Summer Youth Employment and Leadership Development Program: an employment, art and academic experience combined with neighborhood issue assessment July 5 thru August 11 2008.

CPC Youth will examine the impact of violence in their community as it relates to quality of life; physical and mental health, relationships, and environment.

CPC Youth will create a book which will include writings and visual art that is developed throughout the 6 week period. Youth will receive training in desktop publishing, interviewing and survey skills, public speaking and performance. Their work will be in collaboration with neighborhood residents, schools, businesses, visiting artists, and the Latin American Cultural Exchange Organization of Graterford prison as it relates to the inmates "Non-Violence" campaign.
Local adult and youth artists, writers, and community will facilitate trainings and workshops.
The summer program activity will culminate in a public reading, exhibition, and book signing by youth participants.

Summer 2008 is coordinated by Christine Martin. Christine has lived in the Centro neighborhood for 25 years and this is her 4th summer coordinating. Centro is also pleased to welcome Rocio Nunez, Phd candidate in Communications and Film at the University of Pennsylvania. Rocio will be working with Centro summer youth, creatively surveying community which will allow us to produce a paper that honors the voice of our youth and neighbors and their ideas for working together to address the issues brought during the process. Rocio will also work with youth producing a film documentary.
Rocio's work with us is funded by the Samuel S. Fels Fund Internship Program.