Recognizing the Philadelphia Anti-Drug/Anti-Violence Network on the occasion of its 30th Anniversary and honoring the organization's commitment to eliminating violence and drug abuse among Philadelphia's youth.

WHEREAS, Since 1989, Philadelphia Anti-Drug/Anti-Violence Network (PAAN) has promoted community safety through services that reduce drug abuse and neighborhood violence; and

WHEREAS, Philadelphia Anti-Drug/Anti-Violence Network’s operations are split into three major units: Communications, Intervention, and Preventive Education. PAAN’s Communications Department has responded to more than 100,000 callers reporting violence and drug activity though its work on the City of Philadelphia’s Join the Resistance twenty-four hotline. The hotline also serves as a place where constituents can call to request that services be organized in their own neighborhoods; and

WHEREAS, PAAN’s Preventive Education team provides over 1000 yearly trainings, presentations and workshops on the issues of drugs and violence. These educational trainings have assisted hundreds of neighborhoods and thousands of Philadelphia residents in their efforts to reduce violence and enhance the quality of life in their communities; and

WHEREAS, PAAN also works as a primary resource for crisis intervention and conflict resolution in Philadelphia schools that have been impacted by violence. PAAN’s intervention teams provide outreach services to at-risk youth, with the goal of developing positive alternatives to violent conflict; and

WHEREAS, During the 1990s, PAAN sponsored and promoted a Turn In Weapons initiative, in partnership with the Mayor’s office as well as the police and fire departments. The organization’s efforts resulted in the removal of more than 6,000 firearms from Philadelphia’s neighborhoods; and

WHEREAS, PAAN is responsible for a number of successful Citywide partnerships aimed at reducing and eliminating incidents of youth violence. Those initiatives include the Youth Violence Reduction Partnership, for which PAAN provides case managament services for youth identified as at-risk in the juvenile justice system; Thank Goodness I’m Female, through which PAAN provides mentorship and support to more than 300 middle school girls; Gifted Young Men, which provides ongoing academic support and life-skills coaching to high school students over the course of their four years in school; and the Healthcare Connection Grant, which seeks to reduce the number of violence-related injuries among youth victims and perpetrators of violence; and

WHEREAS, Today PAAN provides programming through their Intensive Prevention Services (IPS) initiative which is an early intervention program for youth, ages 10-17, who exhibit high-risk or at-risk behaviors. PAAN also engages in community organizing efforts aimed at developing neighborhood strategies to combat community violence. In all of its programs, the organization employs credible outreach workers to foster meaningful relationship in communities and to promote positive choices through the peaceful mediation of neighborhood conflicts; and

WHEREAS, The dedicated staff and leadership at the Philadelphia Anti-Drug/Anti-Violence Network have worked tirelessly to ensure that Philadelphia’s youth are able to reach their full potential. For thirty years, PAAN has been an invaluable partner in the City’s efforts to reduce youth violence; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, THAT THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, Hereby recognizes the Philadelphia Anti-Drug/Anti-Violence Network on the occasion of its 30th Anniversary and honors the organization’s commitment to eliminating violence and drug abuse among Philadelphia’s youth.

FURTHER RESOLVED, That and Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to the Philadelphia Anti-Drug/Anti-Violence Network as evidence of the sincere sentiments of this legislative body.

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