About

About Up the Block

Up the Block is an effort to connect the people of Philadelphia with resources for coping with the traumas surrounding gun violence. We hope to connect community members with organizations that focus on such issues as mental health counseling, the Victims Compensation Program, and after-school opportunities. Project Manager Sabrina Iglesias has worked to listen to Philadelphians and find out what information gaps need to be filled. What we’ve heard is that community members want to know where to turn after a shooting, what resources exist for kids, teens, and young adults trying to thrive without exposing themselves to violence, and how to hold their local government leaders accountable for addressing the shootings taking lives in Philly every day. The project builds on and is inspired by the crucial work of organizations like Billy Penn, Resolve Philly, The Philadelphia Center for Gun Violence Reporting, and Free Press, who are pioneers in the kind of service journalism we’re hoping to do here. To read more about why this work is so important, take a look at our intro post.

This website is a guide, thoroughly researched and regularly updated, to organizations that can help Philadelphians navigate the challenges they are facing. Outside of this platform, the work will be distributed on Instagram, on flyers, via text message, and more. Our intention is to connect, and stay connected, with the various communities in Philadelphia, becoming a trustworthy hub of information about dealing with gun violence.

Up the Block is a project of The Trace, a nonprofit newsroom dedicated to covering gun violence in America. For more information about our work, visit The Trace’s website. To reach out to Up the Block directly, you can DM us on Instagram or email us at uptheblock@thetrace.org.

About the team

Sabrina Iglesias is the community outreach editor at The Trace and project manager for Up the Block. She runs the project’s website and Instagram page, stays in touch with the community, and is always keeping an ear open for what information Philadelphians are looking for relating to gun violence. Sabrina has been living in Philadelphia since she was a teenager and is passionate about lifting up her city, keeping people safe, and prioritizing accessibility as she builds this project. In her free time, Sabrina can be found roller skating around the city or tending to her various houseplants.

Freelance contributors

Reporters: Emily Neil, Afea Tucker
Translator: Gabriela Rivera
Illustrator: Marian Bailey

Community Partners