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TAKE ACTION: Increase TANF Cash Benefits

6/22/2022

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photo of food relief
PEC's food relief program increased services tenfold over the past two years to meet the need in the community.

Urge State Legislators to Raise TANF Cash Benefits

Journey (name changed to protect privacy) is a domestic violence survivor. She was terminated from her job due to absences caused by the impact of the violence of the relationship. Soon, she and her child lost their health insurance, faced eviction, and did not have enough food. With the help of a legal aid agency, Journey applied for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), food stamps, and Medicaid. The assistance is not enough to pay her rent and bills. Journey believes that an increase in TANF would help her maintain her housing and utilities until she gains employment to support her family. ​

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A Parent Ambassador's Story

6/16/2022

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Ra'Sha outside, concrete steps and black railing in the background.

Learning to Tell Her Story

By Todd Hopkins
PEC's BELL Permanent Supportive Housing Program Manager

Rha’sha is Building Early Links for Learning's newest Parent Ambassador. In that position, she is learning to share her story with other parents in Permanent Supportive Housing. She is hoping to do this as she engages families about the importance of early childhood development. She is very enthusiastic about child development. Along with being a Parent Ambassador, Rha’sha is currently working as an Assistant Teacher at an early childhood education program. She is currently taking classes online to earn her Associate's Degree in Early Childhood Education. 

She was asked to speak to a group of thirty eighth graders about her experience as a resident in the Permanent Supportive Housing system. This was her first time sharing it in front of a group of people. It is something that she wants to get comfortable doing. “I have a fear of speaking to crowds. I want to overcome that fear by being here today. I’m trying to help people while getting over my fear.” 


Rha’sha is clear about what she wants her next goals to be. “I want to own my own home and I want to own my own daycare. I love working with children. There is a lot that I want to. Everybody has a story to tell. I plan to get really good at telling mine.” 

For more information on the Parent Ambassadors and BELL-Permanent Supportive Housing, contact Todd Hopkins at thopkins@pec-cares.org. To learn more about PEC's Early Childhood Education programs, visit www.pec-cares.org/early-childhood-education.
 

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Everyday Learning Play Spaces Update

5/31/2022

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Early Learning Play Spaces planning team touring a space.​

Always Saving Space for Collaboration ​

By Sarah Vrabic
Project Manager, PEC Everyday Learning Play Spaces

The first collaborative Meet
& Greet between Everyday Learning Play Spaces and The BELL Project was a success!
 
On May 24th, BELL team members gathered with the Everyday Learning Play Spaces team on Zoom to facilitate “Play & Learning: Fun for Families and the Developing Child.” Parents staying in housing assistance programs with their children, the staff from those programs, and staff from high quality early childhood education programs joined us to play games and learn new ways to integrate play and learning into their daily lives.

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Ask City Council to Increase Funding for Prevention

5/31/2022

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To Prevent or Not to Prevent Homelessness – That is the Question, Philadelphia! 

Rachel is a single mom of 3 children, all of whom have disabilities. She owed five months of past-due rent and was being taken to court in three weeks for eviction when she reached out to PEC’s Homelessness Prevention Program. She lacked the ability to pay back all that debt and was preparing to be evicted and enter emergency shelter.  ​

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BELL Project and System Breakdowns

5/15/2022

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BELL Project Addresses System Breakdowns to Support
​Working Parents in Shelter and Their Children
 ​

A shelter liaison reached out to a BELL Project Early Childhood Education Specialist. The staff person was concerned. She needed assistance with a family enrollment issue that had just been shared with her. The parent had the following concerns:  
  • She had a job but may no longer be able to keep it due to childcare issues arising from unreceived subsidy payments. 
  • She tried to go through both the Early Learning Resource Center (ELRC) and her worker at the welfare office, but neither were responding.  
  • She didn’t know what else to do. ​ ​

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Everyday Learning Play Spaces Engages Families

5/15/2022

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In their Own Words: Families and Staff with Everyday Learning Play Spaces! ​​

​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.  

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Play and Learning Event for Parents Living in Temporary Housing

5/15/2022

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For Parents Living in Emergency and Permanent Supportive Housing: “Play and Learning: Fun for Families and the Developing Child!” ​

May 24th from 2:00 to 3:30 on Zoom 
​
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. ​
Register Now!
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Map Shows Child Care Works Program Use by Legislative District

5/15/2022

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Every Child Deserves Quality Childcare, But Are They Receiving It?

The PA Partnerships for Children (PPC) posted interactive child care maps created for the Start Strong PA campaign that shows childcare availability by Congressional, PA House, PA Senate, School District, and County levels.

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Register and Vote in PA's May Primary

4/30/2022

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City Commissioner Omar Sabir
City Commissioner Omar Sabir

PEC Community Connectors Voter Registration Drive

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.

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Neighborhood Advisory Committee Elections

4/30/2022

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PEC Neighborhood Advisory Committee Elections and Resources

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.

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  • Home
    • Mission Moment
  • Alerts
  • 50Years
  • About
    • Leadership >
      • President
    • Financial
    • PEC-YSI Affiliation
    • News
    • History
    • Newsletters
  • Take Action
  • Our Programs
    • Early Childhood Education >
      • Everyday Learning Play Spaces
      • Parents as Teachers
      • Action for Early Learning
      • Building Early Links for Learning >
        • BELL Summit
      • Childrens Work Group
      • ECE Events
    • Community Engagement >
      • Digital Inclusion
      • Lancaster Ave.
      • Arts and Culture >
        • lola38
        • BarnesWest
        • pennmuseum
      • Financial Counseling
    • Housing & Support >
      • Rental Assistance
      • ARISE Youth
    • Policy Initiatives >
      • Policy Publications
      • PEC Policy Research Advisory Consortium
  • Donate Now
    • Wishlists
  • Contact
    • Careers at PEC
    • Volunteers
  • Blog
  • Events
    • Lancaster Ave Jazz & Arts