Last week, Mayor Nutter announced the launch of the Graduation Coaches Campaign.
The Campaign was created to equip and empower Philadelphia’s adult community to help youth earn a high school diploma, to succeed in college and their professional careers. The Campaign works to ensure that all youth in Philadelphia have access to a caring adult who can encourage them to finish high school and pursue college, and it builds on the notion that it will take the entire City working together to make sure that the all of our young people graduate high school. The Graduation Coach Campaign creates an opportunity for every Philadelphia citizen and organization to help.
“Since I came into office, we’ve heard from many everyday Philadelphians who have spoken to me or called my office, looking for a way to way be involved in making a change in the lives of young people,” said Mayor Nutter. “The goal of the Campaign is to equip and empower these adults to be advocates for the young people in their lives. There are thousands of adults who are already have a connection with a young person and want to do even more.”
The Campaign will provide Graduation Coaches with educational resources, training and information to help them support Philadelphia’s youth. The website, www.phillygradcoach.org, will provide information on how to become a coach, training opportunities, a timeline to help young people stay on track educationally, and information on a range of resources, including after school programs, college preparation resources, re-engagement opportunities for former dropouts, and StudentNet- an online resource that can help students monitor and improve their academic progress. Graduation Coaches will receive training on how to engage youth in the following five key conversations: staying on track to graduation; exploring college and career opportunities; setting goals for the future; developing problem solving techniques and building resiliency; and identifying role models and caring adults.
Six community-based organizations throughout the city will serve as neighborhood-based hubs of information about the Campaign and will provide Campaign trainings throughout the year. These organizations will include the Police Officer Lauretha Vaird Boys and Girls Club, Congreso de Latinos Unidos, CORA Services Inc., Diversified Community Services, Foundations, Inc.’s Philadelphia Center for Arts & Technology (PCAT) and Universal Companies. Mayor Nutter is calling on citizens and community organizations to partner with the Graduation Coaches Campaign and ensure that Philadelphia’s youth are successful. To learn more about the Graduation Coaches Campaign, email Folasshade Laud-Hammond at [email protected] or call 267-502-3706.
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