Join an EPIC Community Stakeholder Group

Posted by on October 15, 2004

Join an EPIC Community Stakeholder Group

What are EPIC Community Stakeholder Groups?
Stakeholder groups consist of individuals who live in and/or utilize a community. They have a stake in what occurs and wish to become actively involved in the continued development of that community.

Who are EPIC community stakeholders?
Stakeholders may be members of the formal and informal networks of support that exist in every community. They include but are not limited to community residents, parents, school staff, family court, police, political leaders, community activists, storeowners, mental health providers, truancy workers and anyone else in the community who have a stake in the community.

How do stakeholder groups work?
There are ten stakeholder groups located throughout Philadelphia that are facilitated by truancy prevention provider agencies. The groups meet monthly and utilize a process called the "Equal Partnership In Change," to develop and implement action plans that complement and enhance their assets and address their challenges utilizing school attendance as primary indicators of community well being. EPIC stakeholder groups nurture and mentor community residence to take a leadership role in their community. Each stakeholder group has the opportunity to receive community development funds, technical assistance and training to facilitate and support their groups in the development and implementation of action plans.

What do stakeholders do?
? Attend and support various community meetings and events
? Facilitate the development of pro-active relationships between the informal and formal support networks
? Develop grassroots leadership
? Actively advocate for school attendance
? Build partnerships between community residents, the family court, law enforcement and the school district
? Identify, organize, enhance and utilize community resources/assets.
? Identify and support the informal support network
? Develop programs that reduce and eradicate the challenges to school attendance
? Develop proposals for community development funds
? Attend trainings in team building, budget development and action planning

How can I become an EPIC community stakeholder?
To join a stakeholder group in your community, contact Shonda Allen at 215-683-4026, Michael Rice at 215-683-4027 or the contact person listed below each stakeholder group.

EPIC Community Stakeholder Groups
Northeast
Facilitators: Lincoln Community Family Center, Frankford Community Development Center, Cora Services
Contact Person: Teresa Harris-Miller 215 276-5500 ext 102
Lutheran Children and Family Services
5902 N. 5th Street
Phila PA 19120

West Philadelphia
Facilitators: Children Services, Inc and Youth Services Inc.
Contact Person: Kwame Haynes 215 243-0113
Youth Services Inc.
3527 Lancaster Ave
Phila, PA 19104

SouthWest Philadelphia
Facilitators: Children Services, Inc and Presbyterian Children’s Village
Contact Person: Shemaria Smith 215 727-4694
Presbyterian Childrens Village
6517 Chester Ave
Phila, PA 19142

William Penn
Facilitators: Women’s Christian Alliance and Friends Neighborhood Guild, Philadelphia Anti-Drug/Anti-Violence Network
Contact Person: Felicia Coward 215 923-1544
Friends Neighborhood Guild
704 W. Girard Ave
Phila PA 19123

Central North
Facilitators: Northern Homes for Children and IDAAY
Contact Person: Marquita Stephens 215 482-1423 ext 217
Northern Homes for Children
5301 Ridge Ave
Phila PA 19128

NorthWest
Facilitators: Germantown Settlement, Pathways, PA and Northern Homes
Contact Person: Annette Gordy 215 951-4188
Germantown Settlement
C/o Clarence E. Pickett M.S.
5538-C Wayne Ave
Phila PA 19144

Kensington
Facilitator: Congreso de Latinos Unidos
Contact Person: Jessica Velez 215-291-5045
216 W. Somerset Street
Phila PA 19107

South Philadelphia
Facilitators: United Communities and South East Asian Mutual Assistance Association Coalition (SEAMAAC)
Contact Person: Bradley L. Baldia, 215-467-8700 ext 18
United Communities
2029 S 8th Street
Phila PA 19148

Hunting Park
Facilitator: Aspira Inc. of Pa.
Contact Person: Sue Ramirez 215 455-1300
4322 N. 5th Street 3rd floor
Phila PA 19140

Logan/Olney
Facilitator: Logan Olney Family Center
Contact Person: Peggy Futch 215 456-5561
C/o Birney Elementary School, Rm 104
9th Street and Lindley Ave
Phila PA 19141

Michael Rice
Community Development Coordinator
Office of Truancy & Delinquency Prevention
Division of Community Based Prevention Services
Three Parkway
1601 Cherry Street, 9th floor
Philadelphia, PA 19102
215-683-4027