Description
The mission of MHCC is to provide the West Philadelphia and Mantua community with quality educational and human services that will serve to revitalize the community. MHCC offers several specialized programs to youth, adults, and families to stimulate the passion, creativity and personal development while helping to improve the economic base of the neighborhood. Mantua Haverford Community Center (MHCC) was founded in 1936 by the Lutheran Social Mission Society of Philadelphia. The purpose of the creation of this settlement house was to provide social services specifically to the Mantua Community. In 1990, the ownership and management of the community center was transferred over to a newly formed non-profit corporation created by the "Concerned Citizens of Mantua" i.e., the Mantua Haverford Community Center to continue services to the same community it ha worked with for over 54 years. The new board has adopted the motto: "leaders of tomorrow working today." MHCC has a mission to provide programs and activities, which empower the community and its residents to become both socially and economically self-sufficient. In order to improve the quality of life of it's residents, MHCC offers concrete services and programs which include After School and Summer Camp Programs, educational programs, Day Care, Health Awareness Programs, Computer Technology Classes, Life Skills and Leadership Development. Our building houses a full gym facility, a commercial kitchen, three classrooms (art/all purpose room, library and an after school room). The facility is available for social functions and meeting space. MHCC addresses issues such as equal access to quality education, neighborhood improvement, family social services, leadership development, and coordinates inter-group community projects. The majority of our constituency is low-income, African American families. In addition, we promote and encourage self-advocacy and collective action, seeking to empower our constituents while at the same time serving as an advocate and social representative for their interests at the municipal and the state level. The community of Mantua, typically known as "the bottom" is part of West Philadelphia with boundaries from 31st -40th Street and from Hamilton Avenue to Mantua Avenue, with approximately 13,000 residents. MHCC has worked to coordinate community meetings to prevent crime, drugs and other disputes within or involving the community. There are many issues and problems that these wider employed under-educates and low-income city residents face, but the resources to resolve them are very limited. MHCC provides a structure for programs and opportunities for residents to address their needs and improve their quality of life. In doing so, these families can be effective in reconstructing their neighborhood.
