Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility Kazeem announces nearly $1 million in state funding approved for local youth programs

Kazeem announces nearly $1 million in state funding approved for local youth programs

Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus    April 15, 2026 | 4:35 PM

CHESTER, April 15 –Two Chester City organizations, the Chester Education Foundation and the Make a Change Group, were awarded a total of nearly $1 million to expand their after-school programs for at-risk youth in the city, state Rep. Carol Kazeem, D-Delaware, announced today.

The competitive grants, approved today by the School Safety and Security Committee under the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency, are part of more than $64 million awarded to organizations across the state.

“I am very glad to see these worthy programs receive this critical state funding that will allow them to provide even more of our at-risk kids with the educational supports and life and socio-emotional skills training they need. The knowledge and the skills they acquire in this program will enable them to navigate the challenges they face so they can grow up to be strong and productive members of our community,” Kazeem said.

“I am grateful to PCCD for recognizing the positive impact programs make in the lives of vulnerable youth in Chester City.”

CEF will use its $500,000 in funding to expand its existing out-of-school-time programming from high school into middle-school grades to serve 75 students a year. The program’s goal is to provide continuous pathway of support from middle-school to high school graduation to reduce violence risk factors, improve academic performance and school engagement, and build social-emotional and life skills.

Funds will be used to partially support the salary and benefits of a site manager and part-time teachers. Funding will also be used to support supplies and operating expenses such as food, enrichment materials, digital-literacy resources and transportation for afterschool shuttles and enrichment field trips; and consultant costs for contracted financial management services.

MACG will use its $499,365 in funding to expand its long-standing Team MAC program, an after-school and summer initiative serving youth ages 8–17 in Chester and surrounding areas of Delaware County.  The program provides a holistic approach to lower-risk, young kids to prevent escalation into higher-risk behaviors through structured mentorship, social-emotional and life skills building, academic support and family and community engagement.

Funds will be used for the partial salary and benefits for an operations director, program director, activities coordinator, youth and family specialists, and a team of mentors. Funds will also be used for transportation costs tied to an organization-owned van; supplies and operating expenses including meals, field trips, youth incentives and program materials; consultant costs for specialized training in developmental assets, trauma-informed care, behavioral supports, conflict resolution, workforce readiness and evaluation.