Kaheem Travis came to Community Women’s Education  Project in September of this year with the goal  of obtaining his GED. After only three months, Kaheem has  passed all of his practice tests with flying colors and  registered for the actual exam. Not only did he meet his  education goals, but Kaheem also found a job at ARAMARK  as a chef. We are very proud of his achievements and look  forward to watching him flourish with his highly developed  workforce skills.

Community Women’s Education Project’s Volunteer Coordinator, Beth Lazer, successfully led a  clean up day on October 8th. In partnership with the New Kensington CDC and William Penn Charter’s 11th graders, we collected a few hundred pounds of garbage up and out of Kensington! It was messy and dirty, but worth the effort.

Beth Lazer, Volunteer Coordinator

“It’s a shame that people from outside the community have to come in to clean!”

-Driver with NJ plates

Though it is inevitable that the trash will return, THAT trash will no longer be present. CWEP plans to make such cleanups more than once a year in order to help combat the growing pollution problem in the area.

Students from Penn Charter

Property of Workshop of the World

On October 8th, CWEP in partnership with the New Kensington CDC and William Penn Charter School will be engaging in a massive clean up project of the streets surrounding CWEP. Kensington has undergone drastic changes over the last few centuries. In the 1840′s, Kensington was a manufacturing town, prosperous and economically sound. But as with most major cities in the 1950′s, “white flight” resulted in a loss of nearly a quarter of the population. CWEP, staff of the New Kensington CDC, and students from William Penn Charter School want to unearth some of the beauty that has been lost over the last half century. If you are interested in helping beautify one of the most neglected areas of the city, please give us a call at 215-426-2200 and ask for Beth Lazer, our Volunteer Coordinator. Refreshments will be served for all volunteers. 

WHEN: October 8, 2010 

Time: 9:30 AM – 1:30 PM 

Location: 2801 Frankford Ave, 

                Philadelphia, PA 19134

CWEP, through  a grant from The Terri Lynne Lokoff Childcare Foundation’s Museums To Go Program, had a special guest last week. On September 15, 2010, Mlanjeni’s Magic performed for CWEP’s Kids. Our magician presented according to the theme “Schools Days and School Ways on Manners”, teaching the  children various ways that they can be polite to themselves and others.  Our magician engaged the children in the following activities:

• Story telling
• A Puppet Show
• Magic Show
• Lots of Audience Participation
• Singing
• Dancing
• Music
• Balloon Animals

The children were each given a balloon animal to bring home with them.  The Muugamano style story telling engaged the children in a fun and educational manner. Our magician had a funny and unique personality that had the children attentive for his entire visit.

Philadelphia Corporation for Aging
Eagle One Community Federal Credit Union
Ladies Start Your Engines
CHOICE
Exit Reality, The Tristate Group
US Department of Education
PECO
Fair Housing
West Chester EMT Representatives

Food was donated by Famous Italian Ices as well as the Pretzel Factory.

Community members were thoroughly engaged, thanks to our DJ, who drew folks right out of their homes, headed CWEP’s raffle,  and had dance contests with the kids and adults.

But the success of the event can be attributed most to CWEP’s dedicated volunteers, who had as much fun at the event as the guests. CWEP would like to thank everyone, especially our Americorps *VISTA volunteers from Play Works in Philadelphia, who created many of the activities for our Kids off of the tops of their heads.

Susan Sestak (left) and Alexis Brown, Executive Director (right)

On Tuesday, August 31st, Susan Sestak, wife of Representative Joe Sestak, visited Community Women’s Education Project to speak with staff and students about her husband’s platform. Since Joe Sestak has been in office, Pennsylvania has seen the greatest increase in federal student aid since the time of the GI Bill. He voted to raise the education budget by $1.3 billion to improve our schools as well. Susan spent a good amount of time listening to students’ stories in order to understand some of the obstacles that adult learners face in Pennsylvania and offered great answers to staff’s questions about Joe’s platform.

Heather Goldsmith and Plunge Volunteers

Heather Goldsmith, Beth Lazer, and PLUNGE Volunteers

On August 20th, some of Philadelphia University’s rising freshman came to CWEP to commit to 3 hours of community service. In an effort to inform the public about CWEP’s 2010 community event, Building Communities, the students participated in a flyer distribution around Kensington. Building Communities will take place on September 11th at CWEP, from 12 PM- 4 PM. The event will serve as a community resource event as well as a fundraising campaign launch for two new Workforce Development Projects.

Students and Staff from Kensington High School

New Bench Outside CWEP

Bringing in the Benches!

New Kensington CDC, along with students from Kensington High School, came together to donate 4 benches to the corner of Frankford and Somerset. Not only were the benches donated, but all four were hand painted by the students. As soon as the benches arrived, community members stepped out onto the streets, many with brooms in hand, ready to sweep away some of the litter on Frankford and Somerset. The benches will bring comfort to Kensington Residents who never had a bench at the Septa Stop in front of CWEP.