Diversified Community Services is pleased to announce a $438,500 grant from the William Penn Foundation, whose philanthropic priority is to close the achievement gap for low-income families by providing educational opportunities spanning from early childhood through secondary education.
Diversified will employ a two generation strategy with the goal of improving the lives of families in one of Philadelphia’s poorest neighborhoods. The Point Breeze neighborhood has a reported 37% poverty rate, which soars above the City’s reported poverty rate of 28%. The two generation strategy is a comprehensive approach that addresses the short term impact of family financial stability through workforce training and the long term impact of quality early child care education on family self-sufficiency.
“Research shows that family economic circumstances requires five generations to reverse,” says Otis Bullock, Executive Director of Diversified Community Services. “Our goal is to support at minimum, two generations by providing quicker and more effective opportunities for families to raise household incomes. We know financially stable households help children to be better learners,” Bullock added.
Diversified will strive to achieve the following aggressive goals for more than 100 participating families enrolled in agency’s Western Learning Center and Dixon Learning Academy:
90% Language and literacy skill proficiency by kindergarten
90% Social and emotional skills by kindergarten
80% Parental involvement
100% Kindergarten readiness
The two generation strategy will be introduced to Point Breeze families in January 2015 as the iParent@Diversified program. iParent@Diversified will launch a Parent Resource Center in January to support family financial topics such as tax preparation, computer literacy and resume preparation as well as parenting skills training. Also beginning January, Diversified will roll out the program brand below.
Media Contact:
Diversified Community Services
Otis Bullock
215.336.5505 (office)
215.239.4003 (cell)
obullock@dcsphila.org
William Penn Foundation
Kerri Lee
215.899.1830
klee@williampennfoundation.org
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About Diversified Community Services
Diversified’s mission is to provide leadership and services that strengthens and coordinates the Point Breeze and surrounding communities’ efforts on behalf of children, youth, and families, especially those that are most vulnerable. Diversified’s vision is a diverse, prosperous, and vibrant Point Breeze community where all residents are treated with dignity and respect-a community where the impacts of poverty are acknowledged and action is taken to empower those in need.
