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: “To put it simply, we care about what we do and the livelihoods of our neighbors. Our organization is representative of the community we serve. We learn about the issues at hand, make informed decisions and take realistic approaches to live up to our mission, which is to help all families achieve their greatest potential.”

What we found: APM feels like a staple in the Kensington community, especially for Spanish speakers. Its Community Connector program aims to help members of the neighborhood tackle projects that will improve their blocks, such as clean-up efforts. They provide a wide variety of services, with many prioritizing mental health care, creative ways to work through trauma, and involvement in bettering the community.

What the org has to say: “COMHAR is a comprehensive human services organization that provides community centers, community living arrangements, co-occurring behavioral health and addiction programs, services for the Latino community, services supporting individuals with HIV/Aids, and children and family services.”

What we found: Largely serving the Kensington neighborhood, the COMHAR’s representatives attend community events to offer its services to anyone who may need them. COMHAR has programs focused on art, recovery, and behavioral health specifically for Latinx individuals, and makes sure that no one ever pays for their services out of pocket. COMHAR has invested in language access to reach more residents, and offers its services in several languages, including English, Spanish, Russian, Ukrainian, Mandarin, and Malayalam.

What the org has to say: “HHP is a program for people ages 8 to 35 who have been shot, stabbed, or assaulted, and for those who have witnessed these events. The goal of the program is to help survivors heal from their physical and emotional wounds in order to support their well-being, personal healing, and ultimately, break the cycle of violence.”

What we found: Healing Hurt People’s specialists go into the hospital to figure out a victim’s needs, which often include financial support, being accompanied to court, or help filling out paperwork. The organization’s social media campaign Our Words Heal aims to create organic conversations about recovery.

What the org has to say: “Peer Response is a violence prevention program that welcomes gun violence survivors to apply to be a peer mentor. Mentors will work with peers who have been affected by gun violence by using their life experiences as a tool to support healing.”

What we found: Peer Response helps people who have lived through violence reflect on those experiences and turn them into advice and lessons for others who may encounter similar challenges. The group offers a variety of ways to get involved, from training to state certification to job placement. All Peer Response mentors are cross-trained as community health workers and certified peer specialists. Most participants in this nine-week selective program are Black men, but the program is looking to recruit more women.

What the org has to say: “Survivors of a violent death have to contend with a totally different set of circumstances than someone who has experienced a ‘natural’ death. EMIR is here to guide survivors through the many feelings they will experience and the legal ramifications that are inevitable. EMIR offers concrete, practical, and compassionate steps towards healing.”

What we found: EMIR approaches healing by engaging the whole family in activism and advocacy. The organization refers to itself as a “homicide survivors center,” and says that in 20 years, it has never had to turn anyone away. Because the Philadelphia Police Department reports all homicides to EMIR, the organization can reach families when they need it the most.

What the org has to say: “G.R.O.W.N. is designed to work as a conduit for change and empowerment. To be utilized by Philadelphians to demonstrate and highlight their growth and maturity over adverse situations that occurred in their lives. G.R.O.W.N. participants exercise their civic responsibilities and continuously strive to better their conditions.”

What we found: G.R.O.W.N.’s approach to mentoring addresses both shooting victims and alleged shooters. According to the organization’s co-founder and director, Connell Drinks, G.R.O.W.N. uses “a cognitive-based program to change their thinking and pull them away from the pull of the streets.” The organization’s programming ranges from trauma-informed therapy to creative activities. G.R.O.W.N. says it is “trying to make doing positive cool.”

What the org has to say: “LPA provides pro-bono counseling with youth and families who cannot access services elsewhere due to language, economic, legal, and social barriers. We work and learn alongside those who are impacted by lack of documentation and displacement of family members.”

What we found: LPA’s executive director, Cathi Tillman, says the organization sees the people it works with as community members, rather than clients. The organization has created a community of individuals who are searching for constructive ways to work through their mental health concerns. Many participants have referred their friends and family to LPA’s legal counseling. Tillman describes members as feeling “more empowered, feeling more connected, less afraid, more confident, more competent” through their work with LPA.

What the org has to say: “We are a violence prevention, education and intervention-based organization, which advocates and supports youth, young adults, families and community organizations affected by violence. We are made up of impassioned mothers, grandmothers, aunts, sisters and others who are committed to working towards saving lives and preventing another mother from having to experience this terrible tragedy.”

What we found: Parents in Philly can turn to Mothers in Charge if they’re looking for a place to work through grief related to violence. MIC’s founder lost her son to a shooting; she now supports other parents navigating similar tragedies. The organization offers services ranging from anger management to youth programming, which it hopes will prevent Philadelphia’s families from experiencing the pain of loss due to violence.

What the org has to say: “Northwest Victims Services aims to provide prompt, effective, and holistic services to all victims of crime in Northwest Philadelphia while increasing strategies to elevate community safety. Services provided include crisis and supportive counseling, accompaniment, financial assistance, and information/referral. In addition to providing services to crime victims, NVS provides community programs to increase safety and knowledge of their services.”

What we found: Losing a loved one to gun violence or surviving a shooting can create so many needs, including medical costs, lost time from work, funeral expenses, the need to move, counseling, and more. NWVS helps victims of all crimes face these hurdles, turning hardly anyone away. Even after an individual’s immediate needs are met, NWVS stays in touch by attending court with clients, sending holiday cards, and collaborating with local hospitals.

What the org has to say: “Our mission at Power of Paint Art Academy & Management is to connect, unite, heal, and cultivate leaders who have a strong sense of community, self-awareness, and social responsibility. Our goal is to help counter issues such as depression, boredom, anxiety, esteem issues, grief/loss, and stress, among other things, by hosting art classes, workshops, and community events.”

What we found: Power of Paint started as a small group of women using art to build their self-esteem and focus on mental health. Once confined to a small North Philly basement, the organization has expanded to create hubs in West Philly, Southwest Philly, and over Zoom. POP realized that everyone in the city was being affected by gun violence and opened the opportunities up to anyone interested, young or old. Now, POP is a reliable and accessible safe space for Philadelphians to use art to address trauma.

What the org has to say: “Sankofa Healing Studio recognizes incarceration as a traumatic experience. The system of mass incarceration operates through structures of gendered and racial discrimination which disproportionately affect the Black Community. Sankofa is breaking the physical and emotional chains of trauma. We believe that holistic treatment approaches are needed to disrupt the development of re-traumatization, interrupt the cycle of intergenerational trauma, and heal the wounds of traumas that were experienced before incarceration. We support transformative justice.”

What we found: Sankofa offers therapy and other services that support mental health, with an emphasis on supporting the Black community through the impacts of racial and gender discrimination, particularly incarceration and interactions with police. The healing studio team runs trauma-informed in-person and online therapy sessions, group therapy “healing circles,” reentry support groups, and peer support programs for mental health professionals.

What the organization has to say:
“The Bridge’s Intensive Prevention Services (BIPS) is a prevention program serving youth. 
We have a staff of caring professionals that combine evidence-based assessments, personal experience, and a community of supportive people that provide a safe place for growth focused on helping youths between the ages of 10 and 19 that have been affected by gun violence. Many inner-city youths wander aimlessly after the school year ends to find resourceful activities in the community that have a positive impact on their lives. We fill that void with programs that enhance the quality of life and expand their horizons. Activities include; community service, music, art, and hip hop. Students are supported in the community and through our site-based resource where they are taught conflict resolution, communication skills, and professional development.”

What we found out:

BIPS’ programming for youth ages 10 to 19 focuses on anti-violence, conflict resolution, career development, behavioral health, entrepreneurial skills, and community service. Students are placed and referred through either Philadelphia’s Department of Human services or the Philadelphia District Attorney’s office. BIPS primarily serves West Philadelphia residents from Mantua to Overbrook and Wynnfield. Kids can be referred because of at-risk behaviors in school, at home, or in the community; discipline problems at school or recurring conflicts at home; a history of running away; diversion from arrest via the School Police Diversion Program; chronic truancy, or danger of dropping out of school; the need for a safe space.

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 org has to say: “Our hospital’s Trauma Victim Support Advocates are here to assist crime victims in meeting their physical, emotional, and personal needs both during and after their care at Temple Health. These advocates perform a variety of functions, including: offering comfort to patients in the trauma bay, updating families about their loved ones’ conditions, providing grief support to families of homicide victims, linking survivors to crime victim services, and offering emotional support to patients after they’ve been discharged from the hospital, to name a few.”

What we found: TVSA’s advocates find their clients within Temple Hospital, where they help crime victims access grief support, victims services, and emotional support after discharge.

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 org has to say: “Uplift offers peer support groups for children and teens in grades K-12th who have experienced the death of someone significant in their lives. Peer support and a caring adult presence help to reduce the feelings of isolation and loneliness that children often experience after death. Creative activities and games allow children to express their thoughts and feelings about death. All groups are divided by age and developmental level to best tailor our support programs. Uplift also offers caregiver groups at the same time to provide support for adults raising a grieving child.”

What we found: Kids in Philadelphia who have lost loved ones can find solace in Uplift, whose Legacy group honors the deceased and teaches participants about healthy ways to cope with loss. The organization also trains professionals to support grieving youth. In partnership with the School District of Philadelphia, Uplift is currently running the Philly HopeLine, a toll-free number Philadelphians can call to speak with a clinician from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily about any issue that is causing them grief. To reach the Philly HopeLine, call 1-833-745-4673.

What the org has to say: “The mission of Women Against Abuse is to provide quality, compassionate, and nonjudgmental services in a manner that fosters self-respect and independence in persons experiencing intimate partner violence and to lead the struggle to end domestic violence through advocacy and community education.”

What we found: Women Against Abuse serves people of all gender identities who are experiencing intimate partner violence, and operates the only emergency domestic violence shelters in Philadelphia. The organization has confidential locations and 24-hour security, as well as other trauma-informed on-site services, including case management, therapy, and children’s programming.