WHEREAS, In 1991, after a few years working with teenagers from marginalized communities and neighborhoods, Frome decided to tackle fixing the public-school system. After learning about the YouthBuild Program in New York, a program that offered students hands-on work experience as well as a high school education, she created YouthBuild Philly
; and
WHEREAS, In 1997, Frome was invited to join the Youth Council, governing Philadelphia’s youth workforce programs and placed out of school youth on every agenda.
Helping to secure federal funding, she made YouthBuild Philly one of Pennsylvania’s first charter schools; and
WHEREAS,
Frome was invited to take a leadership role, as a partner with the School District and the Philadelphia Youth Network. Soon thereafter, YouthBuild Philly’s board formed Youth Empowerment Services aka YESPhilly; and
WHEREAS, By the Fall of 2000, Frome had opened Philly YO! Centers, which evolved into Philadelphia’s first E3 Centers. After securing funding for GED prep and digital media training, she also opened a Beacon after school program at Sayre; and
WHEREAS, Frome continued to participate in the Youth Council’s Committee for Out of School Youth, which established the Re-Engagement Center at the School District and leveraged funding for alternative schools; and
WHEREAS, In 2012, YESPhilly received a second alternative school contract, and has been operating an Accelerated High School since then; n
ow, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, THAT THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, H
onors and recognizes Taylor Frome for dedicating 27 years of service to developing options for out of school youth and their families, regionally and nationally. We in this Council extend the sincerest gratitude and respect of this legislative body.
End