After two decades of inspiring, leading, and serving the Philadelphia community, Youth Action has seen its share of triumphs and challenges. As we celebrate this milestone, we’re excited to share some of the significant accomplishments we’ve achieved in recent years.
When I transitioned from a career in marketing to take over the reins from Anthony Phillips, our former Executive Director and now Councilman of the City’s 9th District, I knew the journey ahead would be both thrilling and demanding. I was stepping into big shoes and carrying forward a legacy built on passion and dedication. Over the past two years, I’ve been proud to continue the mission set forth by our founders. Despite inevitable challenges, we’ve achieved remarkable successes, reinforcing our commitment to inspiring and empowering Philadelphia’s youth.
This August, as we mark our anniversary, I want to highlight some of the key milestones we’ve reached.
Welcoming Our First Full-Time Employee
Youth Action’s impact has always been evident in the lives of the students we serve, thanks to the fearless, volunteer leadership that has guided us for over 20 years. In a bold move to strengthen our organization, we hired our first full-time employee, the Executive Director position that I have proudly held for these past two years. This step has been instrumental in enabling our leadership team to focus more strategically on growth.
But it’s only the beginning. As we look ahead, we recognize the need for even more community-driven leadership to propel our mission forward.
Relaunching Junior Youth Action
Junior Youth Action (JYA) holds a special place in my heart. As a former facilitator during my college years, I’ve seen firsthand the incredible potential of our middle school participants. Relaunching JYA was a deeply meaningful moment for me, especially working alongside Brittany Manning, our Director of Programs, who played a pivotal role in my own journey with Youth Action.
This past year, we welcomed a new cohort of middle schoolers, guiding them through our leadership development curriculum and engaging them in discussions on critical social issues like hunger and homelessness. The culmination of their efforts was evident in the powerful social change boards they created, tackling challenges such as gun violence, mental health, and school safety.
Bringing Back Our Annual Toy Drive & Expanding Service Opportunities
Just as exciting as relaunching JYA, was reestablishing and involving our middle school students in our annual Toy Drive. Both JYA and Inspiring Leaders Program (ILP) student leaders came together to collect, donate, and wrap over 200 gifts and gift cards for families in need, benefiting organizations like The Red Cross House and The Lutheran Settlement House. Our students also engaged in various other civic activities, including volunteering at Cradles to Crayons, assembling care packages for the unhoused on MLK Day, and participating in a cleanup at Cobbs Creek for Earth Day.
Launching Our New Website
A personal highlight of my tenure as Executive Director has been merging my passion for youth development with my background in marketing and branding. In partnership with Hopeworks, a local nonprofit specializing in web design, we successfully launched a new and improved website in time for our anniversary. The site now serves as a visually appealing, user-friendly hub of information about our organization.
This is Just the Beginning
These achievements are just the beginning. Behind the scenes, we’ve been working on exciting new initiatives, including building partnerships and expanding our leadership team. We’re eager to share more with you in the coming weeks and months.
None of this would have been possible without your support—whether by enrolling your student in our programs, providing space for our events, or offering funding to help us better serve our youth and communities. Your contributions are deeply appreciated.
As we move into our 21st year, our mission remains steadfast: to inspire students to lead and equip them with the resources they need to serve their communities. We invite you to join us on this journey. Learn how you can get involved and join the ever-growing Youth Action movement.
