The event was packed with engaging performances and activities catering to all ages and interests. Highlights included a lively group dance lesson that got everyone moving, followed by a run/walk to Drexel Park, fostering camaraderie and fitness. Additionally, several group workout sessions offered participants a chance to break a sweat together!

Many thanks to our partners: Keystone First, Community Legal Services, University of Pennsylvania, 16th Police District Advisory Council, 16th District Philadelphia Police Department, Oak Street Health, Philly Track Jawn, Penn Medicine, West Philadelphia Reading Captains, United Block Captains Association, Royal Court Gamma (Tri-State Kings) of Mu Beta Phi Military fraternity.

Men’s wellness is a cause we cherish and advocate for each June in celebration of Men's Health Month. However, our commitment extends far beyond one month, as we strive to ensure that resources and support for men's health are available throughout the entire year. We believe that promoting wellness is a year-round effort, and we are dedicated to making a meaningful impact in our community.

Check out the event photo gallery here!

Working Together to Advocate for Change

Over the last two months, Angie Maury, Supervisor of HopePHL's Baring House Crisis Nursery, joined several parents and children to participate in five different events held in Philadelphia, Harrisburg, and Washington, DC. These events, organized by Children First, aimed to advocate for the $55 million in childcare funding that was recently passed by the House of Representatives and is now moving on to the Senate, thanks to everyone's hard work.

During the trip to Harrisburg, Angie and the attending parents shared their challenges, which included the lack of special needs support, limited staffing in schools and programs, the need for equitable pay for all teachers, the absence of public pre-K programs in their communities, the necessity for investment in mental health services, and more.

Parents provided personal testimonies about how these issues have impacted their lives. Meanwhile, the children treated each legislator's office as an indoor playground, and everyone continued to engage in important discussions with smiles.

One parent expressed that she never realized she could meet face-to-face with a state representative. She was so impressed by the warm welcome that she returned a few weeks later with her teenage daughter, allowing her to personally meet the legislators. They discussed a teen group that one of the representatives wants her to join in Philadelphia.

We are incredibly proud of our staff for using their experiences and voices to promote change in our community.

Learn more about Baring House here.

Lancaster Avenue Jazz & Arts Festival

Performer Spotlight: V. Shayne Frederick

With his work spanning over two decades, we are extremely excited to have V.Shayne Frederick headline this year's Lancaster Avenue Jazz & Arts Festival.

How did you get started in music? Both of my parents are actually musicians. My mother plays piano and sings at church and my father plays the saxophone. Music has always been an interest of mine although no one knew I actually wanted to do it professionally until after college.

What are you most excited about this year's festival? I feel like everyone brings their best to festivals. I'm excited to hang around as much as possible that day to see the other performers.

What can the audience expect from your performance? Some of the work will be off my new album that was released in June called Treasures so I'm very excited to play that live. They can expect a mix of global rhythms, diasporic, Latin-style, and high energy.



Watch the full interview here.

The McManus Memo: Wellness in the Workplace

By: Brittany Wilson

The McManus Memo is a special section of our newsletter that highlights health-related stories pertinent to HopePHL’s community, in recognition of the outstanding lifetime contributions in community medicine of long-time YES volunteer and supporter, R. Patrick McManus, Jr. MD.

Brittany leading a meditation workshop for the community at one of our NAC events.

I’m Brittany Wilson, the HR Specialist at HopePHL and a Certified Spiritual Life Coach. I believe that workplaces should honor the whole person—mind, body, and spirit. Compassion Holistic HR (CHHR) goes beyond traditional HR, focusing on emotional well-being, cultural healing, and collective care, creating spaces where empathy, equity, and resilience are lived values.

We use various tools, including employee engagement surveys to assess staff morale, Compassion Care Circles for resolving challenges, and guided meditation sessions for teams facing burnout. Our workshops, such as "Cultivating Calm: A Mindfulness Approach to Stress Management" and "Emotional Intelligence and Resiliency," are tailored to the organization’s culture and needs, promoting both individual and organizational growth. Our popular Employee Wellness Days feature services like chair massages, yoga, and aromatherapy.

Implementing CHHR at HopePHL has highlighted the need for reducing burnout and fostering connection. It has encouraged curiosity about holistic tools to support both personal and professional development.

CHHR reimagines HR as a commitment to healing and humanity. According to the Harvard Business Review, compassion is not just a perk but "an evidence-based skill that is integral for leading effectively and holding teams together." When we care for those who care for others, everyone flourishes.

Click here to access tools and techniques for dealing with burnout and compassion fatigue.

Looking Forward to the Lancaster Avenue Jazz & Arts Festival!

The 2025 Lancaster Avenue Jazz & Arts Festival promises to be the best one yet, as it returns to Saunders Park Greene (39th & Powelton) on Saturday, July 19 from Noon to 7pm. The festival celebrates West Philadelphia and jazz musicians with spectacular live performances, local vendors, fun children’s activities, and delectable treats from food trucks. The event is rain or shine, free, live and family-friendly.



The all-day event is open to the public, organized by HopePHL, The Producer’s Guild of Philadelphia, Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, a committee of community members and the Office of PA Senator Vincent Hughes, with technical assistance from Nu Millennium Media Productions.

“We are very excited about this year’s Lancaster Avenue Jazz & Arts Festival,” said Bernadine Hawes, HopePHL Community Development Corporation Acting Board Chair, “it’s guaranteed to be an enjoyable day out for anyone in or near West Philadelphia on July 19.”

This year’s headline act is vibrant and sophisticated vocalist and pianist V. Shayne Frederick. Other performers include audience favorites Ursula Rucker, Nazir Ebo and Chris Oatts and the Pretty Big Band.

The festival has something for everyone. Seniors enjoy the performance in comfort under a tent with seating. Families visit the Children’s Village, with art activities by Mill Creek Community Partnership, face painting, and a book distribution by the West Philly Reading Captains of Read by 4th. The Vendor Village features a curated line up of local artisans and boutiques for the discerning shopper. Food vendors offer delectable treats from BBQ and Soul Food menus and refreshing beverages like fresh juices and lemonades. A Resource Village hosts local community groups with information about health, wellness, housing, employment services, resources for families, and more.

“Celebrating the community with this festival is a high point of our calendar every year,” said Kathy Desmond, HopePHL president, “we are grateful to our planning committee, partners, and sponsors for all of their support.”

Sponsors of the Lancaster Avenue Jazz & Arts Festival include Comcast, Jefferson Health Plans, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Independence Blue Cross, Plenary Infrastructure Philadelphia, UnitedHealthcare, American Picture Framing, Aramark, Ballard Spahr LLP, Brown & Brown, Intealth, North American Medical Associates, Penn Live Arts, Penn Medicine, Vicintas, Haverford Lofts, and Mill Creek Community Partnership. The event is supported in part with a grant from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Tourism Office, housed within the Department of Community and Economic Development.

Check out our Jazz Festival page for all updates!

Thank you so much for being a part of our community!

You are receiving this email because you signed up for our newsletter. We do not share information.