PEC Newsflash Title
Mission Moments Spring 2021
Amy's Story: Surviving Domestic Abuse
Amy’s name and some details have been changed for privacy and safety.

Amy has two children. Her family came to PEC just before the pandemic. Although she was employed as a CPR instructor at a local non-profit, she relied on cash assistance, food stamps, and other public benefits to supplement her income. She wanted to find a job that paid more, but Amy was denied support for childcare costs for her younger child, due to an error in the state’s database. Amy needed to leave her abuser, and limited childcare options made it very difficult to find gainful employment.

Feeling out of options, Amy decided to go to a family shelter again until she found steady work. The city referred her to PEC’s program for families fleeing domestic or intimate partner violence. Her PEC case manager helped Amy develop her own goals and a plan to become independent. She also helped Amy craft a safety plan in case her abuser located them.

Read more of Amy's story here.
New "Everyday Places" Program Connects Artists to their Community
Artist standing in front of artwork at The Bank
The Barnes Foundation and PEC, through their collaborative initiative called Barnes WEST, will select five West Philadelphia-based social impact artists to participate in Everyday Places Artist Partnerships in 2021. Barnes WEST is supported by funding from William Penn Foundation. The program responds to requests from neighborhood residents for promoting local artists and community healing in our community development work.

Barnes WEST builds on the Barnes’s historical ties to West Philadelphia, the neighborhood where Dr. Albert C. Barnes first introduced his method of art appreciation as a vehicle for critical thinking and civic engagement to his integrated factory workforce. He invested in the education of his employees by dedicating compensated time during their workday to introduce masterworks from his collection, and he firmly believed that access to art was critical to personal development and the enrichment of community.

Social impact artists are drivers of change within communities who develop artwork that engages with audiences. Their work invites people to be involved in the process with various, relevant themes as active participants in their work. The goal of Everyday Places Artist Partnerships is to provide West Philadelphia residents with opportunities to engage in artistic projects that promote hope and healing in spaces that are a part of their daily lives.

Visit www.pec-cares.org/barneswest for program announcements.
Text PECCARES to 844-961-3547 for PEC news!
Growth and Change: Navigating the New Normal
Embiid, 76ers, Take 3-point Shot for Youth at YSI
Mission Champion: Tatum Farmer
Photo of Tatum Farmer
Role at PEC: PEC Board of Directors
Year joined the Board: December 2020

Day Job: Director of Core Infrastructure Services, Independence Blue Cross
Last Read or Favorite Book: The Color of Law by Richard Rothstein
Best Leadership Advice: Efficiency can never replace effectiveness.
What You Were Most Surprised to Learn about PEC: The dedication to a holistic approach in serving the community.
Why You Joined PEC’s Board: To apply my talents to a cause focused on empowering those in need.
Approaching a Half-Century of Service
Checklist
PEC’s 50th anniversary will be in September of 2022. In honor of this milestone, we are undertaking a brand assessment, and we want to hear from you! Our communications team will be creating a series of brief surveys to find out how you feel about our mission, services, and impact. Please contact Trish Downey, Director of Communications, to get involved. She can be reached at tdowney@pec-cares.org and 267-777-581
Vanguard Strong Start for Kids™ Renews Support
Supporting Early Childhood Education for Children Experiencing Homelessness
People's Emergency Center Name