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 nonprofit organization that focuses on teaching kids to think clearly so they can write with clarity. With all completed work going ungraded, our organization strives to create a non-traditional classroom atmosphere where kids can express themselves through their writing.”

What we found: Mighty Writers works to be as accessible as possible by having many locations across the city. The group believes that clear thinking is a part of anti-violence work, because a clearer mind will lead to less impulsive decision-making, and that its writing exercises can give young people in Philadelphia a clearer state of mind. The MW workspaces encourage participants to use writing to navigate their feelings and express any difficulties they may be facing. Pre-pandemic, Mighty Writers hosted an anti-violence get-together, where kids got to explain their experiences with violence directly to their local politicians.

What the org has to say: “The PMAY Artists’ Initiative is designed for serious music students who have a high musical aptitude and the motivation to pursue a professional music career on a standard orchestral instrument. It is a collaboration of leading Philadelphia music institutions that believe in providing access to music education for all students.”

What we found: Middle and high school students who know how to play instruments as part of an orchestra can audition for this prestigious program, which encourages them to pursue a career in music. Staffers attend workshops focused on trauma-informed practices.

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 org has to say: “Victim/Witness Services of South Philadelphia (VWSSP) offers direct assistance anherd support to crime victims, witnesses and their families in the three Police Districts of South Philadelphia (1st, 3rd, and 17th Districts). The Pennsylvania Victims Compensation Assistance Program helps victims and their families ease the financial burdens they may face as a result of crime. We can assist you in filing a claim free of charge.”

What we found: South Philly is one of the most diverse parts of the city, and VWSSP offers services for the wide variety of backgrounds represented, such as longtime residents and members of newer refugee communities. VWSSP’s crime victim support services include direct assistance and guidance filing claims.

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.