Youth Development

WCA operates a variety of summer and before and after school programs for children. Existing programs are carefully designed to provide guidance, support and positive opportunities that will serve them over the long term. In addition, WCA plans to expand its school-age and older youth programs over the next two years, with an emphasis on engaging youth to design and help implement their own programming.

WCA integrates community service to further develop cultural learning, collaborative problemsolving, and sense of community engagement. Several of its youth development programs also incorporate weekly workshops that equip parents/caregivers with tools to reinforce and support their child’s education and overall development while also nurturing their relationships with one another. WCA’s current youth development programs include:

Summer Freedom School Program: Established by the national Black Community Crusade for Children and sponsored by the Children’s Defense Fund, The Freedom School ensures that no child is left behind and that every child has a Healthy Start, a Head Start, a Fair Start, a Safe Start and a Moral Start in life, with the support of caring parents and nurturing communities.

WCA coordinates a high quality Freedom School at the Meade Elementary School in North Central Philadelphia; a six-week full-day summer program that regularly enrolls youth ages 5- 16. In addition, high school and college students are trained and hired as program staff. The deadline for enrollment in Freedom School is March each year. Click here to enroll in Freedom School.