St. Joseph's makes $200K pledge for businesses, schools in Wynnefield, Overbrook areas

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Apr 8
3 min read

Leaders from St. Joseph’s University with elected leaders and community representatives after Friday’s community partnership announcement.— TRIBUNE PHOTO/KIARA SANTOS

St. Joseph’s University announced a community agreement on Friday designed to drive economic and educational growth in the Wynnefield and Overbrook neighborhoods.

The school and leaders from the Wynnefield Overbrook Revitalization Corporation, or WORC, announced the new Community Benefits Agreement that will see $200,000 poured into small businesses in the area and nearby schools, Gompers School and Science Leadership Academy, Beeber campus.

State Rep. Morgan Cephas and St. Joseph’s President Cheryl A. McConnell developed the agreement.

“What we want to do in this community is create a strong educational pathway for the families that are choosing our communities and destinations,” Cephas said. “Gompers is an amazing elementary school that St. Joe’s has partnered since I went there, and Science Leadership Academy, the first special admit school in West Philadelphia, is significantly critical because they will be able to have the credentials to go into St. Joe’s University.”

Cephas also said the agreement “is reassuring” the university’s dedication to its diverse community amid federal policymaking against DEI.

“I want to thank St. Joe’s University for standing in this moment where there are many that are dealing with what is happening at the federal level with the changes,” she said. “It is reassuring us that they are committed to both the Wynnefield and the Overbrook community, which is extremely significant at this time.”

St. Joseph’s University will further establish WORC with an annual $100,000 investment to support community programs and initiatives. This provides small business and local organization investments with microgrants to fuel economic developments and address community priorities.

Dennis Lee, president of the 19th District Police District Advisory Council, who received $5,000, will utilize the grant to support the organization’s annual budget and events like its Black History Month dance and youth drill team competition.

Lee said the funding bridges the gap between the police and the community.

“We’re excited,” he said. “All the dollars that we raise are distributed to the different events that we have. We had over 700 to 1,000 people [attend] events this year. It means a lot to push the mission between police and community.”

The founder of Beauty Supply and Delivery store Beauty2Go, Ky O’Brien, has used her endowed $5,000 grant to cover startup expenses for her store.

“I want to be able to give back to my community and support them with their beauty essentials but also to be able to be in an industry that usually isn’t owned by us,” she said. “It’s exciting to be here.

“I saw the need for my business in the community,” she added. “There are not too many Black owners in the beauty supply space, and it is often gatekept. I saw a gap that allowed me to enter and service my community, my people, and I know how to do it, especially with my career experience. I decided to take that risk and be the standing pillar for my community and what we needed.”

Education initiatives are happening through this annual CBA.

More Pass Plus Founder and President Brenda Simmons is working to get parents more hands-on with their children’s education.

As a retired teacher herself, she is committed to bringing something accessible and cohesive to address the school district’s lowering standardized test scores throughout the city.

“We’re on a mission to help shape the future of education in our communities,” she said.

“With our parent initiative, we are focusing on equipping parents to educate their children for success in school and life. We don’t want [the students] to start just on target, we want them to start ahead of the target.”

Here’s a full list of recipients of St. Joseph’s grant:

More Pass Plus

Beauty 2 Go LLC

Slither Salon

DuBose Printing and Services

Friends’ 19th Police District Advisory

Reawakening Agency

Haverford Avenue Business Association

Hair Du Jour Salon

WCNA

Butts Barbershop

Mingle Event Studio