Promise Neighborhood May 2020 Newsletter: Covid-19 Guide
Who Are We?
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, East Parkside, 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.
COVID-19 Text Alerts: Text COVIDPHL to 888-777 to receive updates to your phone.
Covid-19 Resource Guide
For Families
We know this is a very difficult and stressful time. Our hearts go out to those who have been sickened in this pandemic, and their families. We want you to know that the PN team remains busy and active online in supporting our West Philadelphia families during the COVID-19 crisis. 
 
Click on the link for a listing of resources from the City and partners including free meal sites for children. Continue to look for updates and stay safe and healthy.
Covid-19 Internet Access
For Families
Covid-19 Testing Sites
For Families
Covid-19 Meal Sites for
Children, Families and Seniors
Jeffrey's Journeys

On April 20th, Promise Neighborhood's Outreach Manager, Jeffrey Jordan, and AFEL Family Navigator, Kelly Thomas talked to Soloman Jones on his Wake up To WURD morning show about resources in West Philly and how WPPN and AFEL are helping in the wake of Covid-19.

You can find WURD Radio at 96.1FM and 900 AM in Philadelphia, and online at wurdradio.com and by WURD app on your phone.
Jeffrey has been busy distributing masks throughout the community. Last week, West Philly Promise Neighborhood and West Belmont Civic Association dropped off 100 kn95 masks to the 16th Police District Officers.
Updates from Promise Neighborhood Partners
Action for Early Learning
ONLINE Kindergarten Registration
Dornsife School of Public Health
The Drexel School of Public Health is doing a webinar series on what we know so far about COVID-19 and various implications of this pandemic and situation.
Dornsife Center for Neighborhood Partnership
Introducing Dornsife Center Online this Spring

While the Dornsife Center’s physical programs are still closed and we all continue to adapt to the prevention methods of social distancing, the Dornsife Center and partners want to continue their mission and goals to be a resource for community members and develop quality programs online and remotely.






Some of our online opportunities include:

  • Dornsife Center's virtual office on Zoom - where you can talk with a Dornsife Center representative live between the hours of 9am and 5pm Monday through Friday. Call in with your phone or connect on the internet with your computer to ask questions, find out more about our online programs, or get information about resources available in the community. Join us online at https://drexel.zoom.us/j/475921923 or call +16465189805, Meeting ID 475921923# US (New York)/ +16468769923, Meeting ID 475921923# US (New York). 
  • Beachell Family Learning Center programs – including the Helms Academy’s adult education workshops, Career Services, the Business Idea Group, and Urban League Philadelphia’s Housing Counseling services.
  • Public Speaking at Dornsife Center Online - Teaching professor of communication, Lawrence Souder, will be offering weekly sessions online where participants will learn and practice effective public speaking skills.
  • Stern Community Lawyering Clinic - Stern CLC will be accepting phone appointments for prioritized cases involving estate planning, unemployment compensation, benefits appeals, pardons, and compassionate release. 
  • The Community Wellness HUB programs – including Interactive Health & Wellness Chats, Qigong, and Nutrition & Cooking demos.
  • Writers Room – leading workshops with visiting writers and Week Sauce, a weekly series of virtual programming.
  • Cooking with Rose and Chef Rich - Join Chef Rich Pepino, our head chef for community dinner, and Rosemary Trout from Drexel’s Department of Food and Hospitality Management in a live session where we make pizza from scratch, and answer questions about pizza, dough, or food in general.

For more information about Dornsife Center online programs and other resources in the community, please join our virtual office on Zoom, email us at  dornsifecenter@drexel.edu , or call us at 215-571-4013.

Beachell Family Learning Center
Urban Health Collaborative
Health in cities has always been a focus of the Urban Health Collaborative and the team at Drexel's Urban Health Collaborative is actively working to address how COVID-19 is impacting the health of residents in urban areas as well as the implications of the pandemic for health equity. Urban Health Collaborative researchers have been speaking with multiple media sources to address and provide expert commentary on the coronavirus as well as continuing to create resources and content for the public health community. This page serves as an up-to-date guide on UHC news, analysis and other work surrounding coronavirus and urban health.
School of Education
On May 5th, Associate Clinical Professor with Drexel's School of Education, Dr. Vera Lee, hosted a webinar for parents and caregivers of children in grades K-3 titled, “Supporting Children’s Reading at Home” offering advice and tips for supporting reading development at home.
Academy of Natural Science Experiment :

Play at Home with Playworks :
Health and Wellness
Taking Care of Your Mental Health During Coronavirus

It is important to find ways to cope with the uncertainties we face and taking care of ourselves and each other is essential in the days and weeks ahead.
Employment Opportunities
These Employers are looking for IMMEDIATE Help during the Coronavirus outbreak
Caregiver Information
Voting
On March 27, Governor Wolf signed Senate Bill 422, which reschedules Pennsylvania’s primary election from April 28 to  June 2  due to the COVID-19 emergency. Voters have the option to vote by mail-in ballot rather than going to their polling place on election day.

Mail-in ballot applications will be accepted through Tuesday, May 26, 2020. If a voter has already applied for an absentee or mail-in ballot, they do NOT need to reapply



Make it Count: Support the 2020 Census
NOW More Than Ever: The Census is Critical!
Residences should have already received their invitation to complete the Census via mail, phone, or online. To complete the survey online, residents should visit:  www.2020census.gov
If completing the Census online, please do so in one sitting, as responses are  not  saved.


Due to the coronavirus, all dates has been extended by two weeks:

  • Window to complete self-responses may extend through May 28, 2020
  • August 14th deadline for door knocking has been pushed back by two weeks
School Information
The School District of Philadelphia has launched a plan to loan a Chromebook to every District K-12 student who needs one for learning at home. It will also make digital content available to help students retain, learn and apply skills and strategies with the support of a teacher.
The loaner program is free and there’s no obligation to participate.  Contact your school principal if you have not received your chromebook yet.

There is a dedicated telephone support line
 exclusively for parents and students to help you get your District-issued devices up and running, and to address more basic technical issues with broken or malfunctioning computers.

215-400-4444
Join Dr. Hite every Wednesday at 3pm on Facebook Live for the latest updates on the coronavirus, school closures, meal plans, learning guides and more.
Tips for HomeSchooling:
1. Develop a fluid schedule for kids to follow
2. Make sure kids read every day
3. Take time to go outside
4. Remember you are working at home not from home
5. Check in on your kids. This is as challenging for them as it is you.
Resources for Teens
Virtual resources for teens

Now can be a good time for teens to develop or improve skills like typing, learning a new language, coding, or preparing for the SAT. Click on the link below for a google doc of resources for teens in areas such as arts to study skills that will be updated frequently  by our partners at Fab Youth Philly.
Summer Jobs
Start collecting the necessary items for your summer job.
These are 4 documents you may need:

-Social Security Card
-School ID or Report Card
-Birth Certificate or Passport
-Work Permit
WorkReady is accepting applications for Summer 2020 Jobs today!
Fab Youth Philly is optimistic that there will be an opportunity for teens to have a job this summer, and want them to work with their great team. While dates are still uncertain, teens are encouraged to fill out an application.  
Thank you to all essential employees in the Promise Neighborhood and all over the city. The rest of us will continue to do our part by protecting ourselves by washing our hands and staying home!
Would you like to hear about a particular issue or concern surrounding the Coronavirus? Please email promiseneighborhood@drexel.edu with ideas or suggestions for the next issue! Stay Safe.
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