Welcome!

PUCFSN is a collaborative program between the University of Pennsylvania, communities of faith, public and private schools, and neighborhood organizations operating throughout West Philadelphia. Since 1998, we have worked together with our community partners to establish afterschool programs giving children and youth access to mentoring, arts, and technology-based curricula. In an attempt to bridge the digital divide, we set up computer labs in communities of faith, teach technology classes, and empower community of faith volunteers to teach their own technology classes. In addition to these project areas, PUCFSN works with the pastoral care department at HUP and pastors of local churches on maintaining a health education series that addresses the needs of individual congregations. In 2002, our program was renewed for another four years through a grant from the Jessie Ball duPont Fund. PUCFSN is comprised of a three-part structure: a steering committee, an advisory board and academic interns. The steering committee is made up of fifteen communities of faith leaders, professors, school administrators, and community leaders meets monthly to direct our work. The larger advisory group meets 2-3 times yearly to learn from national leaders and to further direct and extend our work. Lastly, students, working as academic interns, develop and facilitate each of our projects.

Through our three-part structure, PUCFSN provides technical assistance within a variety of project areas. Each area results from common interests of our members who serve to guide student interns in its execution. Some of our project areas and activities include: Extended Day Programs and Mentoring; Adult Skills Training; Technology Classes; Computer Hardware Refurbishment, Placement and Recycling (ie. computer labs); Health Care Initiatives; and Academically-Based Community Service Courses. Also, we assist local seminarians by providing unique field education placements.

 

If you would like to receive more information, please contact:

Charles Howard, Coordinator
(215) 573-4214
choward@pobox.upenn.edu

Linda J. Hollenback, Co-Coordinator
(215) 746-7887
lhollenb@sas.upenn.edu

Program in Universities, Communities of Faith, Schools and Neighborhood Organizations (PUCFSN)
Office of the Chaplain and Center for Community Partnerships,
133 South 36th Street, Suite 519
Philadelphia, PA 19104-3246