As the 2017 primary election approaches, millennials in action (a political activist group), as well as members from IDAAY, took to the streets with some of the candidates running for office, to urge and encourage people to get out and vote.
IDAAY Parent Meeting
This meeting gives a small lecture to parents about being more involved in their children’s lives. They also bring in successful people from different career fields to talk with the children about how they overcame their struggles and used it to become the people that they are today.
DSC_0095 from Sharee Cole on Vimeo.
IDAAY’s 2017 African American Knowledge Competition
This video gives a look at IDAAY’s annual knowledge competition where various students (mostly those within their programs) put their wits to the test.
knowl comp from Sharee Cole on Vimeo.
Peter Parkkerr Films
Peter Parkkerr is an on the rise film director in the Tri-State area. Below is a brief interview I conducted along with footages that give better insight to what it is this director does.
Peter Parkkerr from Sharee Cole on Vimeo.
PAAN: PART II : A Youth Advocate gives her recollection of what it was like growing up in Philadelphia and offers insight on issues plaguing our communities
North Philadelphia-(PAAN): Committed to ending violence and drug abuse in our communities
The Philadelphia Anti-Drug/Anti-Violence Network is a non-profit agency located in North Philadelphia that seeks to tackle some of the leading problems in our communities such as drug abuse and violence within our communities.
Their mission is to transform the lives of many of the children/adults, here in the city through “the development and implementation of programs that reduce juvenile delinquency, young adult criminality, as well as relapse into criminal behavior.”
Sequence 1 Charles from Philadelphia Neighborhoods1 on Vimeo.
Text and Video by Sharee Cole
PART II: THE INSTITUTE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF AFRICAN AMERICAN YOUTH
Below is a short documentary that gives viewers a peak of what it is like to be a member of one of the programs IDAAY offers known as “Main College Bound Program.” This program provides students with college preparation skills, life skills, and mentoring.
Sequence 11 from Philadelphia Neighborhoods1 on Vimeo.
West Philadelphia, Part I : Serving and Empowering At-Risk youth
The Institute for the Development of African American Youth (IDAAY) seeks to empower and serve at-risk youth through a variety of different programs. Some of the organizations programs include a Main College Bound program, Don’t Fall Down in the Hood, Father’s United, and Intensive In-Home Supervision just to name a few.
The founder Archye Leacock, who began the program back in 1991, can identify with issues in the African American community and really has a passion for uplifting the youth. This non-profit organization, which is located on 56th and Chestnut Street, is important for the community due to the rising number of children growing up without fathers and getting incarcerated.
According to the National Center for Fathering, 57 percent of African American children,
31 percent of Hispanic children, and 20 percent of Caucasian children are living without their biological fathers. Growing up without a father can have a major impact on the livelihood and direction a child will go in life. The National Fatherhood Initiative reports that children without fathers have a four times greater risk of living in poverty, are more likely to go to prison, and are two times more likely to drop out of High School. This is an example of why a program such as Fathers United is important for a community to have. IDAAY as a whole has touched and impacted not only those in the program, but those that work for the organization as well (see video below).
idaay from Philadelphia Neighborhoods1 on Vimeo.
Another program that they offer Don’t Fall Down in the Hood, seeks to mentor and help juveniles headed toward a life of crime, realize that there is another path in life. The Crime Stat report for 2015 shows that there were at least 15 thousand violent crimes reported in Philadelphia alone. That number rises to 64 thousand total crimes in Philadelphia last year when you add in theft and burglaries. Out of the 2.3 million people residing in jails today, about 1 million of them are African Americans according to the NAACP. 
These statistics offer evidence as to why Philadelphia and African Americans as a whole can benefit from programs like this one.
Images, Text, Video by Sharee Cole
Who are You Voting For?
Lets here what a few people involved in politics had to say…
election from Philadelphia Neighborhoods1 on Vimeo.
West Philadelphia: Say Goodbye to Wilson Elementary and Hello to Dorms for Freshmen
On the weekend of October 2nd, 2016, hundreds of people came out
to enjoy a final celebration in memory of Alexander Wilson Elementary School. The school is set to be demolished in January of 2017 to welcome the new development of dorms for University of the Sciences freshmen .
The event included free food, a DJ, a band, and appearances by many political figures such as State Representative James Roebuck and City Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell. Former students and faculty were also in attendance as well as folks who reside in the area and felt a connection with the school.
finished Wilson video from Philadelphia Neighborhoods1 on Vimeo.
