PHILADELPHIA - As many as
200 low-income children now have a great new place to learn and
have fun after school, thanks to a historic partnership between the
Philadelphia Housing Authority and the Boys & Girls Clubs of
Philadelphia. With excited, newly enrolled children at their side,
leaders of both agencies officially opened Boys & Girls Clubs
at two PHA sites, with plans to do even more.
"We know that children in PHA communities
will benefit greatly from the programs offered by this outstanding
organization," said PHA executive Director Carl Greene. "When the
opportunity presented itself to form a partnership with the Boys
& Girls Clubs of Philadelphia, we grabbed it."
Resident Advisory Board president Asia
Coney said in looking for a group to offer programming at the
centers, Boys and Girls Clubs of Philadelphia stood out. "We
received proposals from many many organizations, but we felt the
Boys and & Girls Clubs offered the most qualitative program,"
said Coney.
The program will operate at PHA's two
newest community centers, at Wilson Park in South Philadelphia and
at the Richard Allen Homes in North Philadelphia, with up to 100
kids at each site. Both locations will offer programs for 1st
through 5th graders from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM, and for 12-18 year
olds from 6:00 to 8:00, Monday through Friday.
BGCP chief professional officer Jeffrey
Waldron said activities at the centers are designed to help kids
develop a positive self-identity and find their "moral compass." He
also said the hours of operation are intended to keep kids off the
streets.
"It has been documented that most children
who get into trouble, do so between 3:00 and 6:00, so if we can get
them involved in healthy afterschool activities the chances are
that they'll have positive experiences," Waldron said.
Activities at the centers focus on five
core areas: education and career development; character and
leadership development, health and life skills; the arts; and
sports, fitness and recreation.
There is no charge for families to send
their children to the Boys & Girls Clubs programms at the PHA
locations. BGCP obtained foundation grants to pay for this first
year of program operation, while PHA covers the cost of providing
and maintaining the community centers. BGCP also hopes to identify
funding to run the program during the summer.
Both PHA and the Boys & Girls Clubs of
Philadelphia say this is just the beginning of a long-term
collaboration.
"This arrangement was a long time in
forming. Now that we have it, we want to keep it and we want to
expand it, said PHA director Greene. We're expecting positive
results for families who take advantage of the
opportunity."
Jeffrey Waldron of BGCP agreed. "If there
are opportunities to open up more Boys & Girls Clubs down the
road or to partner with PHA in other areas where we could help
deliver services to public housing residents, we would love to look
at those opportunities," he said.
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| Leaders of both agencies officially opened Boys & Girls
Clubs at two PHA sites, with plans to do even more. Shown here are
(back row, starting 3rd from left) Linda Staley, director of
Customer Support Services for PHA, Asia Coney, Director of Tenant
Support Services Inc., John Rooney, chairman of the Boys &
Girls Clubs of Philadelphia, and Jeff Waldron, chief professional
officer of the Boys & Girls Clubs (holding one of the
kids). |
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| The Boys & Girls Clubs of Philadelphia will operate an
after school program at PHA's two newest community centers, at
Wilson Park in South Philadelphia and at the Richard Allen Homes in
North Philadelphia, with up to 100 kids at each site. Shown here is
the computer lab at Wilson Park. |
 |
| Resident Advisory Board president Asia Coney (back row, 2nd
from left) said in looking for a group to offer programming at
the centers, Boys and Girls Clubs of Philadelphia stood out. Jeff
Waldron of the Boys & Girls Clubs and PHA's Linda
Staley joied Coney and a happy bunch of kids as the new
program began. |
 |
Kids play basketball in the gym at the Wilson Park Community
Center, one of the activities that will be managed by the Boys
& Girls
Clubs of Philadelphia. |
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