What the org has to say: “The mission of the Anti-Violence Partnership of Philadelphia (AVP) is to reduce the entire cycle of violence by providing a wide range of services from support and counseling for victims and their families to rebuild their lives in the aftermath of violence. We provide comprehensive and collaborative programs throughout Philadelphia in schools, social service agencies, the courts, and at community sites.”

What we found: The Partnership monitors changes in the community so its offerings better suit the needs of the people who seek it out. For example, the organization noticed that many of its clients were dealing with a level of re-victimization it hadn’t seen before, as well as the heavy impact on the entire family, so the staff has shifted its practices to address these issues. When responding to police brutality, AVP staffers recognized that they had to react to the level of violence instead of the label placed on the crime, because asking police to investigate the interests of other law enforcement can create conflicts of interest. You can partake in the organization’s support groups online or in-person.

What the org has to say: “CeaseFire PA is a statewide gun violence prevention advocacy group. We believe that everyone should be able to live a life free from gun violence, where they feel and are safe, and we work to make that world a reality by building the kind of political and public support it takes to change public policy.”

What we found: Are you a Philadelphian that wants to see major change in the way our city deals with gun violence? If so, CeaseFirePA offers volunteer programs that can teach you to advocate for exactly that. CeaseFirePA prides itself on creating local, grassroots groups of volunteers who want to find ways to hold their local leaders accountable. Volunteering opportunities are available throughout the entire state, and major cities such as Philadelphia have their own organizers. By signing up, you’ll contribute to CeaseFirePA’s long-running advocacy for what it calls “common sense gun violence prevention legislation.”

What the org has to say: "Philadelphia’s app for gun violence prevention and community resources. The PHILLY TRUCE APP puts Philadelphians with knowledge of potentially violent conflicts in direct contact 24/7 with trained mediators.”

What we found: Download the Philly TRUCE App to make sure you know where to turn if you, a loved one, or a stranger wind up in a situation that feels as though it could turn violent.  On one side of it, you can privately enter your name, phone number, email, location, and the type of conflict you’re witnessing or experiencing. From there, you will be connected with a trained volunteer mediator that can help to defuse the situation. You should also download the Philly TRUCE App if you’re in a position to help. Philly TRUCE is also looking for volunteers, and through an in-app signup, you can train to become a mediator.

*Please remember that the Philly TRUCE App is not a substitute for calling 911. *

What the org has to say: “The ECO Foundation works collaboratively with the people we serve to provide creative education, healthy food, and employment opportunities, so they can meet their needs today and thrive for generations to come. We liberate people from institutional and structural oppression, so they can be better for themselves and their communities.”

What we found: ECO’s after-school classes teach young people things like self-defense, music, and video production, with the goal of helping students turn their new skills into employment. The Foundation also distributes free fresh food.

What the organization has to say:
The Elevation Project is a community-based organization that strives to meet the needs of both at-risk and formerly incarcerated individuals by providing a variety of services in a safe and supportive environment in order to empower fresh starts and open new pathways. Our work aims to improve lives, reduce recidivism and crime, and drive systemic change. The Elevation Project focuses on providing quality programming in following areas: cognitive thinking, coping with trauma, job readiness, parenting skills, and business development.

What we found out:

The Elevation project runs three programs including The Transformative Business Center, Reentry Support Hub, and The Elevate Program. It also hosts monthly community events centered around justice-impacted families, such as record-clearing clinics and food giveaways. Their Transformative Business Center (Small Business Incubator) gives budding entrepreneurs access to workshops, traditional office equipment, and trade-specific technology. The** Reentry Support Hub** helps residents apply for benefits, create resumes, apply to jobs, and access clothes, housing, and other basic needs. Specific job training includes CPR, ServSafe, and OSHA certification. The organization’s newest initiative, the Elevate Program, works with young men to start their own T-shirt lines. Throughout the eight-week workshop, participants work with case managers and mentors to design, print, package, and market the shirts. It’s all in an effort to give those at risk of incarceration a means of supporting themselves.

What the organization has to say:

“We’re a community-based organization. Our whole mission is early intervention and violence prevention. We specialize in workforce development, offering job training, job readiness, and financial literacy courses. We teach kids how to go out and get jobs and have the right attitude and work ethic to live productive lives and earn an income. We’ve started adding a mental health and social component to our program. Each youth gets a case manager, a youth coordinator, and a network of adults that are here to help guide you and want to see your success. And we use the term real models, meaning that we are people who grew up in the shoes that you’re now walking in.”

What we found:

The NOMO Foundation offers tutoring and educational resources. Volunteers, including some teachers, focus on reducing barriers students face in their home and school environments. Students are eligible for incentives like free transportation, childcare, and up to $200 a month, for personal expenses. Parents can sometimes get help paying their utilities. There are NOMO Foundation centers in North, West, and South Philadelphia. The West Philly center offers transitional housing.

NOMO has an agreement with the District Attorney’s Office that allows some juvenile offenders to participate in its youth programming, in lieu of serving time in jail. There are trauma counselors onsite to help with their rehabilitation. NOMO also offers creative healing spaces through a unique art therapy program. NOMO’s RIPS program offers restorative justice counseling and advice to youth.

What the organization has to say: “We work with youth that are at risk of shooting a gun or had a relative that was murdered. We connect them to the trades through our carpentry academy classes. They learn how to paint, put down floors, put up walls, and more. Most of our students come from single-parent households. We give them a weekly stipend, pair them with mentors, and take them on monthly trips. We also offer free therapy sessions through the Black Brain Campaign.”

What we found:

Unity in the Community has a resource center in South Philadelphia. People can get help looking for jobs, building their resumes, conflict resolution, and other essential needs.

The organization runs the Unity in the Community Carpentry Academy, a 24-week program that teaches teenagers between the ages of 14 and 19 about the basics of carpentry twice a week. Students receive a weekly stipend of $150, meals, and construction tools. They are also assigned a mentor and can receive free therapy at the center.  After they graduate, Unity connects students with employment opportunities; the organization also provides equipment to enable them to work on freelance projects, in their homes, and throughout the community.

What the organization has to say:

Parents and interested family members should expect that their respective teen participants will be exposed to new concepts, ideas, and skill sets in an effort to widen their perspectives. We believe that many of our Philadelphia youth benefit from being immersed in new spaces and exposed to professionals who can provide mentorship, guidance, and support to assist youth in gaining a deeper understanding of themselves and what their futures can be. We’re creating a space that feels safe, where young people feel like they are cared for, and that they matter.

What we found out:
The goal of the Achievers Program is to prepare young people to live healthier lives by helping them access opportunities in higher education or careers. They do that by partnering with colleges and employers to teach character and life skills through lessons on conflict resolution, team building, and civic engagement. Trips to college campuses paired with onsite professional guest speakers expose youth to college prep initiatives, campus clubs, and other collegiate activities. Workshops connect them with professionals who can help them financially prepare for college. A volunteerism arm requires students to engage in small acts of kindness.