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 the
Promise Neighborhood Survey Team
|
|
As part of the rigorous data collection and evaluation for the Promise Neighborhood's federal grant, our team conducts a neighborhood survey every other year where residents trained as surveyors knock on neighbors' doors to inquire about health, housing, safety, education, employment, and their community. The first round of surveys was conducted in 2018, and surveyors, Promise Neighborhood’s Community Advisory Council, and the Project Management Team interpreted the findings. At the end of October, Promise Neighborhood will share an update on our programs along with data from the survey and information about upcoming programs and ways to get in involved with the broader community.
The second round of surveying is underway with fourteen surveyors hitting the streets, eight of whom are new hires. Belmont resident, Sherra Dunn, and Mantua resident, Kevin Young, have been promoted to Field Captains to support the surveyors as they begin their door-to-door ventures throughout Belmont, East Parkside, Mantua, Mill Creek, Powelton Village, Saunders Park, and West Powelton.
Young’s advice to the team is to “bring all your interpersonal skills as you enter a house and remain non-judgmental, focused, kind-hearted and attentive to what’s going on in the neighborhood. The survey touches on personal topics, so it’s imperative to build that instant trust and rapport the minute someone allows you into their home.”
Dunn and Young, along with other returning surveyors, Rita Nelson, Sharon Nichols, Hyden Terrell, and Chatiana Torrence, are sharing a great deal of context, experience, and knowledge with the new surveyors, and continue to build relationships throughout the year at various Promise Neighborhood events. Dunn, along with other surveyors, even joined the PN team in welcoming back students on their first day of school. “I love building relationships with the parents in the neighborhood," she said. "They remembered me and the orange shirt team, so now when we knock on the door, they welcome us!”
When asked their favorite part of the job, Dunn and Young smiled and agreed, “We love interacting with people and knowing we have something to offer them. It feels good to know we can help and make a difference.”
Thanks to these special Promise Neighborhood residents for all of their efforts!
|
|
Promise Neighborhood Data Corner
|
|
Data from the 2018 Neighborhood Survey:
- Surveyors knocked on 2845 doors
- 299 families were surveyed representing 507 children
- 70 of the 299 families have already completed the 2019 survey in just 3 weeks
Make sure your
voice is heard
if you are selected to participate.
The orange shirts are back in your neighborhood this fall!
|
|
Updates from Community Partners
|
|
AFEL Family Navigator, Rachel Honore, featured in William Penn Foundation Blog Post:
"New Children's Story Embeds Tips for Adult"
The William Penn Foundation had a call to action for storytellers: Can you inspire caregivers to support early reading with a children’s book? The Selection Committee chose “I’ll Build You a Bookcase” by Jean Ciborowski Fahey as the winner of the Early Childhood Book Challenge, and Jean was invited to Philadelphia to meet with others who are deeply engaged in thinking about children’s books – from writing and publishing to family and community engagement.
In the video below, watch Rachel and a few highlights from the discussion, featuring:
- Perri Klass, M.D., National Medical Director of Reach Out and Read; author of New York Times column, "The Checkup"
- Jean Ciborowski Fahey, parent educator, author and speaker; winner of the Early Childhood Book Challenge
- Jason Low, publisher and co-owner of Lee & Low Books
- Rachel Honore, Family Navigator for Action for Early Learning at People’s Emergency Center
|
|
What's happening this fall at the Dornsife Center for Neighborhood Partnerships?
|
|
October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, an annual international health campaign organized by major breast cancer charities every October to increase awareness of the disease and to raise funds for research into its cause, prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and cure. This month the Community Wellness Hub at the Dornsife Center is launching their
“We’re Here Because We STILL Care” ... Community Impact: Tackling Cancer Together
initiative in the 10 Promise Zone neighborhoods of West Philadelphia. The Community Wellness HUB is a place-based, community-driven, health promotion partnership between Drexel University and the residents of Mantua and Powelton Village. The HUB seeks to
HEAL
the community through preventative care,
UNITE
the community around better health, and
BRIDGE
the community to health services and health education programming, while tackling the social determinants that underlie their health disparities. The Community Wellness Hub hosted a free Kick-Off Event on October 1
st
which included cancer education resources and blood pressure health screenings followed by the Dornsife Center monthly community dinner. The HUB can be found on the 2nd floor of the Carriage House at the Dornsife Center. To learn more about the cancer initiative and other programs and resources provided by the Community Wellness HUB, call 215.571.3241, email
wellnesshub@drexel.edu
or visit
Drexel.edu/cnhp/theHUB
.
|
|
October Events in the Promise Zone:
|
|
Visit the
Produce Stands
throughout the month at PN schools!
|
|
Thank you to all who came out to support the civic associations, the neighborhoods, and the children!
|
|
Philadelphia will be using new voting machines for the November 2019 General Election. The new ExpressVote XL allows voters to securely mark their selections on a touch screen and will produce a voter-verifiable paper ballot, providing an auditable paper trail. This new technology will allow all registered voters the ability to cast their vote in the same manner.
Representatives will be on hand to demonstrate this new technology to help prepare you for this year’s upcoming General Election at the following events:
- 10/14 5:30pm: East Parkside Residents Association voting machine demo
- 10/17 6pm: Mantua Civic Association- Church of Faith- 772 N. 38th St.
- 10/21 7:30pm: Powelton Village Civic Association Meeting -Metropolitan Baptist Church-3500 Baring
- 10/24 7pm: Saunders Park Civic Association Meeting-Mt. Pisgah Church N. 41st
|
|
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 completed
77 surveys
in just a few short weeks!
|
|
Back to School Information
|
|
Back to School Attendance Tip
|
|
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.
Each month, we'll feature an attendance tip as a way for schools, educators, and parents to take action to help students reach perfect attendance and create good habits that will continue with students into college and career.
Attendance Tip #1:
Build regular routines for bedtime and the morning like getting clothes and backpacks ready the night before and setting a regular wake-up time.
|
|
|
|
Nominate a current 4th grade student to be a new Steppingstone Academy Scholar
|
|
Parent Child + offers free books
ParentChild+ provides FREE educational books and toys through 30-minute bi-weekly home visits, for children 16 months to 36 months. The Home Visitor will show you fun ways to help your child learn through play.
Call or text Monica at
267-666-8661
or by email at mallison@phmc.org to enroll
|
|
How Can Families Support High School Students with the SATS?
Quick Tips for Students Taking the Exam
- Get a good night’s sleep and eat a healthy breakfast.
- Pack your backpack with a few #2 pencils, a calculator, water and snacks the night before.
- Do not leave any answers blank, there are no penalties for wrong answers.
- Trust yourself and stay positive, you got this!
|
|
Is Your Child Up to Date on their Vaccines Required to Attend School?
Pennsylvania school immunization law requires all children enrolled in Kindergarten through 12th grade have up-to-date immunization records in order to attend school. Learn what vaccines your child needs, how to schedule an appointment, find contact information for your school nurse, and more!
|
|
Sunrise At SLAMS
As mentioned in last month's newsletter, Sunrise of Philadelphia expanded to West Philadelphia and opened a site at Science Leadership Academy Middle School this month! We look forward to this wonderful program at SLAMS and the impact this after school programming will make on the children and families at SLAMS.
|
|
Follow Us on Social Media!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
