McClinton: More than $1 million in violence prevention funding awarded to West Philly organization
Rep. Joanna E. McClinton January 18, 2023 | 10:40 AM
HARRISBURG, Jan. 18 – State Rep. Joanna McClinton, D-Phila./Delaware, today announced more than $1 million in violence prevention funding is being awarded to ACHIEVEability in West Philadelphia.
McClinton said the funding – $1,010,014 – will go toward the organization’s 60th Street Strong Coalition.
“I’m extremely encouraged to see such a large amount of funding awarded to ACHIEVEability and its 60th Street Strong Coalition,” McClinton said. “This coalition – and organization as a whole – literally saves lives. It takes our youngest neighbors, especially those most affected by gun violence and related trauma, off the streets and offers them an opportunity to receive paid employment training, skills and mentorship.”
State Rep. Morgan Cephas, D-Phila., offered similar remarks. ACHIEVEability and the 60th Street Strong Coalition serve her legislative district, too.
“This grant puts the city on a very good path,” Cephas said. “Increasing the number of youths served in West Philadelphia will help lower the risks associated with the gun violence that plagues our city. Paid employment training is absolutely necessary to win this fight against gun violence.”
The legislators said the funding will help to expand the coalition’s anti-gun violence initiative by doubling the number of youth served by the program and will support the costs associated with stipends for youth, businesses and community residents; supplies associated with wraparound support for youth; TABE assessments; transportation costs; haircut vouchers with partnered barbershops; professional attire for participants through a membership at The Wardrobe; trauma-informed therapeutic counseling; personal salary and benefits; project supplies and expenses associated with Safe Street events; and other related costs.
“Exploding gun violence is one of the most pressing issues in our city today. Gun violence impacts all of us – whether we are a citizen that has lost a loved one, a business that closes before dark or moves out of the city, or a student that is afraid to walk to school – none of us are immune from its devasting impact," said ACHIEVEability Executive Director Jamila Harris-Morrison.
The funding comes from the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency’s Violence Intervention and Prevention program. The award may be used for efforts toward reducing community violence, such as street outreach, Safe Corridors/Safe Passages programs – which prevent incidents to and from school and other community centers, trauma-informed support to victims and survivors of gun violence, youth activities, and mentorship programs.
A total of 122 projects throughout the commonwealth received funding from the $88.6 million VIP grant program. The grant program was made possible by the $105 million allocated for violence reduction measures in this year’s state budget.
More information on PCCD and the grant program is available online at https://www.pccd.pa.gov/criminaljustice/GunViolence/Pages/default.aspx.