January 2010

Issue 15

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C O A L I T I O N M E M B E R S

Audrey Allen

Paul Bailey

Tyrone Benson

Alexzina Bryant

Hanna Bryant

Rodney Buckson

Carl Burman

Spencer Canty

Andre Crews

Agnes Currie

Melvin Davis

Clayton Dendy

Stephanie Dixon

Bruce Durham

Chad Enos

Gregory Garrison

Donna Gass

Ron George

Ida Glenn

Cassandra Graves

Constance Harris Crews

Mark Harrison

Lillian Hood

Joanne Jones

Vernon Keith Montague

Marsha J. Moore

Daryl Nelson

Carol Payne

Joe Purnell

Christine Riddick

Joanne Robinson

Myra Robinson

Michael Ross

Eric Sabin Sims

A’za Sims

ChrisAnne Smith

Yvette S. Smith

Tara E. Smith

Robert Stone

Marsha W. Wall

Cassandra Whiters

Roger Wilkerson

Officer Joe Young

A P R O J E C T O F Y O A C AA P R O J E C T O F Y O A C A PP

IT’S TIME TO PLAY! REGISTER NOW!

Myers Recreation Center

BASKETBALL LEAGUE

MALES & FEMALES

6—18 yrs. old

Registration Starts

January, Monday 4, 2010

At Myers Recreation Center

(58th & Kingsessing Avenue)

Contact Call Burman

215.685.2698

Jayhawks Youth Association

BASKETBALL LEAGUE

MALES ONLY

15—18 yrs. old

Registration Starts

January, Monday 4, 2010

At Kingsessing Recreation

Center (50th & Kingsessing Ave.)

Contact Connie Crews

215.939.6283

Jayhawks Youth Association

BASKETBALL LEAGUE

MALES & FEMALES

6—14 yrs. old

Registration Starts

January, Monday 4, 2010

At Kingsessing Recreation

Center (50th & Kingsessing Ave.)

Contact Connie Crews

215.939.6283

SUMMER JOBS COMING SOON!

This spring, the Southwest Community Advisory

Group (SWCAG) will continue to meet with families in

Southwest to assist them in finding summer employment

for their children. If you

have a child between the

ages of 14 – 21, the

SWCAG and its partner

will be providing youth

with Job Readiness

Workshops and their

parent(s) with a summer

job preparatory workshop.

Families will be then

linked into the Philadelphia Youth Network (PYN) Sys-

tem so their children can be prepared to be hired for six

weeks in the summer.

Over the past two years, the SWCAG has worked with

YOACAP, Myers and Kingsessing Recreation Centers,

Jayhawks Youth Association, and Evelyn Graves Drama

Productions to conduct

these workshops for

parents and their children.

The only requirement for

this SWCAG Initiative is

that the parent or guardian

has to attend both

workshops. In the past,

over 165 youth who reside in Southwest Philadelphia

have attended and obtained summer jobs. For more

information, contact Officer Joe Young, SWCAG

member, at 215.686.3122 to register for the upcoming

meetings. We look forward to hearing from you soon!

CELEBRATING

GOOD TIMES

On Saturday, December 19,

2009, the 12th Police District

celebrated their Annual Holiday

Party by inviting 120 children

and their parents from Southwest

Philadelphia to the Roll Call room

to enjoy a day of fun and

community engagement.

Officer Joe Young, also a

member of the SWCAG, along

with Officer Lisa McDowell, both

from the 12th Police District’s

Community Relations Office,

organized the event.

Entertainment included music

played by local children, face

painting, the presentation of Mark

The Magician and the Chocolettes

dance troupe, and Southwest’s

Community Claus, performed by

radio personality and community

activist, Paul Earthquake” Moore.

There were many gifts

distributed to the participants,

like bicycles and toys, which

were sponsored and/or donated by

many different businesses in the

area as well as the contribution of

the very own 12th Police District

officers.

Kudos to all of the supporters

of this successful event who made

many area children’s Christmas

happy!

YOACAP’s Ebony Joyner speaking to

families during last year’s recruitment.

Ex-Offenders

Program Call 215.685.3373 Help Line

Free HIV Testing (give code 99 when you call) Call 215.724.7430 Ms. Hanna Bryant

Interested in Becoming A Block Captain Call 267.939.2366 Mr. Clayton Dendy

18+ Interested in finding a job Call 215.729.2389 Ms. Marsha Wall

Youth Basketball (for girls & boys) Call 215.939.6283 Ms. Connie Crews

Abstinence Program Call 215.239.8668 Mr. Roger Wilkerson

Town Watch Integrated Services Call 215.686-1422 Ms. Tara Smith

State Representative Ron Waters Office Call 215.748.6712 Mr. Shana Walker

12th Police District—Community Officer Call 215.686.3122 Officer Joe Young

Senator Anthony Williams’s Office Call 215.492.2980 Mr. Donald Cave

Blueprint for a Safer Philadelphia Call 1.888.570.2583 Hotline

F.Y.I.F.Y.I.

DON’T MISS THIS CHANCE!

FAST AND FREE TAX FILING IN PHILADELPHIA By Megan Kiesel, Director of Impact & Outreach—The Campaign for Working Families

This year, saving money is more important than ever. You may be eligible to save hundreds of dollars

in tax preparation services by visiting a free tax-filing site operated by The Campaign for Working Fam-

ilies. From January 25 through April 15, 2010, free tax sites will be open throughout Philadelphia, offer-

ing e-filing, direct deposit, FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) completion and fairly-priced financial products

to help you save money. The locations of the Campaign's free tax preparation sites and information on eligibility for the feder-al Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) are available on the website, www.phillyfreetaxes.org, or call 311.

Free tax preparation services are available to families who earned less than $50,000 in 2009 or if you are single with an

income under $25,000. Taxes are prepared by IRS-certified volunteers, who are trained to help you get all of your tax credits as

quickly as possible. Over the past seven years, The Campaign for Working Families has brought $124.2 million in state and

federal refunds to working families throughout Philadelphia. Beginning in summer 2009, the Campaign launched the “Catch a

Break” series, a targeted outreach effort to link Philadelphia families with valuable resources and services that can help them

weather the current financial crisis.

There are many ways that you can get involved and ensure that your neighbors can receive these important services.

Call 215-851-1759 or visit our website at www.phillyfreetaxes.org to sign up today.

THE CREWS: A WINNING TEAM

Basketball is an extraordinary way to help the community. The best proof is

the work that Andre and Constance Crews, co-founders of the Jayhawks Youth

Association, are doing in Southwest Philadelphia. For over 20 years, the Crews

have been running basketball leagues, clinics and tournaments, and finally, they

have attained their goal of having a group called “Girl Ball.”

As Mrs. Constance stated, “This was always a desire of ours. In the past we

had females, but they were older. We now have girls starting at age six. We

also recently added traveling basketball to our program, and it is going great.”

Mr. and Mrs. Crews have lived in Southwest Philadelphia for over 50 years.

For the past 20 years, Mrs. Crews has worked at Temple University Hospital as

an Administrative Specialist in the Research Center. As an active member of the Southwest community, she is a

Committee member for the 27th Ward as well as Block Captain for the 5000 block of Upland Street. She is also the

Program Liaison for the Jayhawks Youth Association. Since its inception, Mr. Crews has been the Chairman of Jayhawks

Youth Association and has worked diligently with thousands of kids across the city to implement sports programs.

The Crews have one son and three grandchildren: Kaschae, Kammae and Niyir. Constance and Andre share similar

interests and hobbies, from watching Allen Iverson play basketball to administering their various basketball programs.

Ms. Constance also enjoys crocheting, computer instruction, reading and crossword puzzles; while Mr. Andre enjoys

basketball, especially playing competitively.

The Crews are already preparing for the Sixers Neighborhood Basketball League at Kingsessing Recreation Center.

The league begins January 5, 2009 for ages 6-18, males and females. Registration days are Tuesday, Wednesday and

Thursday, 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. and Saturdays, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. As if that were not enough, Constance and Andre are

also preparing for their Annual Black History Project and Basketball Tournament. The prizes will include Playstation 3,

Wii games, Ipods and gift cards. We will have other giveaways, fun and food. For more information, please call Andre

or Constance Crews at 215.939.6283 or visit their website at: www.jayhawksyouthassociation.com.

Enroll your kid into YOACAP’s

Youth Development Program

PROJECT BUILDPROJECT BUILD

Youth and parents are both enrolled

into a two-year experience that builds

the assets of youth and their families.

For more information, please call

Ebony Joyner at 215.851.1857

for the next cycle that begins

in February, 2010

This program is funded by

the William Penn Foundation

and is currently accepting applications.

Ms. Connie Crews (left) and her husband,

Mr. Andre Crews, with Philadelphia City

Councilwoman, Jannie Blackwell (center).