Programs & Services
WHAT WE DO
YEAH Philly operates at the intersection of healing, advocacy, and research through three interconnected areas:
- Violent Crime Initiative (VCI): Community-based violence prevention that provides legal representation and court advocacy, individualized case management, employment, and holistic support for teens and young adults most impacted by violence and in the juvenile system for a violent or gun crime. VCI is the model of what real community safety looks like backed by evidenced based practices.
- Juvenile Probation Abolition Coalition (JPAC): A partnership collective between YEAH Philly and The Gault Center working with impacted young people to dismantle juvenile probation and co-designing new systems of accountability rooted in community healing and leadership.
- Research, Policy, Data, and Storytelling: Youth-led research and storytelling that informs the field, creates best practices, documents lived experiences, exposes system harms, and influences public policy.
CORE PROGRAM COMPONENTS
Education & Literacy
YEAH Philly strengthens the academic foundation of young people through educational supports like individualized tutoring, GED and college prep support, and culturally relevant one on one and group literacy programming. Through an intentional partnership with LindaMood Bell educational center, we help young people build confidence in their learning, improve reading and writing skills, and access the educational pathways that open doors to long-term success.
Legal Representation & Advocacy
Our legal team provides young people charged with a violent or gun crime with specialized support that centers their rights, safety, and voice. From navigating court processes to addressing probation challenges, we offer direct representation, advocacy, and “Know Your Rights” education to empower young people and their families to move through legal systems with dignity and support.
Skills & Employment
YEAH Philly connects young people to hands-on training, paid work opportunities, and workforce development opportunities that build both technical and life skills. Whether through entrepreneurship, trades, creative arts, or community-based projects, young people gain meaningful experience that increases their self-sufficiency and future employment prospects.
ISR Project with the Ubuntu Center at Drexel University
Through our partnership with The Ubuntu Center on Racism, Global Movements & Population Health Equity at Drexel, YEAH Philly is one of three sites in the country engaging young people in the Intergenerational Solidarity for Racial (ISR) Justice Project. This collaborative research and action initiative documents youth experiences, lifts their narratives, and advances community-driven solutions that address violence, health inequities, and structural racism.
TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
YEAH Philly offers high-impact training and consulting services designed to strengthen communities, schools, youth-serving agencies, and justice-focused organizations. Our approach is grounded in professional education, lived experience, cultural relevance, and practices proven to work with Philadelphia youth.
Peer Mediation & Conflict Resolution
We train young people, school teams, and community partners in YEAH Philly’s authentic, relationship-centered conflict resolution model. Through hands-on workshops, role-play, and skill-building, participants learn how to identify and de-escalate conflict, mediate disputes, and create safer environments rooted in communication, accountability, and respect.
Know Your Rights Education
Our Know Your Rights sessions equip young people and adults with accurate, accessible information about police interactions, juvenile justice processes, and constitutional protections. Using real-life scenarios and our youth-created comic books, we empower communities to navigate systems safely and advocate for themselves and others.
Organizational Consulting
YEAH Philly provides customized consulting for organizations seeking to transform their culture, strengthen youth engagement, redesign policies, or build effective community partnerships. We support teams with strategic planning, program development, staff training, and equity-centered leadership practices that align with the needs of the communities they serve.