Real Talk: Community Evening Resource Center’s

At seven sites across Philadelphia, young people aged 10-17 can find a safe space to hang out and make new friends. Community Evening Resource Centers, dubbed CERCs, operate from 7 pm to 2 am, offering free meals and a variety of supports and activities. Recently, the staff at Unique Dreams Inc. reflected on their experiences at the CERC program located at 4700 Leiper St. in Frankford. Unique Dreams, Inc was established in 2019, founded by Angenique Howard & Governed by a Board of Directors; awarded the CERC contract in 2023. This particular CERC has become a mainstay in the neighborhood, where a line of youth and teens often eagerly await at the door for the 7 pm - 9 pm program. After 9 pm, Unique Dreams remains open until 2 am for youth picked up by police after curfew hours.

How has Unique Dreams built such a big following in such a short time? The answer lies in how the staff interacts with the youth. Their mission is to be authentic and maintain a strong, open line of communication with the families that frequent the center.

"To have a parent in front of you and just hear them say, 'I am so glad to know that my child is safe and has something to do. They have friends that they come home and talk about. They made a new friend!' Just stuff like that is, it's extremely rewarding," says Kendrick Murray, a mentor attendees here call "Mr. Kenny."

Mr. Kenny is a team lead at Unique Dreams. You will often find him in the weight room or gymnasium for the pickup basketball games. The site also features a podcast studio and game room for youth to enjoy. It's not just the activities that keep everyone coming back, though. It's the respectful and open environment that the staff encourages.

When altercations do arise, Mr. Kenny tells us, "What we do is we talk with them separately. We ask them, what we're going to do next, right?' So for them to return to the program safely, this is what we need. There's 10 questions that they have to answer themselves. Once we do that, we sit down with the team leads and talk about what they said. Are they still trying to fight this person, or are they still angry with this person?"

"It's not about right or wrong," he says. "It's about discussing the problems together and actively listening to staff, youth, and their families. At the end of the night when staff transport the late-night attendees home. at 2 am. "We always debrief with them, right? So, we asked them what they did today. How did they feel about certain things, right? How did you like the food? But we have these kinds of conversations," Mr. Kenny says. "So yeah, it always goes back to our restorative practices."

Unique Dreams Inc. continues to make a significant impact on the community by providing a safe and supportive environment for Philadelphia's youth. Through meaningful interactions, recreational athletics, and creativity, they are helping to shape the future of these young individuals. We look forward to seeing the continued success and positive influence of the youth who frequent our Community Evening Resource Centers.

All centers are free to attend for Philadelphia youth ages 10 to 17. You don't need to register or notify your CERC before you arrive. CERCs can also receive youth who are in violation of the City's minor curfew law and have come to the attention of the Philadelphia Police.

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