PHILADELPHIA — The City’s Office of Policy and Strategic Initiatives for Criminal Justice & Public Safety (CJPS) announced their “Next is Now” summer event series. Starting Saturday, June 11, CJPS will host events throughout the city every second Saturday of the month.
The Next is Now community event series focuses on bringing young leaders (age 18-35) together to network, collaborate, and build partnerships. In 2021, young people (age 18-24) made up a quarter of the victims of gun violence in Philadelphia. The Next is Now Summer series aims to engage young leaders in Philadelphia searching for community and ways to build their network with like-minded individuals from around the city.
“It is more critical now than ever that we provide engaging and meaningful activities and summer programming for our youth, especially on weekends,” said Mayor Jim Kenney. “With our young people disproportionately impacted by violence in Philadelphia, it is critical that we work together to find ways to keep them safe while providing opportunities to take their community’s future into their own hands.”
The Next is Now summer series provides young leaders with a space to build connections with other community leaders as well as various members of City of Philadelphia leadership, all while sharing resources that they might not have access to otherwise. Involvement in the event series offers access to future technical assistance and better awareness of funding opportunities for emerging nonprofits working in their communities to address gun violence.
“With all of us returning outside after a tough two years under COVID-19, we are thrilled to be hosting our summer event series again,” said Erica Atwood, Senior Director for the Office of Policy and Strategic Initiatives for Criminal Justice & Public Safety. “We look forward to re-engaging young leaders in our community, who are already doing the work; but who might need mentorship and access to City resources to grow.”
The Next is Now Series is running all summer long. The following dates have been announced for the summer, and additional details will be provided when available:
June 11, 2022, 1-3 PM, South Philadelphia, Wharton Square Park, 2300 Wharton Street
July 9, 2022, 1-3 PM, West Philadelphia, Location TBD
August 13, 2022 1-3 PM, North Philadelphia, Location TBD
September 10, 2022, 1-3 PM, Northwest Philadelphia/Germantown, Location TBD
For more information about the Next is Now summer event series and announcements for future locations, email CJPS at cjps@phila.gov or follow us on Instagram and Facebook at @PhillyAlive215.
