The West Philadelphia P
romise Neighborhood is a U.S. Department of Education funded grant to support "cradle-to-career" opportunities for children living or going to school in Belmont, Mantua, Mill Creek, Powelton Village, and West Powelton / Saunders Park. The program seeks to improve education, health, and economic success for children, their families and the community.
|
|
Spotlight on Patrick Rushing
|
|
Working for the Community Council at
Martha Washington Elementary School
since 2009, serving as president of the Mill Creek Civic Association for four years, and serving as president of the Promise Neighborhood Community Advisory Council for two years, it is safe to say that Patrick Rushing wears many hats within West Philadelphia's Promise Neighborhood. Patrick currently serves as the Director of ACE (Artistic and Cultural Enrichment) at Martha Washington School, located at 44th and Aspen in West Philadelphia. ACE, an out-of-school time program operated by Community Council, provides programming such as ceramics, music, dance, art, and computer literacy basics to over 180 students all year long (even summer!). These classes benefit youth by providing a safe, structured environment to learn outside of school. When asked about his favorite aspect of this job, Patrick smiled and answered, "When a parent recognizes the impact these programs have on their children and expresses their gratitude."
As president of the Mill Creek Civic Association, Patrick strives to encourage collaboration between Martha Washington families and the community of Mill Creek. Some of his top priorities include job development, housing, and youth development. He seeks to raise awareness for parents by seeing the value of a proper education for their children. His dream is to groom local students to be civic leaders and establish a youth council for them to be work-ready in the neighborhood.
He attributes much of his success to his mentor, his mother. From her, he believes he learned responsibility and compassion at a young age. Patrick assisted his mom in Philadelphia Green, a beautification project to build community and improve the quality of life in the neighborhood. His sense of compassion developed as he witnessed the challenges experienced by school dropouts in North Philly where he grew up, and therefore, the importance of education was instilled in him. As a result, he was determined to make a difference. He began to meet with community leaders in Mill Creek, the neighborhood in which he now lives, and through perseverance and consistency, built relationships and established trust.
With his passion for education, civic engagement, responsibility to the neighborhood, and eagerness to empower youth, Patrick possesses the qualities that are reflected in the goals of the Promise Neighborhood. "I am hopeful that the work of the Promise Neighborhood will be successful," shares Rushing. "We are working towards getting the mission out there and gaining the trust of the neighborhood. At the end of the day, our main focus is making the lives of the children better!"
|
|
Promise Neighborhood Data Corner
|
|
- 21% of caregivers did not know if their neighborhood school offered after school programs
- 62% of caregivers were pleased with the after school program offered by their child's school
Promise Neighborhood initiatives are working to increase awareness of after-school programs in alignment with principals' school goals. Recently, Promise Neighborhood's partner,
Fab Youth Philly
launched a Professional Learning Community (PLC) with 7 neighborhood and after school program providers to build connections and share best practices.
Check out the Caregiver Information Below for Summer Programs for Youth!
(Data taken from Promise Neighborhood's 2018 Neighborhood Survey)
|
|
Updates from Community Partners
|
|
AFEL Family Science Night!
West Philadelphia Families enjoyed AFEL’s Third Annual Family Science Night on April 25 at Drexel University’s
ExCITe Center
sponsored by PNC Grow UP Great!
Thank you to all AFEL Program Partners:
Academy of Natural Sciences
(ANS) and
People’s Emergency Center
(PEC), especially the hard work of Mariah Romaninsky of ANS and Trae Pate of PEC, who provided hands-on early science activities. Children were also treated to many creative early science displays and activities, including plant samplings from the Sloan Street Community Garden and an entire room dedicated to imaginary dinosaur play. The amazing Family Ambassador Team, led by AFEL Outreach Coordinator Colleen Mishra, also contributed art-making (Daniel Tiger masks), manipulatives and building bricks! AFEL Partners from the Excite Center demonstrated the magnetic resonator piano, digital drum set and the always popular Hubo the Robot! Each family received a PNC bag filled with a Daniel Tiger book and activity set, a healthy foods menu, and other PNC information. ExCITe Center’s Shima Seiki lab donated special backpacks that connect to social media through the Advanced Functional Fabrics of America program.
|
|
Mayor Kenney Announcement at Locke
On April 5, Mayor Kenney held a press conference at
Alain Locke School
to announce the release of the Department of Human Services' Request For Proposals (RFP) for Out-of-School Time providers. The new RFP will result in higher pay for staff and stronger alignment with the School District, the City, and Promise Neighborhood's shared goals for youth: early literacy and college and career readiness. Students at Alain Locke School have benefited this year from OST programming funded through the Mayor's Office of Education's Community Schools initiative and the Promise Neighborhood.
|
|
Promise Corps Think Tank
Promise Corps
presented "Think Tank" on April 12th at Quorum! Students from West Philadelphia High School (pictured left), Sayre, High School of the Future, and Overbrook presented on issues such as increased funding in public schools, emotional and social support, quality school lunches, and school resources. The students presented in front of a panel of executives (pictured right) who shared valuable feedback: Promise Neighborhood's Project Director, Rachel Viddy, Eva Gladstein and Dan Schupsky from the City of Philadelphia, and Wes Sommerville from Lenfest Foundation.
|
|
|
Dornsife Center To Expand with Drexel Purchase of West Philadelphia Community Center: Call To Action 2
|
|
During the past year, the Caring People Alliance, owners of the West Philadelphia Community Center building, put the building up for sale, and Drexel moved to purchase the site in order to preserve the space as a community resource. Drexel launched a community planning process for the site, which will become a part of the Dornsife Center for Neighborhood Partnerships. For the last 8 months, Drexel has engaged with community leaders and residents from Mantua, Powelton Village, and throughout West Philadelphia as well as with internal stakeholders though a community planning process to develop a shared vision for the facility.
Once a plan is in place, Drexel will initiate a fundraising process to support a renovation of the building.
We’ve been listening to your voices. Now we want to share with you what we’ve heard at our next event....WPPC Call to Action 2:
- Thursday, May 30 from 6-8pm
- All are invited!
- Dinner and childcare will be provided
|
|
May Events in the Promise Zone:
|
|
The sun was beaming on April 13 for the Dornsife Center's 4th annual Spring Garden Egg Hunt. Promise Neighborhood's Outreach Coordinator, Jeffrey Jordan, was the emcee in his festive attire for the free community event. The grounds were packed with families and children jumping, dancing, crafting, and painting. There was even an appearance by Drexel’s mascot "Mario the Dragon" and the Easter Bunny. The highlight of the day was a hunt for over 5,000 colorful eggs. Adults had the opportunity to receive health information and screenings, learn about various programs and resources held at Dornsife Center, and also given the chance to fill out the District Wide Survey while the children were having fun!
|
|
|
Please encourage caregivers and families to take the School District of Philadelphia's District Wide Survey! Promise Neighborhood team members will be visiting schools throughout May to encourage participation!
|
|
Caregivers will need their child's student ID number which can be found on their report card. It is also their lunch number!
|
|
*These camps receive funding from the Promise Neighborhood Initiative
|
|
Drexel University Summer Programs
|
|
Calling All Teens Looking for a Summer Job!
These are 4 documents you may need:
-Social Security Card
-School ID or Report Card
-Birth Certificate or Passport
-Work Permit
|
|
Learn More About Kindergarten Registration and
Kindergarten Open House Week!
|
|
Link includes resources, necessary forms, and provides step by step guidance for Kindergarten registration!
|
|
Follow Us on Social Media!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
