Cheyenne Secures Stability

Cheyenne, a single mother of three children—two of whom are school-aged—found herself enrolled in the Eviction Diversion Program after falling behind on rent. She was unable to work because she needed to care for her children while their father was incarcerated, and unfortunately, she could never catch up on her rent.

Cheyenne applied for the Eviction Diversion Program with her landlord; however, he did not comply with the process and missed the paperwork deadlines.

Concerned about losing her home, Cheyenne reached out to HopePHL for assistance in obtaining the necessary paperwork from her landlord. She was especially worried about her 8- and 9-year-old children, who were comfortable in their current school and making good progress. Cheyenne did not want to disrupt their education or living environment.

Fortunately, Cheyenne's case manager at HopePHL was able to contact her landlord, who agreed to submit the required paperwork. Filled with relief regarding their housing and educational stability, Cheyenne expressed her gratitude to her case manager, saying, "Tears of joy. I will be able to sleep again! Now we have the chance to start over."

The importance of stability in housing and education for children and families cannot be overlooked. At HopePHL, we are humbled to help our community achieve more peaceful and secure lives during difficult times.

Learn more about our programs here.

19th Annual Lancaster Jazz & Arts Festival

The 19th Annual Lancaster Jazz & Arts Festival was a remarkable success, even in the face of rainy weather on Saturday, July 19th. Despite the initial downpour, around 2,000 enthusiastic attendees braved the elements and joined us in the afternoon as the sun began to peek through the clouds, bringing a sense of hope and excitement to the day.

The festival offered an unforgettable experience filled with the rich sounds of vibrant jazz music performed by a diverse array of talented musicians. Attendees enjoyed not only the fantastic performances but also had the opportunity to explore a variety of local vendors, all while fostering connections within our community.

We extend our deepest gratitude to the West Philadelphia and jazz communities, whose unwavering support has helped make this festival a highlight of the year for so many. Your dedication has truly enriched the experience for all involved.

A heartfelt thank you goes out to our brilliant performers: Mic'd Up All Star Trio, Mic'd Up All Star Quintet, Chris Oatts and The Pretty Big Band, Nazir Ebo, Ursula Rucker, and V. Shayne Frederick. They captivated the audience with their incredible artistry.

Another thank you to our generous sponsors who helped bring this event to life: Comcast, Jefferson Health Plans, PA Tourism Office, Department of Community & Economic Development, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Independence Blue Cross, Plenary Infrastructure Philadelphia, United Healthcare Community Plan, American Picture Framing, Aramark, Ballard Spahr, Brown & Brown, Intealth, North American Medical Associates, Penn Live Arts, Penn Medicine, Vicintas, Haverford Lofts, and Mill Creek Community Partnership.

Lastly, we'd like to recognize our Community Award Winners: Brenda Clark, Deb McCarty, David Pickett, and Jeffrey Jordan. Thank you for your dedication and passion for helping the community!

We are thrilled to announce that the jazz festival season is far from over! Keep an eye out for exciting details about our upcoming Fall Pop-Up performances. Stay tuned!

See full photo gallery here!

Keeping the Community Active this Summer

Keeping kids busy during the summer can seem like a daunting task while they are out of school. It's important to ensure they stay mentally stimulated and physically active. HopePHL has collaborated with the Mantua Powelton Alliance through their Community Project Fund and the Philadelphia Parks & Recreation Department to offer a youth soccer clinic at Miles Mack Playground that supports parents in this effort.

The clinic is designed for children aged 8 to 12 years old. Participants will receive coaching to help them learn and improve their soccer skills and techniques. Each session also includes a Q&A portion, allowing the children to ask the coach any questions they have about soccer. This initiative provides a wonderful opportunity for kids to stay active and enjoy the outdoors during their summer break.

HopePHL is grateful to our partners for helping us provide this local and free program, connecting community members with engaging learning opportunities for their children this summer!

The McManus Memo: Food, transport, shelter, and

a helpful voice to guide you

By: Eric Horvath, Penn Medicine

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.

For many, the past five years have seen loneliness creep into their lives like a slow, thick fog. As surgeon general, Vivek Murthy, MD, declared loneliness an epidemic, comparing its effects to smoking nearly a pack of cigarettes every day. A combination of COVID stay-at-home orders, lives spent largely on screens, and the evolution of remote work has frayed our social fabric in new ways, with a recent Gallup poll reporting that as many as 52 million Americans continue to struggle with loneliness.

From a clinical perspective, combining loneliness with the act of social isolation is what can raise alarms. “Loneliness is a feeling that people can have even when others are present. It reflects a subjective state of being and feeling, but not everyone who is socially isolated, or lonely, is depressed or anxious,” said Nora Brier, PsyD, an assistant professor of clinical Psychiatry and Director of Postdoctoral Training at the Center for Treatment and Study of Anxiety at Penn Medicine.

“When people are socially isolated and lonely in combination, the real risks to mental health can present themselves.” Brier described what psychologists see as patterns of social isolation, specifically with anxiety disorders like OCD, agoraphobia, or panic disorder. “Folks may feel very anxious about something in the environment and may stay home or skip a party to try to help themselves feel better,” she said. “The opposite often happens, though, and it may lead to increased loneliness and more isolation.”

Brier added that a variety of potential causes are likely to have deepened this feeling for many, including rise of remote work and loss of loose connections, such as seeing a barista on your morning commute or your regular bus driver. These were somewhat foretold in a 1973 paper outlining “weak ties” and their impact on our well-being.

Of course, Brier added that feeling loneliness is also totally normal. “It's a part of life, and we all need to make peace that we will feel lonely,” she said. “The problem with it is that it can lead, in some cases, to isolation and an increased risk of worsening depression or anxiety.

Ideally, people should recognize and acknowledge when they feel lonely, let the feeling "run its course" and then try to make a plan to do something with another person, such as taking a trip.

Check out the full article linked below to read about the impact of more extreme loneliness and isolation, such as what astronauts experience.

Full article here.

10th Annual NAC Summer Book Club Heats Up!

The Neighborhood Advisory Committee's 10th Annual Summer Book Club has been thriving this season! Over the past few months, our members have truly embraced the spirit of community and connection through literature. From lively Ice Cream Socials where we enjoyed sweet treats while exchanging thoughts about our current reads, to delightful Happy Hours that offered a chance to unwind with friends and dive deeper into our discussions, each gathering has encouraged an enriching exchange of ideas.

As we look ahead, we are particularly excited about our next book adventure—the Philly Bookstore Crawl scheduled for August 23rd! This exciting event promises to be a wonderful opportunity to immerse ourselves in the vibrant local literary scene. We can't wait to visit iconic bookstores across the city and discover unique reads along the way.

Learn more about the Bookstore Crawl here!

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

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