​PEC's Everyday Learning Play Spaces team has been working hard recently engaging with the staff and families at our current sites: Darlene Morris, Jane Addams Place, Families Forward Philadelphia, and Woodstock Family Center. We have received illustrative and rich feedback regarding what the staff and families would like to see our project accomplish.  

May 24th from 2:00 to 3:30 on Zoom 
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Register now for the first joint Meet & Greet from the BELL Project and Everyday Learning Play Spaces! We will be playing games to discover how learning through play is fun and beneficial for both children and adults. There will be gift card giveaways! 

This online event is designed for parents staying in emergency, transitional, and permanent supportive housing. Come for a fun time and leave with ideas and strategies on how to integrate learning through play into all aspects of your family’s life! Staff from housing programs and early childhood education programs are also welcome. ​

LAST DAY TO REGISTER FOR THE PRIMARY IS MONDAY, MAY 2ND, 2022, so join PEC's Community Connectors at the MLK Jr. Pavilion at 40th Street and Lancaster Avenue from 11am to 3pm 5/2 to get it done. We'll have forms on hand in English & Spanish. You will also be able to register to vote online. Paper forms will be delivered to the Office of the City Commissioners by 4pm that day.

The PEC Neighborhood Advisory Committee (NAC/NAS) will elect new members this year. The ballot will be posted at lwww.lancasteravephilly.com/naselection.html in advance of the voting day on May 24.

We are excited to announce that physical updates to our computer lab at 3939 Warren Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104 are almost finished! Expect open public lab hours and opportunities for in-person classes this summer. We anticipate that classes will have both online and in-person options this summer. ​

A trend that concerns the Children Cannot Wait Campaign is that from 2011 through 2019, the number of school-aged children experiencing homelessness in our commonwealth jumped from 28,000 to more than 40,000. A quarter of those are younger than school age. At this rate of growth, PEC estimates that Pennsylvania could identify more than 50,000 children and youth experiencing homelessness by 2026. ​

State Senators and Representatives could improve childcare availability by increasing funding for Pre-K and Head Start. There are more than 9,300 children ages birth through 5 who experience homelessness in the Commonwealth, including some 2,600 children in Philadelphia. Most need high quality early learning programs that would help promote their development and  be ready for school. PEC urges you to contact your state legislators today.