Family Promise of Philadelphia Joins Northeast Services Hub Open House Panel, Raises Awareness and Discusses Expansion
Pictured left to right: Rep. Jared Solomon, Christine James (Jefferson Health), Dr. Witt (Jefferson Health), Pastor Tricia Neale (Feast of Justice), Robin Brandies (JFCS), Emanuel Wilkerson (Chief of Staff for Councilmember Anthony Phillips), Robert Byrne (FPP) and Joseph Delmar (District Office Director for Rep. Anthony Bellmon) at the Northeast Services Hub Welcome Center. (Photo by Zoe Schaedle/Family Promise of Philadelphia)
Robert Byrne, Executive Director of Family Promise of Philadelphia, joined partner organizations in welcoming Jefferson Health to the Hub in an Open House Panel led by State Rep. Jared Solomon.
PHILADELPHIA, PA — Family Promise of Philadelphia (FPP) joined State Representative Jared Solomon (D-Phila.) and fellow service providers Thursday, Sept. 17, at the Northeast Services Hub Open House. Opened in 2023 and located at 6434 Castor Ave., the Hub brings housing, health, food and other essential resources to Northeast Philadelphia community members, all in one building.
The Hub’s accessible and collaborative model makes it easier for families to access vital services. Robert Byrne, Executive Director of Family Promise of Philadelphia, highlighted the facility's capacity to serve a client’s housing, elder care and food needs at the same time. “One visit. Four organizations. That’s collective impact,” said Byrne.
The Open House featured a panel with speakers from inaugural Hub partners: Byrne, representing Family Promise of Philadelphia, Robin Brandies, President and CEO of Jewish Family and Children’s Service of Greater Philadelphia (JFCS), Pastor Tricia Neale, Executive Director of Feast of Justice and Gladys Garcia, a representative from PA CareerLink.
Attendees learned about Hub services and celebrated a new partnership with Jefferson Health Collaborative. In attendance were Philly Gives, Philabundance, United Way, William Penn Foundation, Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia as well as representatives of the PA legislative offices of Rep. Andre Carroll, Rep. Chris Rabb, Rep. Anthony Bellmon and Councilmember Anthony Phillips.
Christine James, Assistant Vice President of Jefferson’s Community Health Programming, marked their first day on site. Jefferson will provide free health screenings on Thursday mornings at the Hub and will assist community members with navigating healthcare services based on their results. James emphasized the importance of partnering with community organizations to provide comprehensive healthcare.
“We’re screening for social needs, that’s not always a service we provide, so we connect,” James said.
In addition to the new involvement of Jefferson, Garcia announced that PA CareerLink increased its presence at the Hub from one time a week to four times. The office will be open Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Rep. Solomon kicked off the panel by welcoming attendees and staff. Solomon emphasized the importance of community collaboration and the potential of the Hub’s service format. “What the folks here and many in the audience are trying to do is redefine the way we provide government and nonprofit services,” Solomon said.
Brandies stressed the importance of collaboration. “In this day and age, especially, with limited resources for social services, people who care about the community can’t afford to compete with each other.”
Neale announced a partnership with JFCS around grants as an example of collaboration and uniting expertise. “We can’t do this in isolation, we can’t be siloed,” Neale continued.
Audience members had the opportunity to ask questions to panelists, leading to lively discussion.
“We are going to continue to provide government services right here, in Northeast Philadelphia, the way they should be provided, and we believe that this is a model for the rest of the city and state,” Rep. Solomon concluded the panel.
The Northeast Services Hub’s “one-stop-shop" framework is a way to consolidate and unite government social services and communities. The Open House demonstrated the Hub’s expansion and potential for serving a broader Philadelphia population.
FPP Family Support Specialist Ernestine Volcy reflected, “People’s lives are better for the fact that the Hub is here.”
Family Promise of Philadelphia is a 501(c)3 helping families with children overcome housing instability by preventing eviction, providing shelter, and supporting long-term self-sufficiency. For more information, visit: https://www.familypromisephl.org/
Media Contact: Zoe Schaedle, Community Engagement VISTA for Family Promise of Philadelphia Phone: 215-620-8994
Comments