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: “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: “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: “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: “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 org has to say: “YEAH works to create safe and authentic hangout spaces by providing culturally relevant engagement and implementing teen led interventions to address the root causes of violence. Utilizing teen action, YEAH works to interrupt the cycle of youth community violence in West and Southwest Philadelphia neighborhoods through peer led mediation and conflict resolution, community engagement, and economic opportunities.”

What we found: YEAH Philly teaches kids conflict resolution and provides safe spaces, food, cash support for bills, and assistance finding jobs, all in an effort to help them stay safe and break the cycle of trauma in West and Southwest Philadelphia. The organization focuses especially on teens and young adults who have been labeled violent or at-risk, offering court advocacy, case management, and skill-building services for young people exiting the Juvenile Justice Center.