SOUTH PHIILA EPIC FIGHTS TO KEEP CHILDREN SAFE

Over the past several years there has been an upsurge of youth violence occurring in Philadelphia.  Philadelphia crime statistics state there have been over 539 shooting since the beginning of the year many of them involving youth.  Youth between the ages of 11-24 composed over 46 percent of the shooting victims from January 2012 through June 2012 according to the Philadelphia Police department statistics. 

Education declines

The Philadelphia education system appears to on the decline, almost every day the School District reports closing more schools and reductions in programming and layoffs.  Meanwhile only about 50 percent of the African American and Latino males graduate from high school.  At the same time, the Governor chopped the education budget while increasing funding to build prisons.  African Americans are already disproportionately represented in the prison population.

 Philadelphia youth are an endangered species. 

 The South Philadelphia EPIC Community Stakeholder group will present “Keeping Our Children Safe in the Community, at School and at Home” Children and Youth Safety Summit on Saturday, June 29, 2012 from 9 am – 3 pm at South Philadelphia High School, Broad and Snyder avenue.

The Children and Youth Safety Summit will focus on how community residents can ensure the safety of their children while in school, on the streets and at home. 

The Summit is full day of activities including a keynote speaker featuring Franca M. Palumbo, ESQ, interactive workshops, an expert panel discussion, raffles and lunch.

The day will include informative workshops including:

• Multi-Cultural Understanding - Facilitated by Xu Lin, Asian United
• Bullying:  Learned Behavior – Facilitated by Stepheni Trott-Batipps and Arenda Bethel, Educational Advocates
• Breaking Bad:  How to Prevent Juvenile Delinquency – Facilitated by Michael Rice, Community Engagement Specialist, Department of Human Services
• Understanding People of Color:   Cultural Differences – Facilitated by Ludi Soderman, School District of Philadelphia
• Creating Safe Corridors – Facilitated by Louis Harris, Safe Corridors Program

The afternoon will encompass an expert panel discussion featuring:

City Councilman Kenyatta Johnson, Kevin Bethel, Deputy Police Commissioner, Xu Lin, Asian United, Michael Harris, Philadelphia Anti-Violence Anti-Drug Network, Ade Fuqua, Philly Rising, Warren Raines, Office of Senator Tom Brady, Lou Harris, Safe Corridors and Community Engagement Specialist Michael Rice, Department of Human Services.

The Summit is sponsored by South Philadelphia Equal Partners In Change (EPIC) Community Stakeholder group.  The EPIC mission is to support and advocate for  mutually supportive relationships between entities such as the School District, the Police Department, the Department of Humans Services and community based organizations, faith based institutions, community businesses, elected officials and most importantly the  children, youth and families living in the Philadelphia community.   The EPIC goal is to achieve a better quality of life for all the citizens of Philadelphia through relationship building, collaborative planning and leadership development.

For more information on EPIC and other community initiatives, call 215-683-4027 or go to:  www.phila.gov/dhs/stakeHolderGroups.html