| In the 1980s, as a part of an overall
strategy to address urban blight in the Carroll Park area of
Philadelphia, House of UMOJA raised over a million dollars to
build the Umoja Boystown Complex on the 1400 Block of Frazier
Street. In 1984, House of UMOJA began replicating in appearance
and essence the ancient African city of
Djennè for the Boystown complex to promote family,
community, cultural and educational ideals of their ancestors.
This work is continuing this year by renovating classrooms and
office areas using city & state grants.
Over three thousand adolescents have passed through the House
of UMOJA portals and have come out changed men. Umoja yearly
serves approximately 100 residential youth, their natural
families through direct social work services, hundreds of
youth through its community outreach program, and several
hundred parents, residential and business community members
through what Umoja terms as the “kinship” community
and non-violence organizing.
House of UMOJA’s ability to service the community has
resulted in the establishment of innovative and relevant services
including our PEACE
IN THE HOOD Anti-Violence Community Outreach Program,
with funding support from the Philadelphia School District
Safety and Climate Control Division, currently serves over
six schools, partners with 35 community organizations and
small businesses, as well as residents of the Carroll Park,
Wynnefield, and Overbrook sections of West Philadelphia. In
the ‘90s with funding from PIC and in cooperation with
the Restaurant School, the House of UMOJA developed the Culinary
Arts Component, which encouraged entrepreneurial independence
through catering. In 1994, the Food of Thought program was
launched to provide emergency food assistance and self-sufficiency
services to neighborhood residents. Over 40,000 residents
were served.
|
