Chester Youth Collaborative "Putting The Pieces Together"
Vision: Dedicated to a strong Chester community in which all youth reach their full potential and transition successfully to adulthood.
Mission: To foster a neighborhood-based youth development network that improves the quality of life and increases the opportunities for young people between the ages of 12 to 22 in the city of Chester.
The Chester Youth Collaborative (CYC) was launched in 2005 through a 3-year grant from the William Penn Foundation. It is supported by training and technical assistance provided by the United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania's Center for Youth Development. The Chester Youth Collaborative works with community leaders, organizations, residents and the youth of Chester to develop specialized programs that meet the needs of youth. The Collaborative's efforts are primarily aimed at enhancing the quality, quantity and duration of "out-of-school" youth programs serving Chester youth. In 2007, The CYC was established as The Youth Development Resource for the city of Chester
The Chester Youth Collaborative is comprised of five groups dedicated to implementing a city-wide youth development system. The groups are:
Youth Council, a panel of youth, between the ages of 12-22, who collectively represent "youth voice" within the Chester Youth Collaborative.
Community Council, open to all Chester residents who are interested in building relationships in the community that benefit youth and families in the city of Chester. Chester Drug Free Communities Coalition is an initiative led by the Community Council working to decrease the use of drugs and alcohol amongst youth in Chester.
Advisory Council, made up of representatives from anchor institutions that have the ability to affect policy and leverage resources for the youth in Chester.
Youth Serving Organizations Council, open to all agencies that serve youth between the ages of 12 to 22 in the city of Chester. Membership includes CYC grant funded and unfunded organizations.
CYC Board, members from the four collaborative groups who collectively guide the work of the Chester Youth Collaborative ensuring that all activities are in line with the overall vision, mission and objectives of the project.
For more information on the Chester Youth Collaborative (CYC), contact Janet S. Riley Ford, Director at
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; Youth Council, contact Ieasa Nichols-Harmon, Youth Council Coordinator at
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; Chester Drug Free Communities Coalition, contact Nafis Nichols at
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Chester Youth Collaborative 2600 W. Ninth Street Chester, Pa 19013 Telephone: (610) 497-7422 Fax: (610) 497-7438
