Oxford Circle Christian Community Development Association

Description

OCCCDA incorporated in 2005 in Philadelphia, PA. Our organizational goals are to 1) develop a comprehensive, quality learning community, 2) nurture family stability, 3) provide sustainable community and economic development, and 4) leverage the use of our assets to serve our community. In 2019 school year and summer we served 245 youth OST at our neighborhood school, Carnell Elementary. We started the Carnell Family Resource Center (FRC) in 2016 to assist families in identifying and mitigating non-academic barriers to education. In 2019, the FRC provided Social-Emotional training to 180 kids and trauma therapy to 29 kids. Following recommendations from our William Penn Foundation (WPF) funded early lit. needs assessment, we created the Oxford Circle Lit. Enclave with the goal of empowering parents as first educators of their children. The literacy enclave provides opportunities for educational improvement through our ESL and GED classes, with 204 adults attending in 2019 and entry-level employment, job training through our thrift store-The Exchange, while generating income long term. Additionally, our WPF funded Parents as Teachers (PATS) pilot home visiting program for children (ages 0-5) improves parental practices around early lit. and school readiness for 50 children in five languages; English, Haitian Creole, Spanish, Arabic and Mandarin. We see early literacy and education as key to promoting economic stability and poverty alleviation.