WHEREAS, The Council of the City of Philadelphia recognizes that too many teens and young adults in our City are impacted by violence, criminalization, and longstanding disinvestment, and that truly safe communities are strengthened through prevention, healing, opportunity, and youth leadership; and
WHEREAS, Recognizing the increase in violence among young people and the absence of culturally relevant, teen-focused organizations, YEAH Philly was founded in 2018 by Kendra Van de Water and James Aye, community leaders committed to centering Black youth voice and advancing healing-centered approaches to violence prevention; and
WHEREAS, Understanding the correlation between poverty, limited opportunity, and violence, YEAH Philly provides services that address both the immediate and long-term needs of teens and young adults, particularly during evening hours when violence is most prevalent, offering consistent safe spaces, mentorship, therapeutic support, and structured programming designed to promote stability, accountability, and growth; and
WHEREAS, YEAH Philly primarily serves Black youth ages 15 to 24 who have been impacted by violence or are at heightened risk, providing basic needs support, conflict resolution services, workforce opportunities, and pathways toward leadership and community engagement; and
WHEREAS, Through violent intervention initiatives, legal advocacy support, paid employment and skill-building opportunities, peer mediation and conflict resolution programming, know-your-rights education, and youth-led research and storytelling, YEAH Philly engages approximately 400 young people annually, equipping them with tools to heal from harm, resolve conflicts constructively, and build leadership capacity; and
WHEREAS, By elevating youth voice in conversations about public safety and justice, YEAH Philly contributes to a community-rooted model of violence prevention that aligns with Philadelphia’s broader commitment to supporting grassroots solutions led by those most impacted; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, THAT THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA
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Hereby honors and recognizes Youth Empowerment for Advancement Hangout (YEAH) Philly for its dedication to advancing community-based violence prevention, youth empowerment, and healing-centered engagement for teens and young adults in Philadelphia
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FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this Resolution be presented to Youth Empowerment for Advancement Hangout (YEAH) Philly as evidence of the sincere respect and appreciation of this legislative body for its service, leadership, and commitment to ensuring that young people most impacted by violence are supported, empowered, and positioned as leaders in their communities and in the future of our City
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End