News » City Highlights
Philadelphia
This month we’re heading on over to Philadelphia! Be sure to visit our city’s page for more information about serving with us in “City of Brotherly Love”.
News from the Philadelphia Team
With over 146,000 students, the Philadelphia School District is the 8th largest district in the country and, unfortunately, one of the most violent. With recent budget cuts to the school district threatening to cut security and extracurricular activities, options in creating safe schools and safe places for students are dwindling. Bullying that distracts students from learning well in school even spills over into the home with texting and social network sites.
At the heart of violence prevention is adult involvement in the student’s lives. But with a high student to teacher ratio and turnover rates, students aren’t getting the support they need. Never mind the 16 hours of the day students aren’t in the classroom.
Due to these great needs, afterschool programs can be such a blessing. Ayuda Community Center and the Orange Korner Arts (OKA) House provide a safe place for students to spend their afternoons. At the heart of the program is Jesus’s message of love; OKA’s motto is from 1 Thessalonians 5:11, “Build each other up!” This intentionality creates a safe space for students not only to learn but also to be themselves. Here they can get help with their math homework and also pick up a new hobby such as crochet or painting.
Besides providing opportunities to explore different art forms, students learn about conflict resolution and caring for one another. If students have an issue, they are guided through fixing the problem instead of ignoring or even perpetuating it. The result? A place of trust where everyone feels safe. One girl recently said, “Here I feel like I can be my crazy self.”
-Nicole Engelhardt, CSM Philadelphia Apprentice
Local Resources
- Become a Facebook fan of CSM Philadelphia!
- The Philadelphia Committee to End Homelessness
- One Step Away – Philly’s street newspaper.
Local News Links
- Philadelphia homeless count up slightly January 27, 2012
- Philadelphia’s Homeless Celebrate Martin Luther King’s Birthday With Church Service January 15, 2012
- Homeless advocates review Philly's progress on 10-year plan January 9, 2012
CSM Urban Updates
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