City
kids can stay in after-school programs
By Christie L. Chicoine
CS&T Staff Writer
PHILADELPHIA — “Nobody’s sad anymore.”
That’s the consensus at the after-school program at Visitation B.V.M.
Parish in the Kensington section of the city, according to 9-year-old
Vladimir Castillo.
Vladimir, a third-grader at Visitation School, was referring to the fact
that he and his friends no longer have to fear that their after-school
program — formerly known as a Beacon school — might shut down
before the school year ends.
“It’s not going to close, my mom and dad told me. I was like,
‘Yeah!’”
Visitation, at 300 E. Lehigh Ave., was one of five after-school programs
run by the Archdiocese in a collaboration with the city that was slated
to close March 1 because of funding problems.
On Feb. 19, the schools received a reprieve from Philadelphia Mayor Michael
Nutter. Money for the threatened programs, he said, would be found in
the budget of Philadelphia Safe and Sound. The non-profit organization
receives funds through a contract with the city to manage and subcontract
Beacon and after-school programs.
The good news got better on Feb. 28 when archdiocesan officials received
word that all the children at each of the Archdiocese’s affected
sites could remain in the after-school program at least until the end
of the school year.
The city announced on Feb. 1 that it would shutter 10 of its 40 Beacon
schools and programs — including five in the Archdiocese —
because of budget problems. A grassroots effort to keep the Beacons open
followed the announcement.
Msgr. Joseph Tracy, secretary for the Archdiocese’s Catholic Human
Services, under which the Beacons and after-school programs operate, said
he sent a letter to the mayor stating his gratitude for the mayor’s
intervention. “He really tried to keep the needs and the safety
of the children ahead of the political and economic squabbling that was
associated with this,” Msgr. Tracy said.
Beacon programs have two components: an after-school program for elementary
and middle school students, and another program, at night and on weekends
for 13-to-18-year-olds.
The bad news is that funds for the night and weekend programs at the four
affected archdiocesan Beacon sites were substantially cut. As a result,
several jobs were cut and youth who participated in those night and weekend
programs must now seek refuge at other Beacon sites.
“It’s unfortunate that people had to lose their jobs with
such quick notice,” Msgr. Tracy said, adding that “we’re
all in it to help the kids, and hopefully make a difference in their lives
… so that they’re able to prosper and be the people that God
intends them to be.”
Beacons schools came to be in the Archdiocese in 2006, as a haven for
youth who live in violent neighborhoods.
Up until last month, the Archdiocese had a total of 10 Beacon schools.
Because the funding for the night and weekend programs were substantially
cut from four of the 10 sites, the Archdiocese now has six Beacon schools.
The four sites previously called Beacons are now known as after-school
programs.
Meanwhile, at Visitation’s after-school program, young Vladimir
remains content. “There’s nice people,” he said. “We
get to play Wii and Xbox, and eat snacks.”
He also likes to play tag, basketball and football on the playground.
These days, Vladimir and his friends enjoy the fact that they get to continue
to play together after school hours.
“We all said, ‘Hooray!’”
For more information about the archdiocesan Beacon program, call (215)
587-3590.
CS&T Staff Writer Christie L. Chicoine can be reached at (215)
587-2468 or cchicoin@adphila.org.