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.
|
|
Spotlight on Pam Evans
Community Schools Coordinator, Alain Locke
|
|
Whether it’s participating in the Promise Neighborhood’s Community Advisory Council and Project Management Team, or attending multiple outreach events throughout the Promise Neighborhood, Pam Evans sports an omnipresent smile.
Pam is currently in her third year as Community School Coordinator for the Mayor’s Office of Education at Alain Locke Community School, a Promise Neighborhood school. She’s responsible for building and maintaining valuable partnerships at the school, assisting with goals, and supporting the overall school mission through its strategic plan.
She secures resources for families and students who are facing barriers which prohibit them from receiving an education, and helps them navigate through difficult systems that would hinder them from receiving services needed to remain autonomous.
The Promise Neighborhood has actively worked with Pam to address key issues within Locke, such as climate and attendance. After providing warm winter coats and backpacks as well as yoga mats for mindfulness exercises, student attendance has improved. Pam describes the partnership with Promise Neighborhood as supportive and essential. “PN has been a silent part of the fiber of all the amazing things happening at Locke. One thing that stands out is the welcome back to school event on the first day of school. The look on both the parents’ and students’ faces when they walked in the school yard was unforgettable.”
Pam has noticed a change in the school during her time there. “People are now visiting the school with a positive mindset. They are realizing they can develop a positive relationship with the school and staff and they are embracing the resources that are available.”
When asked about the future of Locke, Pam responded, “I hope the school becomes a community hub with expanded services, such as full laundry service, evening dinners, and a full kitchen with chefs to prepare healthy and delicious foods for the students. I hope my student scholars will look back at their time at Locke and be able to say their experience here changed their lives for the better.”
|
|
Community Members welcome back students and families on the first day of school at Locke!
|
|
Promise Neighborhood Data Corner
|
|
Did you know that Alain Locke has a food pantry every Tuesday afternoon and a newly-installed Community Closet?
This year, they have already given out:
11
cases of diapers
14
Home Hygeine Packs ( Soap, Toothpaste/brush etc.)
4
Coats
9
Pairs of Underwear
7
Teen long sleeve shirts
22
Youth pants
12
Halloween Outfits
The Food Pantry has served over
52
households servicing
320
individuals!
THANK YOU to all the volunteers at Alain Locke that make this possible in the
Promise Neighborhood! If you would like to donate or volunteer, please contact Pam Evans at
[email protected]
|
|
Updates from Community Partners
|
|
The NOW Network recently interviewed Maria Walker, Project Director Action for Early Learning, and Leslie Lieberman from Health Federation for a podcast:
What does it take to tackle intergenerational poverty and ensure that all children have the best start in life to thrive? The West Philadelphia Action for Early Learning (AFEL) & Partners have been working to bring together critical partners, caregivers, and community stakeholders to ensure that families in Philadelphia have equitable access to quality early care and education opportunities. Led by
Action for Early Learning
at Drexel University, AFEL & Partners builds upon the West Philadelphia Promise Neighborhoods effort and also includes key partners such as
Health Federation of Philadelphia
,
Public Citizens for Children and Youth
,
A Running Start Philadelphia
, and many others. In our fourth episode, we learn from two leaders of AFEL & Partners and their work to support an alliance of child care centers seeking to improve quality care, as well as strengthen community outreach and awareness campaigns to ensure that all children are kindergarten ready. They share the lessons learned about the power of peer learning, the importance of a trauma-informed lens in cradle-to-career efforts, and the impact of these partnerships on the lives of caregivers, children, and families in Philadelphia.
Guests included:
- Maria Walker, Project Director, Action for Early Learning, Drexel University Office of University and Community Partnerships
- Leslie Lieberman, Senior Director of Training and Organizational Development, Health Federation of Philadelphia
- Host: Ronda Alexander, Director of Operations, NOW at Vital Village Network
|
|
What's happening this fall at the Dornsife Center for Neighborhood Partnerships?
|
|
Check out the upcoming programs and events happening this November. Come sign up for our winter term
Side by Side course, “Techniques of Speaking
,” in which participants will share ideas with others by speaking publicly about important issues while learning how to become a better speaker. Other upcoming programs include the
Drexel Gateway Career Workshop
,
Tech Impact’s ITWorks program
, that helps prepare young adults for entry-level IT careers without a college degree. We have our
Stern Community Lawyering Clinic
which provides a number of free legal services to residents, addressing a wide range of legal issues of community interest, including employment discrimination, homeownership "tangled title," tax foreclosure, post-conviction relief, and equity in utility billing. In addition, we will also host pro bono clinics that provide local residents with legal assistance free of charge, including estate planning (wills, medical directives, and powers of attorney) and criminal record expungement in cooperation with Philadelphia Lawyers for Social Equity. Also, check out the
Community Wellness Hub
programs including our Senior Group meeting, nutrition classes, Qigong classes, and health screenings. For more information about our programs, when they happen, and how to sign up, check out our website at
Drexel.edu/dornsifecenter
, email us at
[email protected]
or call us at 215-571-4013.
|
|
November Events in the Promise Zone:
|
|
Stock up for Thanksgiving! Visit the
Produce Stands
throughout the month at PN schools!
|
|
There are many resources throughout the Promise Neighborhood to ensure affordable and healthy food especially with Thanksgiving around the corner:
- Pop Up Food Pantry run by PEC Tuesdays 2-4pm Alain Locke
- PEC Food Cupboard Saturdays 10:30-1:30pm 325 N. 39th St.
- Food Stands (see below for dates and times)
|
|
Thank you to all who came out to support the civic associations, the neighborhoods, and the children!
|
|
|
|
The
Safety Captain Initiative
is a part time job for 15-19 year olds funded by Promise Neighborhood! Apply today!
|
|
Neighborhood Survey Update
This fall, survey teams in orange shirts will be knocking on doors in the Promise Neighborhood. Caregivers who live in homes with children (ages 0-18) will be asked to take a survey! Participating in this survey benefit you and your community, so be on the lookout for our team. The survey team has already knocked on
950 doors
and completed
148 surveys.
They will be in
Belmont
this week!
|
|
The school year is in full swing!
Research shows
that helping children get to school every day and on time, sets them up for success.
Making perfect attendance
(at least 95% attendance) is not just the priority of caregivers but the entire community that supports children.
November's Attendance Tip: Friendships Build Attendance
Students who have good school friends are more likely to come to school. Research shows positive friendships are vital to school-age children’s healthy development and academic performance, including attendance.
|
|
Grant Awarded by William Penn Foundation for Mill Creek Early Learners
"Mill Creek Early Learners," a science and technology based program for 300 children ages 3 to 8 in the Mill Creek neighborhood of the Promise Neighborhood, begins November 8th and runs from 5-7pm on Nov. 15th, Dec. 6th and 13th. Learn to code with your favorite PBS Kids characters for FREE through this wonderful initiative.
|
|
Promise Neighborhood supporting college and career readiness with Drexel's School of Education
High School seniors and graduates from West Philadelphia High School are preparing for union-trade jobs, internships and college opportunities through Continuing STEM Education Academy at Drexel's ExCite Center funded by the Promise Neighborhood. This program runs until the end of November.
|
|
Follow Us on Social Media!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
