Upcoming meetingS AND topics:
May 22, 11AM: Grant Maurer of Ceasefire PA will update us on their work and present opportunities to help involve and support the youth whom we reach.
June 4, 11AM: Kelly Harris of the Center for Africana Studies at the University of Pennsylvania will present on youth empowerment.
TBD: safe “circles of care” for the children of Chester
LAST MEETINGS:
Kevin Postlewait, Fire Prevention Officer in Chester, presented tips for fire safety. https://www.youthdevunited.org/cmi-april-2024
Emily Teofilak of Sun East Credit Union discussed the perils of financial illiteracy. https://www.youthdevunited.org/cmi-mar-2024
Dr. June Elcock-Messam, a pediatrician who specializes in cases involving child abuse and is a co-founder of Every Child Counts, shared her learnings and advice. https://www.youthdevunited.org/cmifeb2024
Simon Rogers of A Little Better Co identified the most common challenges nonprofits face when it comes to branding, storytelling, and marketing. https://cuys.org/cmi-jan-2024
click here to request future meeting access
REView ALL PAST meeting NOTES here
WHY?
Chester, PA is a city of approximately 34,000 residents, 70.4% of whom are Black/African American, 11.9% are Hispanic or Latino, and 34.6% of whom are living below the federal poverty line. Health disparities are pronounced in Chester where the rates of obesity and diabetes are substantially higher than those in Delaware County. The 2018 crime rate in Chester, PA was 2.3 times greater than the U.S. average and higher than in 97.9% of U.S. cities.
Chester's Mentoring Initiative - a new, informal enterprise - proposes that we, Chester’s individuals, organizations and institutions, come together to collectively respond to the community’s needs with quality programming that provides access to positive health, education, and economic outcomes.
Our ultimate goal is to have a mentor working with every child in Chester.
We propose to meet once each month, to connect, discuss opportunities and learn from each other.
Useful Member Resources:
Free sports equipment: https://www.levelingtheplayingfield.org/ and https://www.goodsports.org/
Support for those impacted by violence: https://www.chestercommunitycoalition.org/get-help/
College student volunteers available to help in variety of ways: https://www.widener.edu/about/points-pride/civic-engagement
Free consulting services volunteered by professionals who want to donate their experience, skills, and expertise: https://www.catchafire.org/menu/ and https://www.changeagentsconsulting.org
Bulk donations of personal care, baby care and home items: http://hisinc.org/and https://mitzvahcircle.org/about-us/our-programs/healthy-families-critical-needs/
Group and individual information sessions on CHIP Benefits available for middle and low income families, including free braces, glasses, behavioral services and other healthcare needs: http://www.healthpartnersplans.com/
Community Resource DATABASE
Explore using the scroll bar along the right side or search keywords using the icon in the top right corner.
Previous Meetings
April 2024:
Kevin Postlewait, Fire Prevention Officer in Chester, presented tips for fire safety. https://www.youthdevunited.org/cmi-april-2024
March 2024:
Emily Teofilak of Sun East Credit Union discussed the perils of financial illiteracy. https://www.youthdevunited.org/cmi-mar-2024
February 2024:
Dr. June Elcock-Messam, a pediatrician who specializes in cases involving child abuse and is a co-founder of Every Child Counts, shared her learnings and advice. https://www.youthdevunited.org/cmifeb2024
January 2024:
Simon Rogers of A Little Better Co identified the most common challenges nonprofits face when it comes to branding, storytelling, and marketing. https://cuys.org/cmi-jan-2024
December 2023:
Toni Neary of SME (formerly Society of Manufacturing Engineers) discussed workforce development opportunities. https://cuys.org/cmi-dec-2023
November 2023:
Bruno Marchesi, Director of Soccer for Success, discussed mentoring bi-lingual children. https://cuys.org/cmi-nov-2023
October 2023:
Dr. Nolan Fontaine and Ariza Nanji of the Good Energy Collaborative led a discussion about solar energy and job creation in Chester. https://cuys.org/cmi-oct-2023
September 2023:
Alyson Strigle, Project Director for the Delaware County Community Traffic Safety Project, discussed child safety related to traffic and transportation, and offered free educational sessions and other services. https://cuys.org/cmi-sep-2023
May 2023:
Eve Miari, Delaware County Programs Director for the Clean Air Council, discussed the potential for youth activism toward environmental health and justice. https://cuys.org/cmi-may-2023
April 2023
Alyssa Franklin, Director of Education at Girls First, discussed utilizing the arts in trauma-informed practices to build social emotional skills. https://cuys.org/cmi-april-2023
March 2023:
Andrew Babson, PhD, Co-Founder of Global Possibility Network (GPN) & Senior Research Associate at University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education, discussed youth development and belonging. Review notes at https://cuys.org/cmi-march-2023
February 2023:
Frannie Reilly, Chair of McNees Wallace & Nurick, LLC’s Nonprofit Practice, discussed typical nonprofit legal and compliance issues, and ways to manage them. Review notes at https://cuys.org/cmi-feb-2023
January 2023:
Adrienne Pinckney, Program Director of Widener U's Institute for Physical Therapy Education, provided self-care tips to use and share. Review notes at https://cuys.org/cmi-jan-2023
November 2022:
Ariza Nanji, Nolan Fontaine and others from Chester Community Solar Project, discussed the creation of green-energy jobs and Chester’s future. Review notes at https://cuys.org/cmi-nov-2022
October 2022:
Joan Gunn Broadfield of the NAACP spoke about environmental justice. Review notes at https://cuys.org/cmi-oct-2022
September 2022:
Rachel Rush, LCSW with Child Guidance Resource Centers, offered helpful tips and insights on youth and mental health. Review notes at https://cuys.org/cmi-sept-2022
August 2022:
Giselle Cosentino of Garrett Williamson Farm and Rylan Good of Milton Hershey School discussed opportunities for children to engage in positive experiences outside of Chester City limits. Review the notes at https://cuys.org/cmi-august-2022
June 2022:
Kathryn Redd and Elizabeth Doherty, Ph.D. of Chester ExChange, shared their vision for an out-of-school time collaboration benefitting the children of Chester. It is their plan to provide (at no charge to organizations) a systematic collaboration that will include among other things professional development, capacity-building and thoughtful reporting of the collective impact of our network's activities - a helpful structure for collectively acquiring large grants to be split among us. Learn more at https://chesterexchange.org/
May 2022:
Norman Brown, Jr., Community Outreach & Engagement Specialist for EDSI, discussed workforce development opportunities for the community.
Review the notes at https://cuys.org/cmi-may-2022
April 2022:
Will Nord of Willows Park Preserve and Liesl Mahoney and Kaitlin LeRoy of Brandywine Museum of Art introduced opportunities to connect Chester youth with great DelCo destinations, live and virtual.
Review the notes at https://cuys.org/april-2022
March 2022:
Chester Councilman Stefan Roots, new head of the Chester City recreation department, inspired us to envision new opportunities for Chester's parks.
Review the notes at www.cuys.org/cmi-march-2022
February 2022:
Aaron Riley, Chester native and Navy careerist, kicked off a group discussion of career path options and encouragement for Chester youth.
Review the notes at www.cuys.org/cmi-feb-2022
October 2021:
Dr Drew Brown, Assistant Professor of Africana Studies at University of Delaware, whose current work explores how the cultural needs of Black student-athletes are being met through their communicative relationship with white coaches.
https://www.africanastudies.udel.edu/people/staff/drbrown
Lauren Sustersic and/or Kim D'Ambrosio of Project W, introducing the Project W Fellowship Program.
https://projw.org/who-we-are/project-w-fellowship-program/
Review the notes at www.cuys.org/october-meeting
September 2021:
Matt Krouse of Delco's District Attorney's office presented on local anti-violence initiatives.
Click here for other meeting highlights.
August 2021:
Fran Held of Mitzvah Circle https://mitzvahcircle.org/ explained how to collaborate with her organization, who "serves families walking along life’s edge by providing over 100 products including clothing, diapers, new strollers and car seats, toiletries, household items and other necessities."
Click here for other meeting highlights.
June 2021:
Steven Williams of the Pennsylvania Statewide Afterschool/Youth Development Network (PSAYDN) shared funding opportunities, compelling statistics to be used in grant applications, and other valuable insights.
Click here for other meeting highlights.
May 2021:
Featuring Hillary Kane and Eden Kainer of PHENND, a network of over 25 colleges and universities that strengthens service-learning, civic engagement, and community partnership, connecting academics with community involvement. Learn about the AmeriCorps programs that can help efficiently add resources and talents to a non-profit team.
Click here for other meeting highlights.
April 2021:
Tina Jackson inspired us all to become CHIP ambassadors to the families we serve. CHIP insurance is available for children under 19 at almost all income levels, and covers braces, behavioral services, YMCA membership and other valuable services for no or little cost.
Click here for other meeting highlights.
March 2021:
Our guest speaker was Tre Hadrick, an educator and literacy advocate who learned firsthand through his son’s experience about the importance of decodable books.
Click here for meeting highlights.
February 2021:
The Domestic Abuse Project offered programming and services on healthy relationships for groups and individuals.
Get your message up on PECO Crown Lights
January 2021:
Heather Finnegan of The Community's Foundation presenting on the City of Chester Giving Circle's open grant cycle.
Real estate developer Ola Solanke, who has made material investments in Chester, sharing ideas for mobilizing Chester residents to better the community.
Click here for brief written meeting highlights.
December 2020:
Click here for brief written meeting highlights featuring:
Drug-Free Coalition: Angie Johnson, Boys & Girls Club
Free sports equipment: Max Levitt, Leveling the Playing Field
Sports Coaches - Needs and Opportunities: Fareed Burton of the Upland Hurricanes, Charles Thompson of the Chester Panthers, and Shake Allen of the Chester Cheetahs
November 2020:
Click here for brief written meeting highlights featuring:
Inspirational Introductory Remarks: Jamar Daniels, Amachi
The Power of Collaboration: Reverend Zuline Wilkinson, Chester Eastside
Opportunities for Free Support provided by Widener University and Change Agents
Spotlight on Two Mentoring Organizations:
Chester Education Foundation: Stephanie Scappa-Hall
CMP Radio: Jean-Pierre Brice
Chester Police Department requested a printable poster/flyer of current programs and events available to the youth of Chester, to be handed out on their patrols. Click here to view our winter version and click here to submit your program for the next version.
Founding Members:
Chester Upland Youth Soccer
Teaching and encouraging healthy lifestyle choices for elementary and middle school students.
Amachi Chester
Connecting youth of families impacted by incarceration, gun violence and/or anti-social behavior with positive role models.
Making a Change Group
Dedicated to supporting at-risk youth through mentorship, family engagement and community development.
Chester Eastside
A food service program that provides over 100,000 meals a year to community residents. In addition to offering a variety of educational programs to adults and children.
Andrew L. Hicks Jr. Foundation
Providing Chester youth with “opportunities to thrive, volunteer, and lead” in a vast array of events and programs.
Boys & Girls Club of Chester
Nurturing the development of our young people by providing an environment that supports excellence in education, good character and citizenship, and a healthy lifestyle.