For more information, contact Johannah Bennett, the Temple Youth Voices Coordinator, at (215) 204-3871 or johannah@temple.edu
About the Program:
As the main entry to our Continuum, VOICES seeks to build the individual and collective power of youth to make positive change in their communities. Our program design achieves this through project based learning that is tied to community issues of importance to the youth; that places a heavy emphasis on teamwork and cooperation; that reaches out to community organizations as partners; and that includes technological and creative arts components. Through this process, youth develop the cognitive, social and civic skills and knowledge necessary to be effective change agents. Participants meet two afternoons per week from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Temple’s campus and one Saturday per month for special activities. Summer programming is 4 days per week, 5 hours per day over six weeks. Participants are typically between 14 and 18 years of age.
Committed to North Philadelphia’s Fairhill community since 1993, Providence Center offers education programming for children, youth, and adults. Their mission is to educate people to have the power and spirit to transform their lives and community.
The Providence Center has several programs including an afterschool program for children K-6 led by teen leaders, ESL classes for adults and prayer groups and events for the community.
Providence community:
Providence Center is located in the heart of Fairhill, a vibrant community in North Philadelphia. The people we serve are primarily from Puerto Rico or immigrants from the Dominican Republic, Mexico, or Central America. Our community faces many challenges, including poverty rates that are the highest in Philadelphia. Over half of our community lives below the poverty line, and the median household income is under $15,000. In addition, Fairhill struggles with Philadelphia’s highest murder rate, more than five times the city’s average. At the same time, the spirit and resiliency of our neighbors inspires us, and they are working hard to build better lives for themselves and their families. Providence Center supports revitalization efforts in our community, and we accompany our students as they strive for futures full of possibility and grace.
The Center for Culture, Art, Training and Education (CCATE) is dedicated to empowering the Hispanic community in the greater Montgomery County area in PA through the promotion of culture, art, education, and work training.
CCATE searches strategically to open multi-disciplinary programs that support four key sectors of a successful community: culture, art, training, and education that will empower the Latino community to make their dreams come true through the holistic development of the community. At CCATE there are a wide range of volunteer opportunities. Tasks range from technology room assistance to mentoring bright students, “whatever your skills, it is certain you can contribute simply as existing as a part of CCATE’s community” (quoted from the CCATE website).
Contact CCATE by phone at (484) 685-3633 or by email at obed@ccate.org to find out more about their available volunteer opportunities.
Lutheran Children and Family Service of Eastern Pennsylvania commits itself to serve vulnerable children and families in community through culturally competent ministries of care, nurturing, shelter, advocacy, and counseling, including but not limited to foster care, adoption, family preservation, education, resettlement, housing and job development. Students can get involved with our refugee resettlement program, BOOST after school program, and our West Philadelphia Senior Community Center.
The Lutheran Children and Family Service Refugee Resettlement Program is a local affiliate of the National Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service, which assists refugees and asylees through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Department of State. When a refugee family arrives to the area, Lutheran Children and Family Service is responsible for gathering available resources, finding housing and employment, and providing general cultural orientation. Our refugee resettlement services are designed to create a smooth transition to life in the local community and to promote economic self-sufficiency. Volunteers are needed to mentor refugee families, escort refugees to appointments, provide homework help for refugee youth, set up refugee homes, assist with ESL classes, tutor unaccompanied refugee minors, collect donations, and provide childcare at workshops.
BOOST (Best Out of School Time) is a program through Lutheran Children and Family Service that provides before and after school programs to over 900 youth at 11 schools in Southwest, West, North, and Northeast Philadelphia. Volunteers are needed to assist with homework and lead clubs and workshops for our students.
The West Philadelphia Senior Community Center (WPSCC) is a program through Lutheran Children and Family Service that offers dynamic and rewarding activities and events for older adults, ages 50 and above, who are residents of Philadelphia. WPSCC offers a computer lab with new computers and iPads for instruction and use, a fitness room with physical trainer and various exercise programs, as well as an array of daily classes and activities that enrich the mind, body and spirit. Volunteers are needed to teach classes in topics such as Spanish, quilting, woodworking, and scrapbooking.
ACLAMO, located in Norristown, is the only bi-lingual social service agency in Montgomery County. Aclamo Family Centers provides educational, health, economic, social, and cultural opportunities to low-come individuals and families in Montgomery County, especially those of Spanish-speaking heritage. Aclamo was initiated out of a necessity to support the Latino community and families. The program has since grown to encompass a much wider community. ACLAMO offers access to programs in employment, housing, supplementary education/drop-out prevention, family literacy, early prenatal care and primary care health services and parenting education. There are a variety of Educational services provided by Aclamo that college students can volunteer their time and effort, such as the after-school and summer school programs.
Mighty Writers offers after-school tutoring, night classes and weekend classes to Philadelphia kids between the ages of 7 and 17. These programs are designed to raise literacy amongst youth and develop strong, creative writers.
There are various volunteer opportunities, including tutoring, mentoring, workshop leadership roles, and internships available at Mighty Writers.
PhillySpells runs the Spells Writing Lab, a Philadelphia-based 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that develops the creative and expository writing abilities of school-age children through free, fun, and imaginative writing programs and teacher development opportunities. From the PhillySpells website:
“At Spells, we believe that literacy is a cornerstone for future success, and that personalized attention and unconventional learning opportunities can inspire students to greater triumphs, both in the classroom and in life. To further these ends, we offer the following programs:
after-school drop-in tutoring
weekend writing workshops
in-school assistance with student publications
partnerships with non-profits
professional development opportunities for teachers
All of our programs are free, and many incorporate other artistic disciplines such as music, film, or the visual arts to inspire young writers.”
—-Volunteer Opportunities—-
Whether you’re interested in becoming a tutor, a workshop leader, a lab assistant, or another kind of helper, the process begins when you submit our online volunteer application. On the form, be sure to indicate which volunteer orientation you’d like to attend. Your application will be reviewed and you will be contacted to confirm your orientation session.
Once you’re a trained Spells volunteer, you’ll recieve occasional emails letting you know what’s been going on at the lab, giving you additional training support, and listing upcoming volunteer opportunities.
Are you a graphic designer, artist, copyeditor, or publishing professional? Volunteer to help out with PhillySpells publications!
Spells Writing Lab offers in-school assistance for newspapers and literary magazines, which includes copyediting and layout. They also produce end-of-semester writing collections with tutoring students and occasionally need illustration or design expertise for writing workshops. (There are also opportunities for designers who would like to create promotional materials such as bookmarks, posters, and brochures.)
Whether you’ve been in the business for years, or are still in art school, you can use your art to make a difference. Sign up to be a Spells volunteer today!
EVENT PLANNERS & GRANT WRITERS
Do you absolutely love event planning? Are you interested in helping out during a fundraiser? Want to earn money for PhillySpells programs with your grant writing prowess? Spells could definitely use your help! Simply indicate your interest on our volunteer application or email fundraising@phillyspells.org.