Author: jjcofphila

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🧡 A Thanksgiving Message of Gratitude and Community

November 2025

As we gather with family, friends, and loved ones this Thanksgiving, we want to take a moment to reflect on something that continues to inspire us every single day: the strength of our community.

At JJC Family Services, our mission has always centered around one vision — empowering youth to achieve their goals and dreams. But this work is only possible because of the incredible network of people who stand with us, support us, and believe in what our young people are capable of.

And this year, more than ever, we are deeply thankful.

🧡 Thankful for Our Families

The families we serve are the heartbeat of all we do. Their resilience, trust, and partnership make it possible for us to create programs that truly meet the needs of our youth. We are honored to walk beside them, celebrate their wins, and provide support through every challenge and transition.

🧡 Thankful for Our Youth

Our young people are courageous, hopeful, and full of potential. Every day, they show us what is possible with encouragement, consistency, and a community that believes in them. They are the reason we dream bigger, work harder, and continue to build innovative spaces like the Community Evening Resource Center.

🧡 Thankful for Our Partners & Supporters

From local businesses to schools, law enforcement, nonprofit partners, vendors, and volunteers—your collaboration fuels everything we do. Whether it’s sneakers, school supplies, mentorship, workshops, or community connections, your generosity creates real opportunities for youth to grow.

🧡 Thankful for the Village We’re Building Together

JJC is more than programs — we are a village, growing stronger each day. The relationships we build, the bridges we form, and the love we show our young people all create the foundation they need to thrive.

Because when a community invests in its youth,
we don’t just change one life — we change generations.

As we celebrate this Thanksgiving, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who has helped us build this powerful, hopeful, and united community. Thank you for believing in our mission and for joining us in creating brighter futures.

From all of us at JJC Family Services,
Happy Thanksgiving.
May your day be filled with warmth, connection, and joy.

🧡🍁
#JJCFamily #CERCJJC #Thanksgiving2025 #YouthFirst #WeAreFamily #CommunityStrong

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Community Day 2025

Community Day 2025: A Beautiful Celebration of Unity, Joy & Community Power

On Saturday, our JJC Family Services community came together for our annual Community Day — and it was truly our biggest success yet!

Families, youth, neighbors, partners, staff, and friends filled the block with laughter, music, connection, and celebration. From inflatable games and face painting, to resource tables, good food, and powerful relationship building with our local police districts — this year’s Community Day was a reminder of why this work matters so deeply. When community shows up for community, magic happens.

Our team worked tirelessly behind the scenes leading up to this day — coordinating vendors, planning activities, gathering donations, recruiting volunteers, and making sure every detail was centered around joy, belonging, and positive youth engagement. And all of that effort paid off. The energy was unstoppable. The youth had a blast. The adults laughed, talked, shared information, and made meaningful connections. Children felt seen, valued, and safe. This is the heart of JJC.

Special Thanks

We want to extend a heartfelt thank you to:

  • Our staff and volunteers who gave time, heart, creativity, and effort.
  • Our vendors, local organizations, and community partners — your presence and resources made this day special.
  • The 14th, 35th and 39th Police Districts, as well as Officer Zamichieli who brought the music energy all afternoon!
  • Councilmember Cindy Bass’s team for joining us and supporting our mission.
  • And a very special highlight and thank you to 14-year-old Corporal Cadet Chris Brown — our apprentice photographer whose photos captured the day perfectly. You are incredibly gifted and we hope you continue to pursue photography!

Why This Matters

Community Day is more than an event on the calendar — it is a manifestation of what JJC stands for:

connection, access, support, safety, and community empowerment.

Every handshake.
Every smile.
Every shared moment at a table or game…
builds trust. Builds partnership. Builds hope.

Looking Ahead

We are already excited and inspired as we begin thinking about next year — our 10th Anniversary Community Day celebration. And we know, with the strength of this community behind us, next year will be even bigger.

Thank you to everyone who joined us, helped us, supported us, and believed in this day.

Community Day reminds us of who we are.

Stronger Together. Always.

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Community Evening Resource Center

The Community Evening Resource Center (CERC) is a community-based program located in the Germantown section of Philadelphia. It will operate daily from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m. Youth will be provided with structured activities that promote positive youth development. This includes engaging in community service, preparing for the workforce with job-readiness training, participating in group activities that offer young people a chance to explore alternatives to violence through learning about conflict resolution, life skills, and character building. The programs will emphasize violence prevention, mentoring, and service linkages.

The CERC will also support Philadelphia youth who have come to the attention of the Philadelphia Police in districts 14, 35th and 39th after a curfew violation. When youth arrive after curfew the CERC staff will talk to the youth and parents/guardian to safely transport the youth home and offer resources to the family to help the youth make better choices and abide by curfew hours. Far too often, young people find themselves victims of violence when out on the street late at night. The CERC is designed to be a place where young people can come to get off the streets and engage in activities that interest them.

The CERC will provide the youth and their families with resources that address trauma, violence, and receive mentorship and support in a safe environment.

Continue reading “Community Evening Resource Center”

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Parent Empowerment Program

JJC’s Parent Empowerment Program is designed to empower parents of all ages to build their confidence and competency skills as parents. The mission of the program is to help parents recognize and respond lovingly and appropriately to their children’s developmental needs at various ages and stages of child development. Our classes are designed to strengthen the relationship between parents and their children and reduce the risk of child abuse and neglect.

If you or someone you know could benefit from attending an empowerment class to enhance one’s parenting classes,  JJC provides  12-week classes that are highly interactive, informative and supportive. Our classes are open to the community and through referrals from Family Court, DHS, Public Health Management Corporation, and Community Umbrella Agencies. There is no cost to attend! Only requirement is that you have children under the age of 18 in your care or in the care of someone else.

For parents of children under 18, a free dinner and free childcare are provided. We also give out raffles for prizes!

Enhance your parenting by learning:

-Effective discipline methods

-Guide for safe choices

-Avoiding power struggles

-Gaining trust of your children

-Self-Care

-And lots more!

Classes are free and open to the public to parents who have children under the age of 18!

Class Schedule: All parenting classes are virtual at this time.

If a class has already started, it is not too late to join! Our parent educator will continue to work with you until you acquire all 12 sessions!

Class Locations: 

Jardel Recreation Center

1400 Cottman Avenue, Philadelphia, PA. 19111

Monday:  6:00 pm to 8:00pm

On going classes are held at:

Juvenile Justice Center of Phila. (Admin Office)

100 West Coulter Street

Philadelphia, Pa 19144

Thursdays 10am to 12:00pm

Referrals:

If you or someone you know would like to enroll in JJC’s Parent Empowerment Program please contact:

Migdalia Hernandez, Parent Education Coordinator

 (215) 849-2112 ext. 5105

E-mail: MHernandez@juvenilejustice.org

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Aftercare Evening Reporting Center

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Beginning in February, 2020, JJC’s Aftercare Evening Reporting Center is a resource for justice involved youth between the ages of 16-20 who are in need of successfully completing  terms of probation following a juvenile placement or to prevent placement in the juvenile justice system. This community based program  is designed to provide youth with daily and structured group and individual case management, life skills, educational and employment coaching, community service opportunities, pro-social activities, access to and linkages to behavioral health &drug and alcohol services,  and a host of other services to equip them with the needed resources to remain arrest free and to prevent further involvement with the juvenile justice system.

The program participants  are referred to JJC’s Aftercare Evening Reporting Center by their probationary officer, committing judge, public defender, or district attorney.  Youth are expected to report to the center Monday through Friday between the hours of 4pm and 8pm and participate in community service projects on alternative Saturdays.  This program is funded by the Department of Human Services, Juvenile Justice Services Department.