What the org has to say: “To put it simply, we care about what we do and the livelihoods of our neighbors. Our organization is representative of the community we serve. We learn about the issues at hand, make informed decisions and take realistic approaches to live up to our mission, which is to help all families achieve their greatest potential.”

What we found: APM feels like a staple in the Kensington community, especially for Spanish speakers. Its Community Connector program aims to help members of the neighborhood tackle projects that will improve their blocks, such as clean-up efforts. They provide a wide variety of services, with many prioritizing mental health care, creative ways to work through trauma, and involvement in bettering the community.

What the org has to say: “Our vision is to be a leader that advocates for victims and witnesses of crime in North & Central Philadelphia. We hope to build bridges to create safer communities and to be seen as the community-based organization that connects resources to the neighborhoods as well as clients we serve.”

What we found: CDVS serves a large part of the city’s Asian American and LGBTQ communities, as well as individuals who were the victim of a crime while visiting Philadelphia. It organizes an annual conference called Women on the Rise, which aims to empower and educate women about signals of victimization. All its services are free, and the organization will pay for counseling.

What the org has to say: “Concilio provides critical human service programming such as foster care, adoption services, youth development, and after-school programming, and Victim Witness Services. Concilio is also an art and cultural convener for the community’s most significant and historical events.”

What we found: If you were the victim of a crime and find yourself having to move with little notice, Concilio can help. The organization can help you learn more about relocation, and also provides cash grants of up to $2,000 to speed up your move. Concilio is also a leader in assisting with Victims Compensation forms to make sure Philadelphians are getting the funds they need to cope with a homicide.

What the org has to say: “We are a nonprofit organization that focuses on teaching kids to think clearly so they can write with clarity. With all completed work going ungraded, our organization strives to create a non-traditional classroom atmosphere where kids can express themselves through their writing.”

What we found: Mighty Writers works to be as accessible as possible by having many locations across the city. The group believes that clear thinking is a part of anti-violence work, because a clearer mind will lead to less impulsive decision-making, and that its writing exercises can give young people in Philadelphia a clearer state of mind. The MW workspaces encourage participants to use writing to navigate their feelings and express any difficulties they may be facing. Pre-pandemic, Mighty Writers hosted an anti-violence get-together, where kids got to explain their experiences with violence directly to their local politicians.

What the org has to say: “In an effort to prevent unintentional shootings, Temple University Hospital’s Safe Bet program offers free cable gun locks, no questions asked, to Philadelphia families who have small children and firearms.”

What we found: If you need a gun lock, Safe Bet at Temple Safety Net will give you one for free, no paperwork needed.

What the org has to say: “Sankofa Healing Studio recognizes incarceration as a traumatic experience. The system of mass incarceration operates through structures of gendered and racial discrimination which disproportionately affect the Black Community. Sankofa is breaking the physical and emotional chains of trauma. We believe that holistic treatment approaches are needed to disrupt the development of re-traumatization, interrupt the cycle of intergenerational trauma, and heal the wounds of traumas that were experienced before incarceration. We support transformative justice.”

What we found: Sankofa offers therapy and other services that support mental health, with an emphasis on supporting the Black community through the impacts of racial and gender discrimination, particularly incarceration and interactions with police. The healing studio team runs trauma-informed in-person and online therapy sessions, group therapy “healing circles,” reentry support groups, and peer support programs for mental health professionals.

What the organization has to say:

“We’re a community-based organization. Our whole mission is early intervention and violence prevention. We specialize in workforce development, offering job training, job readiness, and financial literacy courses. We teach kids how to go out and get jobs and have the right attitude and work ethic to live productive lives and earn an income. We’ve started adding a mental health and social component to our program. Each youth gets a case manager, a youth coordinator, and a network of adults that are here to help guide you and want to see your success. And we use the term real models, meaning that we are people who grew up in the shoes that you’re now walking in.”

What we found:

The NOMO Foundation offers tutoring and educational resources. Volunteers, including some teachers, focus on reducing barriers students face in their home and school environments. Students are eligible for incentives like free transportation, childcare, and up to $200 a month, for personal expenses. Parents can sometimes get help paying their utilities. There are NOMO Foundation centers in North, West, and South Philadelphia. The West Philly center offers transitional housing.

NOMO has an agreement with the District Attorney’s Office that allows some juvenile offenders to participate in its youth programming, in lieu of serving time in jail. There are trauma counselors onsite to help with their rehabilitation. NOMO also offers creative healing spaces through a unique art therapy program. NOMO’s RIPS program offers restorative justice counseling and advice to youth.