News

News

 

EducationWorks Featured in Philadelphia Inquirer Story
July 2, 2020

The Philadelphia Inquirer’s education writer, Kristen Graham, spoke with EducationWorks’ President and CEO, Miles Wilson, about EW’s partnership with several local out-of-school time leaders as the “Philadelphia Out of School Time Coalition” to advocate for the thousands of students whose learning will be limited this summer. Read the article to learn more about the Coalition and what our President/CEO had to say.

Coronavirus and Philly School District shutdown means thousands of kids have no camp to attend this summer

A Letter to the Community – What Matters? Black Lives Matters
June 8, 2020

View the letter and all of the supporting resources in a separate browser page, click here – What Matters? Black Lives Matters

What Matters?

…ALL BLACK LIVES MATTER. Regardless of class, age, sexual orientation, or legal status. At EducationWorks that is what we know, recognize publicly and unabashedly, and informs how we operate. The individuals and communities we serve are overwhelmingly Black, so too are our employees. Experiencing the ills of institutionalized racism and injustice and the constant threat of harm to our Black bodies is commonplace. Our familiarity with death, such as the murder of George Floyd and other innocent Black people, by those sworn to protect and serve is unnatural. Contending with those aggressions while surviving the ravages of COVID-19, which is disproportionately impacting Black communities, traumatic. It is an honor to serve this community – our community – regardless of circumstance.

Our Position

EducationWorks stands in solidarity with anyone protesting systematic injustice, police violence, white supremacy and the destruction of Black lives and communities. At EducationWorks we are active members of our communities and have been participating in protests and other grass roots efforts to heal our neighborhoods. As Martin Luther King Jr. said, “there comes a time where silence is betrayal,” and we refuse to be silent, and we’re challenging you to do the same. How do you answer the call to these communities – not just during a time of crisis, but beyond this moment?

At EducationWorks, we believe that there are three pillars of basic human rights: (1) The essentials (food, clothing and shelter); (2) Wellness (mindfulness and physical well-being); (3) Educational attainment. These beliefs are evidenced in our programming.

The Call: Don’t Waste a Crisis

I encourage nonprofit leaders to find their voice and control the narrative as it relates to programming in their area of focus. Leaders should prioritize the communities they serve and do so with a level of cultural competency, respect, and reverence versus appealing to funders and what they deem as important (difficult I know). Be lions on behalf of our communities, setting aside the fear of losing your position or the adoration of those in power. Be dynamic. Be brave.

In the same way, funders and those in philanthropy should resist the incredibly paternalistic approach of “supporting” nonprofit organizations. Recognize that nonprofit leaders are the subject matter experts as it relates to their area of focus, find comfort in that. Get resources on the ground in a timely manner. Be less concerned about overhead rates. Remove line item giving and provide general operations funding to impactful organizations. End the practice of laborious end of year reporting. Invest in leadership ability, vision and competency so that nonprofit leaders can exercise their entrepreneurship, unlocking the opportunity to create dynamic programs that are timely. When issues are clearly a product of institutional racism and bias, impacting Black people in particular, call that out and invest accordingly. Lastly, provide equitable levels of support to organizations that are led by Black People.

At the highest level, it is imperative that elected officials be present and hear directly from communities most effected by the indefensible murders and abuse of Black bodies. From those engagements, should come interventions and policies that directly address the violence and related trauma. Also, elected officials should use their brand, authority, and influence to create real career opportunities -not jobs… there is a difference- for those same communities.

It is imperative that all people stand up and decide what side of truth and justice that they will rest upon.

Yours in Service,
Miles H. Wilson, President/CEO, EducationWorks and the entire EducationWorks Family

COVID-19: An Update from EducationWorks
March 16, 2020

EducationWorks is committed to the health, well-being, and safety of our employees, young people, and their families across the Greater Philadelphia region.

To date, EducationWorks and its staff does not have any suspected or confirmed cases of COVID-19 (coronavirus).

However, as the School District of Philadelphia and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania as well as the state of New Jersey, have announced the shutdown of schools, EducationWorks’ out-of-school time programming and its related services are suspended until further notice.

Our program, PowerCorpsPHL, will continue activities with modifications that follow precautionary safety guidelines from the City of Philadelphia and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

We continue to work closely with the School District of Philadelphia, the Philadelphia Department of Public Health, and the City of Philadelphia to monitor cases in Philadelphia and its surrounding communities, and to receive guidance on minimizing the risk among our employees. We have also continued to share information and updates from the CDC, and encourage employees to follow their recommendations, which include: avoiding close contact with people who are sick, avoiding touching your face, and staying home if you are feeling sick and have a fever.

Additional guidelines and details from the CDC and other partners are available online and can be found here:
For Philadelphia:
City of Philadelphia COVID-19 Updates
The School District of Philadelphia COVID-19 Updates
Free Meals for Students

For New Jersey:
Camden City School District
Mastery Charter Schools

CDC COVID-19
CDC COVID-19 Fact Sheet
CDC COVID-19 Stop Spreading Germs

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Take a Step Back in Time!

September 24, 2019

‘EducationWorks’ Summer Camp Rewind’ video is officially here and it’s all thanks to the generosity and the hard work from all corners of the organization. As well as the programs and institutions that played a heavy part in making this summer possible. This video is in celebration of you!

 

 

EducationWorks and the Police Advisory Commission Go Head to Head in Basketball Tournament
March 14, 2019

In an ongoing partnership with the Police Advisory Commission, EducationWorks has coordinated weekly meetings between students at Overbrook High School and local police officers to have candid conversations and open discussions on a number of topics. This basketball tournament marked the end of a six-week session focused on wellness.

Thanks to local stations 6ABC,CBS3,NBC,and FOX29 for highlighting this event.

 

 

 

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Join EducationWorks for Fall 2018!
September 12, 2018

Join us for FREE Out-of-School Time from 3:00-6:00 p.m. Monday – Friday, Grades K-12!
Click here to see our K-8 flyer for Philadelphia.
Click here to see our high school flyer for Philadelphia.
Click here to see our flyer for Camden.

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Miles Wilson on Comcast Newsmakers
July 23, 2018

Miles Wilson, President and CEO of EducationWorks, talks about extending learning beyond the school day. EducationWorks is the largest provider of out-of-school time programming in Philadelphia. Recorded July 20, 2018. Click here to watch.

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 PowerCorpsPHL Alumni David Reeder is made new Administrator at Southwest CDC
June 28, 2018

Click here to read the full article.

 

 

 

 

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Four Finalists for Wawa Foundation Hero Award
June 11, 2018

The Wawa Foundation has announced the four finalists for their Hero Award: the Philadelphia Fire Explorer Youth Program, Inn Dwelling, EducationWorks and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Philadelphia. The winner will receive a $50,000 grant and will be announced on July 4 at Independence Mall. See the video here.

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EducationWorks is named a finalist for $50,000 grant
May 24, 2018

PHILADELPHIA – EducationWorks, a nonprofit provider of out-of-school, in-school, and career development programming for young adults, was named one of four finalists for the Wawa Foundation Hero Award. […]

Click here to see the whole EducationWorks press release, and here to see Wawa’s press release.

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Meet Justice
May 22, 2018

Meet Justice, an EducationWorks student who talks about his experience participating in the EducationWorks program, and the World Series of Entrepreneurship. See here!

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Miles Wilson on NBC10
May 18, 2018

Education Works President/CEO Miles Wilson and the President of Independence Blue Cross Foundation, Rev. Dr. Lorina Marshall Blake, speak on NBC10 about EmPOWer! See here!

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Miles Wilson on iHeartRadio
May 15, 2018

Loraine Ballard Morrill spoke with EducationWorks President/CEO Miles Wilson on iHeartRadio. Listen here!

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Miles Wilson on KYW Newsradio’s Flashpoint with Cherri Gregg
May 8th, 2018

Cherri Gregg spoke with EducationWorks President/CEO Miles Wilson on Flashpoint. The interview with Miles Wilson begins at 28:30. Listen here!
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Beacon Leaders Minute with Miles Wilson
April 23, 2018

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To attract employees of color, Philly businesses should change approach to hiring
March 20, 2018
by Miles Wilson, For the Inquirer  

Mayor Kenney’s plan to attack poverty through better schools and with the city’s new workforce strategy is the right thing to do.  There’s no doubt that we need to educate and train a workforce that makes Philadelphia a location of choice for new business and investment. But let’s keep our eyes on the prize: For people of color in Philadelphia to close the gaps in income and wealth, we need to focus on careers — not just jobs. […] ___________________________________________________________________

EducationWorks Awarded 10K to Support After-School Programming in Camden
March 15, 2018

PHILADELPHIA – EducationWorks, a provider of in-school and out-of-school time programming for young adults in Camden and Philadelphia, was presented with a $10,000 grant from the Subaru of America Foundation, Inc. to support after-school programming in Camden K-12 schools. The grant will specifically support a STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics) curriculum that provides structured activities and projects in an effort to provide additional opportunities for learning beyond school hours.[…]

Click here to see the whole press release. Check out the coverage on KYW Newsradio, FOX29, SNJ Today, and 6ABC.
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Annual Report
January 30, 2018

Read our our 2017 annual report to read about all that EducationWorks has achieved in one year!
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Miles Wilson On Philadelphia’s New School Board
January 3, 2018

Miles Wilson has written an Op-ed in The Inquirer about the future of Philadelphia’s school board.

“We have waited a long time for local control of Philly schools, and the decision to abolish the School Reform Commission was a great first step in that process. But when it comes to creating Philly’s new school board, we should remember the old adage: ‘Be careful what you wish for, you just might get it.'” […]

Click here to see the article.
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EducationWorks Names Jamil Rivers As Controller
December 14, 2017

PHILADELPHIA – EducationWorks, Philadelphia’s premier organization for providing academic support, career readiness, and enrichment programming to children and young adults, announced that Jamil Rivers has joined the organization as a financial controller. […]

Click here to see the press release.
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Drew Morrisroe Appointed to the Board of Directors
December 13, 2017

Drew Morrisroe, President & CEO of CTN Solutions, was recently appointed to the board of directors for EducationWorks, Philadelphia’s leading organization for providing academic support, career readiness, and enrichment programming to children and young adults.

Click here to see the press release.
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TreePhilly and PowerCorpsPHL Free Tree Giveaway on KYW News
November 19, 2017

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EducationWorks Receives $503,000 Grant to Support Workforce Development through PowerCorpsPHL
August 17, 2017

EducationWorks, a nonprofit provider of out-of-school, in-school, and workforce development programming for young adults, today announced that it has received a $503,000 grant from the Lenfest Foundation. The grant will directly support PowerCorpsPHL, a City of Philadelphia AmeriCorps program operated in partnership with EducationWorks that supports the City’s environmental and sustainability initiatives through workforce development and career training for young adults between the ages of 18 and 26, many of whom are returning citizens. […]

See the Philly.com article and the press release.

We were also mentioned twice in the Philadelphia Tribune.
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Lessons in Leadership: EducationWorks’ Miles Wilson
July 11, 2017

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Public Service Makes America Great
June 13, 2017
by Miles Wilson

If Donald Trump wants to make America great again, here’s a tip: Don’t be penny-wise and pound-foolish when it comes to helping people become productive citizens.
The president proposes to eliminate funding for the Corporation for National and Community Service, which runs the highly regarded AmeriCorps (focused on children and young adults) and Senior Corps, a volunteer organization for people ages 55 and up.
Total funding for CNCS is $1 billion per year nationwide, which may seem like a lot, except that it represents just pennies when compared with the total federal budget – just .03 percent, to be exact.  And for that investment, it engages nearly 350,000 members across America who help us all. AmeriCorps members teach children in local schools, work with the Red Cross, help build homes for Habitat for Humanity, provide one-on-one support for at-risk kids in schools, and serve their local communities in countless other ways. […]

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As Green Infrastructure Pioneers, Philadelphia Is Primed For Workforce Development
May 18, 2017
By Mayor James Kenney

Designed by the Philadelphia Water Department over the course of several years and formally adopted by Philadelphia and state and federal regulators in 2011, the 25-year Green City, Clean Waters program is using decentralized plant-and soil-based green infrastructure systems to keep excess stormwater out of sewers and reduce overflows. […] In addition to apprenticeship programs with local high schools, the Philadelphia Water Department and City of Philadelphia are using PowerCorpsPHL—an AmeriCorps program designed to support environmental stewardship and other initiatives—to train at-risk youth for green infrastructure maintenance jobs.
That collaboration has resulted in young Philadelphians, some who may have been incarcerated, now working as members of our green economy. We’re working to make stories like that more and more common. […]

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Member Perspective: Miles H. Wilson
May 11, 2017

Why is it important to engage children and young people in education experiences both in and out of school?
In a word, “opportunity.” Education is reading, math and science, to be sure. But in the very best schools, students also have the opportunity to grow through new education experiences — during the school day and beyond. […]

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Philly CEO’s career advice: Swim in ambiguity
May 1, 2017

Philly CEO: Power through racism; Don’t let anyone deny your dream
April 27, 2017

Growing up, Miles Wilson, 43, remembers waking up in the middle of night in the small rowhouse he shared with his single mother and two siblings.
“You’d hear something downstairs, come downstairs and you see your mom crying at the dining room table,” said Wilson, now chief executive officer of EducationWorks, a nonprofit provider of after-school services.
It’s a story he tells often. His mother — smart and ambitious with dreams of being a lawyer — was in one of the first classes in West Philadelphia High School that included African Americans. […]

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PowerCorpsPHL Radio Interview – Workforce Development Making a Difference
April 16, 2017

PowerCorpsPHL: Cohort 7 Graduation and Cohort 8 Induction
April 1, 2017

364 acres of land restored. 2,081 trees, shrubs, and gardens planted. 12 tons of litter removed.
Over the past six months, PowerCorpsPHL’s seventh cohort of crew members has left their mark on the city of Philadelphia. With a collective 49,676 hours of service among them, they’ve restored land, trees, trails, and waterways, working on Parks & Recreation and Water Department projects across the city. On Friday, March 31, members past and future gathered to celebrate the graduation of this group – and the induction of next year’s crews. […]

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PowerCorpsPHL Cohort 7 Graduation Celebrates Service Work Across Philadelphia
March 31, 2017

PHILADELPHIA (March 31, 2017) – Completing their service in a unique City of Philadelphia program that trains young adults for new careers while improving Philadelphia’s natural assets, a total of 49 members of PowerCorpsPHL “Cohort 7” today were officially graduated from the renowned workforce development program.
At a ceremony held at the Free Library Parkway Branch, the graduates – women and men ages 18 to 26 – were honored for their commitment and service by the program’s sponsors: the City of Philadelphia, EducationWorks, and the Philadelphia Youth Network, who all partner to operate the PowerCorpsPHL program. […]

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Media Advisory PowerCorpsPHL Cohort 7 Graduation
March 29, 2017

PHILADELPHIA – PowerCorpsPHL, a City of Philadelphia AmeriCorps program, and its partners will recognize the work of young adults, ages 18-26, who have completed the latest cohort. The program supports the City of Philadelphia’s environmental stewardship initiatives, youth violence prevention and workforce development priorities through a six-month full-time AmeriCorps service term, followed by a three-month transition and workforce support program, administrated by EducationWorks. […]

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The Projects & People That Are Changing Our Skyline
March 23, 2017

Gateway Project of the Year | Spring Arts Philadelphia
Home for creative types
The area has been coined Spring Arts and a Philadelphia real estate company called Arts & Crafts Holdings has been at the forefront of reinvigorating and reshaping the neighborhood along the Spring Garden Street Corridor and setting the stage for others to follow. Arts & Crafts now owns a portfolio of buildings totaling 435,000 square feet and has said that it wants to “grow a community of artists and craftspeople in a vibrant urban district comprised of multiple mixed use properties.” One of its first projects was 990 Spring Garden and is a good example of what the company is doing. It converted the seven-story, 160,000-square-foot industrial loft that was built in the late 1920s into a creative space that has attracted an eclectic mix of tenants who want a funky vibe provided by the building and neighborhood.
Among the tenants at 990 Spring Garden are the City of Philadelphia, EducationWorks, Roy Pitz Brewing Co. and Azavea. Its latest acquisition in the neighborhood came in December when bought 915 Spring Garden, a five-story, 72,000-square-foot former Reading Railroad building that has been vacant for more than a year. […]

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Meet PowerCorps PHL Fellow, Ian Holland
March 15, 2017

We are excited to welcome Ian Holland to the Fairmount Park Conservancy family! Ian is joining us as a PowerCorps Fellow, a special six-month position that gives graduates of the PowerCorpsPHL program the opportunity to gain additional work experience at nonprofits across the city. Ian previously served as an AmeriCorps Member and Data Coordinator with PowerCorpsPHL, and he’ll be working with FPC’s Stewardship and Natural Lands teams for the next six months. We asked Ian a few questions so we could all get to know him a bit better. […]

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People on the Move
March 13, 2017

EducationWorks, Philadelphia, has promoted Tanya Ruley-Mayo to chief operating officer, from director of learning and impact. It also hired Tiffaney Waters as director of learning and impact. Waters had been a grants compliance monitor for the School District of Philadelphia in the Office of Federal Programs and Grant Compliance.

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Commentary: Rewarding to see Kenney embrace out-of-school time programs
by Miles Wilson
March 6, 2017

IN EDUCATION circles, they call it Out of School Time – programs to benefit children from 3-6 p.m. each weekday.
But in recently announcing his intention to create a comprehensive new Out of School Time strategy, Mayor Kenney sees OST for what it really is – an unparalleled opportunity to assist children throughout the city to achieve better results in the classroom and in life. […]

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PowerCorps crew leader wins high national honor
February 22, 2017

At 22 years old, North Philadelphia native Kalef Jones said his life was “in shambles.” His mother had passed away, his sister had moved across the country and he was arrested and convicted for selling drugs. “I was what you considered a waste of talent,” Jones recalled. “I didn’t know my purpose in life or what I wanted to do. I didn’t have any ambition, goals or direction.”
But that changed last Wednesday, when Jones was recognized as a 2017 Corpsman of the Year. He was one of six people, out of 24,000 Corps members nationally, awarded the honor at a National Corps Network Conference, which was held from Feb. 11 to 15 in Washington, D.C. […] View Press Release

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EducationWorks Hosts Forum on Successful School Partnerships in Philadelphia
January 20, 2017

EducationWorks, Philadelphia’s premier organization for providing academic support, career readiness, and enrichment programming to children and young adults, hosted more than 20 educational support providers to discuss a recent report that highlights best practices for schools, districts, and vendors in delivering high -quality enrichment programming  to students, both during and outside of the traditional school day. Entitled “Partnering for Student Success: A Practical Guide to Building Effective School-Based Partnerships,” the report, funded by the William Penn Foundation and produced by Abt Associates, details six steps for successful partnership integration, providing readers with suggested roles and responsibilities, sample conversation topics to facilitate discussions, case studies from Philadelphia schools, and a downloadable toolbox of resources. […]

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The Boardroom
December 26, 2016

Philadelphia-based EducationWorks, which implements and manages educational, after-school, preschool, and summer-camp programs in underserved city neighborhoods, has elected the following board members: Ian H. Hutchison, an associate director of Savills Studley’s Philadelphia location; Melissa L. Nassar, principal for Vanguard Retail Investor Services; and Jinal Jhaveri, cofounder and CEO of SchoolMint.

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Kenney: Greenworks will help build sustainable, equitable Philadelphia
November 2, 2016

Eloi Caba, a 22-year-old native of the Dominican Republic who grew up in North Philly, knows first-hand how sustainability can revitalize our community. Last year, he joined PowerCorpsPHL, the city’s environmental stewardship and workforce development program for at-risk youth. There Eloi learned valuable skills as an assistant crew leader, maintaining green stormwater infrastructure in neighborhoods throughout Philadelphia. […]

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EducationWorks finds a new home in Philadelphia
June 3, 2016

EducationWorks, a non-profit that helps students from impoverished communities such as Philadelphia, Chester, Pa., and Camden, N.J., is relocating its home base from Germantown Avenue to 990 Spring Garden St. It’s a move that has much significance for the nonprofit. It is one way for it to be closer to its partners and, some ways, gives it a chance to start anew. […]

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Miles Wilson on Executive Leaders Radio
January 20, 2016

This installment of Gallagher Benefits Onsite was broadcast on January 20, 2016 and featured interviews with Tony Valdes, the CEO of Children’s Crisis Treatment Center, Miles Wilson, the President & CEO of EducationWorks, Maddy Malis, the President & CEO of Federation Early Learning Services, Dr. Linda Kilby, the Executive Director of N.O.R.T.H. Inc, and Renata Cobbs-Fletcher, the President & CEO of Northern Children’s Services.