HopePHL Receives Grant to Expand Mental Health Services!

HopePHL is thrilled and thankful to announce that William Penn Foundation has generously awarded us a $345,000 grant to expand mental health services for young children and their families. Our plans include hiring additional staff, providing service training, expanding hours, supporting the licensure process for current staff, and organizing community workshops. As we help those in our programs navigate obstacles and significant life changes, mental health serves as the essential foundation for our families to use the tools provided and create happy, fulfilling lives.

Vanessa Ingram, our Lead Youth and Young Adult Therapist in the Behavioral Health program, highlights the impact of fostering positive mental health practices from a young age. “Research has helped us understand the critical development that occurs from birth to age five. With this expanded focus, we will be able to equip families with the necessary tools during these early stages of life, which will support resilience and provide a solid foundation for managing life's difficulties,” Vanessa explains.

William Penn Foundation’s support of our program will provide mental health services for 125 families over two years. This grant also will allow our behavioral health team to expand their unique skills. “This is an excellent opportunity for our mental health clinicians to integrate evidence-based interventions, build trusting relationships, and a strong therapeutic alliance to carry out HopePHL's mission,” HopePHL therapist Kimeesha Reed-Walker says.

​HopePHL Managing Director of Adult & Family Services, Erica Makowski, expressed the shared gratitude across the organization, “we are incredibly grateful to the William Penn Foundation for this opportunity to expand mental health services. This funding allows us to further support families and communities while working alongside dedicated staff who make a profound impact in the community."

Promoting Sustainability Across Our Lives

Earth Day, celebrated annually on April 22, emphasizes our collective duty to protect the planet and promote sustainability. It aims to raise awareness of environmental issues such as climate change and pollution, encourage action at all levels, and celebrate progress in conservation.

In Philadelphia, both HopePHL and Vault + Vine exemplify this mission through their commitment to sustainability and community empowerment. Omari Baye, Director of Early Childhood Programs at HopePHL, connects these two spaces to foster environmental and social resilience.

Vault + Vine, located at 3507 Midvale Avenue in Philadelphia, embodies environmental stewardship and community care. The black woman-owned café and plant nursery, co-owned by Diana Baye (Omari’s wife), offers locally sourced breakfast and lunch options, a consignment space for local artisans, and a licensed plant nursery.

As Earth Day 2025 approaches, HopePHL and Vault + Vine remind us that building sustainable communities involves nurturing both the planet and its people.

Learn more about Vault + Vine on our website!

Rhonda Takes Her Future Into Her Own Hands

Rhonda arrived at HopePHL's Youth Emergency Shelter (YES) as a senior in high school, living in a cramped, poorly conditioned home filled with family members. Tired of sharing a couch with others, she longed for a good night's sleep and a warm meal.

Rhonda battled to articulate her feelings to her mother. She didn’t want anyone to think she felt superior to them, but the weight of her living conditions left her struggling. She craved change and a chance to experience life differently. She had fallen far behind in school and felt frustrated, but the staff at YES encouraged her not to give up. They motivated her to attend classes regularly and work on catching up, and she followed their advice.

After a few months at YES, Rhonda's hard work paid off and she proudly graduated from high school, a significant milestone that marked a new chapter in her life. She then secured a job and excitedly reunited with her mother. She was eager to demonstrate to her family that they could achieve anything when they set their minds to it—even if it meant leaving familiar situations in the past to find true inner peace.

Learn more about the YES shelter here.

This Month We Are Supporting:

The Week of the Young Child takes place April 5 through April 11, 2025 and is an annual celebration organized by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).

Established in 1971, the event aims to raise public awareness of the needs of young children and their families while recognizing programs that support them. It highlights the importance of early childhood years (birth to age 8) in laying a foundation for future success and encourages communities to work together to better meet these needs.

BELL Supports Early Learning

HopePHL's Building Early Links for Learning (BELL) program provides access to early childhood programs for young children who experience homelessness in Philadelphia. The BELL Team has developed a resource-finder guide that will be distributed to various sites, sharing it with both staff and residents to improve access to resources.

BELL Manager, Sierra Austin, recently conducted a focus group training session with staff and residents at Woodstock Family Center in North Philadelphia. This session demonstrated to families the wide range of resources available, not only at HopePHL but also throughout the greater Philadelphia community. An important component of the training was the Q&A segment, where families had the opportunity to ask specific questions related to the resources presented. This interactive portion allowed participants to share their thoughts and discuss which additional resources they felt would be beneficial for them. By fostering an open dialogue, we aim to better understand the community's needs and work towards providing the necessary support to enhance their quality of life.

Learn more about BELL here.

Community Member Spotlight: Congratulating Leo Gadson!

Leo with Jazz Festival Planning Committee Member Brenda Clark and festival guest

Philadelphia's Cultural Treasures (PCT) has awarded eleven fellowships totaling over $1 million to Black, Latino, Asian, and Indigenous artists in Philadelphia. PCT is a regional funding initiative formed through collaboration between The Barra Foundation, Neubauer Family Foundation, The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage, William Penn Foundation, and Wyncote Foundation.

Among the recipients is Leo Gadson, founder of the Producer's Guild and curator for the Lancaster Avenue Jazz & Arts Festival. Since 1975, Leo and the Producer's Guild have been instrumental in supporting and enhancing the Philadelphia jazz scene. He has collaborated with an impressive roster of jazz performers and continues to uplift exceptionally talented Black musicians for Philadelphia audiences to enjoy.

We would like to congratulate Leo on his remarkable career and the inspiring impact he has had on jazz in Philadelphia. If you want to see Leo's specially curated lineup of performers for free, stay tuned for information about our Jazz Festival Pop-Ups, and join us for the Lancaster Jazz & Arts Festival on July 19 from 12pm-7pm at Saunders Park Greene!

Check for all updates on the Lancaster Avenue Jazz & Arts Festival and Pop-Ups here.

NAC Service and Resource Events

Thank you to the United Block Captains and the Enterprise Center for hosting at the Dorrance Hamilton Center for Culinary Enterprises!

Check out more photos from the event here!

Have You Seen Us?

Meet Scott, Tobin, Ashley, and Hongyi! As part of Interface Studio (who helped with the Make Your Mark Neighborhood Plan for the areas near Lancaster Avenue), they are helping HopePHL learn about vacant properties and land use in our service area. You may see them on your block or Lancaster Avenue with their clipboards and cameras. We just wanted to give you a heads up!

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