While Walmart is known for savings and convenience, it is also a major supporter of programs that are making a difference in the lives of its customers and community partners. Last year, Walmart made over $2.9 million in charitable contributions to Philadelphia-based non-profits. The Walmart Foundation strives to meet the unmet needs of underserved communities and support organizations like YSI that give individuals access to a better life. Through financial contributions, in-kind donations, and volunteerism, the Walmart Foundation supports efforts around improving education, economic opportunities, environmental sustainability, and health and wellness. For more information about Walmart’s charitable work and locations in the Philadelphia area, go to www.walmartphiladelphia.com.

Our thanks again to Walmart for keeping youth safe and helping vulnerable teens in Philadelphia!

A series of articles profiling the dedicated individuals who make the agency’s success possible.

Deb Kocsis is a YSI Board Member

How did you pick YSI as one of your community interests?

I had some experiences in junior high being one of those kids that didn’t quite fit in – being among the youngest in a school of 7th through 12 graders, no less – that shaped how I look at things as an adult. Then, several years ago, I had a chance to see a diverse community of teens in a group setting and was moved by the variety of family situations and parental responses I witnessed. Some of the kids had no one checking in on them or participating in their lives in any way.

After a job change I began doing corporate and foundation fundraising at Thomas Jefferson University and Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, and I had a chance to work with Dr. Patrick Mcmanus, who has been the physician at the YES shelter for several years. I was really struck by his commitment to the kids and, as I got to know more, by the work that YSI does for children and their families. When he approached me about an opening on the board and asked if I’d consider joining it just seemed like a good fit…combining elements of my job with my growing interest in YSI in a way that allowed me to try to do something good for kids, and to let that awkward kid I used to be have a chance to try to make things better for others.

Why are you so passionate about helping young people receive the best possible care?

As I mentioned, I really was kind of an outsider in junior high and felt that some of the adults were not particularly supportive – or, in some cases, seemed to actively ignore what was going on around them so they wouldn’t have to get involved. That feeling that adults (well, people of all ages, but especially adults) were somehow supposed to do more stuck with me. I still feel that way and I think it’s still a problem, in fact, one that’s trickled down to our kids as we’ve become a “no snitching” society. But…I still think these trends can be reversed!

What is your message for YSI’s staff?

YSI staff members do really important work that will affect many of the kids and families we serve for a long time to come. I hope that they’re able to take a step back when things seem overwhelming and think about the reach of what they do – for each “success story” they help nurture, there’s a good chance that they’ll have a greater impact than they may ever know as these children grow up and make their way in the world.

Have you had a meaningful experience with a YSI program?

I’ve had a number of meaningful experiences with YSI, but a recent one stands out. During the celebration for National Safe Place Week on March 24, when Jon Dorenbos (long snapper for the Eagles) broke into a [really good] magic show and stand-up routine, the teens in the room, even some of the quietest ones who has stayed at the back of the room, were scrambling to be part of the action – to be part of whatever magic this big kid was creating. It was a fun reminder that sometimes all it takes to make a connection with people, especially kids, is to just get in there and do it, and to be real.

How do you spend your down time?

One of my favorite things to do is to wander around Philadelphia with my camera and take photos. I don’t go anywhere anymore, including work, without my camera. I’ve also become fairly obsessed with trying to figure out my family tree.

What have you read recently?

Unless it’s news-related, Twitter feeds, a few choice blogs, or French-Canadian or Slovakian genealogy, I haven’t read a lot recently. A couple of my favorite books overall, though, are the Alienist (Caleb Carr) and World’s Fair (E.L. Doctorow) – both urban historical fiction.

Job Title: Coordinator*

Employment Status: Full-time regular

Program – Dept/Location: School And Family Engagement

Job Summary: Provides school and neighborhood-based services to prevent substance abuse and delinquency to identified students in grades 6th through 8th at one selected school.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Requires Master’s degree in social work, psychology or other human services field
• Requires 2 years of work experience delivering services to youth and families in their own homes
• Demonstrated ability and skill to collaborate and run an after-school and summer enrichment program
• Effective verbal and written communication skills
• Must have knowledge of and proven ability to enter data into a computer database system
• Ability to work flex time into evening hours and occasionally on a weekend
• Requires valid driver’s license and own vehicle for transportation

For consideration as a candidate for this job opportunity, please send resume to  jobs@ysiphila.org

NOTE:  As a condition of employment acceptable FBI clearance, Child Abuse Clearance and Criminal Investigation Report are required for all positions.  For direct service (*) positions, the FBI clearance must be dated no older than 1 year of date of hire; and the Child Abuse Clearance and Pennsylvania Criminal Investigation Report must be dated no more than 60 days of date of hire.  Direct service (*) positions also require a health assessment, which includes a TB screening.

Youth Service, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. 

Conference Details

Date:  Thursday, June 28, 2012

Time:  9am-3pm (please arrive on time)

Location:  Temple University, Howard Gittis Student Center, 1755 N. 13th Street, 19122

Join the event on Facebook: YSI Teen Conference 2012

Follow the event on Twitter:  @ysiphilly

For questions, contact us at 215-222-3262 ext. 64 or teenconference@ysiphila.org

Throughout the month of April TNCF’s work will be featured on the WE Tv show “Having It All.” On the program Niki Taylor, a supermodel, mother, and celebrity host, interviews TNCF’s President Jeannette Pai-Espinosa about the Foundation’s work. Former clients of the agency are also featured.

We hope that you will have the opportunity to catch the show on WE Tv on April 20 at 7:30am EST and April 28 at 8:30am EST.  You can watch the trailer for “Having it All” here. Please take a few minutes to learn about TNCF’s work and share this information with family and friends. Creating a safe culture for girls and young women, especially those who have been victimized in the past, starts with raising awareness of the problem.

Jill Bazelon is a YSI Board Member

When did you join YSI’s Board?

I joined the Board in May 2010.

Why did you decide to become involved with YSI?

I was referred for the YSI Board through a colleague at the time. I was very impressed by the commitment of the Board and the focused mission of the organization.

Tell me about your work.

I recently left my position at the Sayre Health Center to start a 501(c)3 non-profit called Investing in Ourselves. This work and programming is really an expansion of the work I did at Sayre Health Center. In collaboration with Wharton and the Center for Literacy, I have added literacy and financial literacy to my original focus on health and leadership development.

What connection is there between your work and your involvement with YSI?

I am most interested in creating comprehensive networks of resources and services for underserved families. I think YSI is an excellent example of an organization directly meeting the needs of these families.

What issues are you most concerned about for young people in Philadelphia, and in West Philadelphia specifically?

Young people in Philadelphia and West Philadelphia like the ones served by YSI face many challenges. I am concerned about the quality of their educational experiences and the resulting lack of hope about their future opportunities.

What has your experience been like with YSI’s programs?

I have very much enjoyed visiting all of the YSI sites, especially the crisis nurseries. It is amazing that the staff are able to provide the essential support that young mothers need.

What message do you have for the YSI staff?

There is no more important job than being on the front lines of this important work. The Board thanks you for your dedication to the communities you serve.

How do you spend your down time?

Mostly with my husband Joel, my daughter Harper (7), and my son Trevor (5).

A series of articles profiling the committed employees who work every day to strengthen YSI children and families

Dave Wilson recently retired from his position as Supervisor at Youth Emergency Service (YES)

How did you begin working at YSI?

My wife was teaching at Lee Middle School at 47th and Locust. One of her students was a resident at YSI’s Baring Street Group Home for Boys. One day he got in trouble in school and she was going to keep him after school in detention. He was afraid that he would get in trouble at the group home, so she dropped him off that afternoon. She said to me, “Why don’t you apply for a job there?” And that’s how I ended up at YSI. I began on June 13, 1972, three days after I was married. I stayed at YSI for two years before leaving for another job opportunity. I came back to Baring Street in 1983 and I’ve worked at YSI ever since.

What was your experience at Baring Street like?

It was just so much fun there. I enjoyed working there. It was a diferent time. The boys lived there for two or three years, so I really built relationships with some of them. Every staff member was responsible for one or two boys; we would take them shopping and help them if they had problems in school. When boys first got to Baring we would take them shopping for a suit and dress shoes. Every Sunday we took them to church at 38th and Spring Garden. They would get dressed up, we would get them all in the van, and we would give them money for the offering. I would drop them off and as soon as I turned the corner they would take off running!

Are you still in contact with any of the former residents of Baring Street?

Believe it or not, they still come back to see us – Ms. Munson, Mr. Morris, and me. I’m 63 and some of them are 55 years old! They come by YES and we catch up.

What experiences at YES have been most rewarding?

I’ve enjoyed the trips we take every summer – touring Harlem in New York, visiting the Inner Harbor in Baltimore, and going to Washington, DC. I’ve learned that some teens have never been out of Philadelphia before. They really enjoy themselves and they’re always well behaved. Last year we saw The Lion King on Broadway; some of the youth were blown away by the experience. For the last few years we’ve been invited to watch Phillies games from Roy Halladay’s personal box at the stadium. The teens have really enjoyed it and you realize that they would never be able to have this experience if not for YSI.

What will you miss about YSI?

I’ll miss Ms. Dyson, Mr. Morris, and a lot of other folks around here. Even though it’s a pain sometimes, it’s exciting and it keeps you going. If everything was smooth all the time, it wouldn’t be a good job. Sometimes things have happened and I’ve thought, “Wow. I’ve been working here for more than 30 years and I’ve never seen that happen before!”

Do you have plans for retirement?

I’m going to work on my health. My wife passed away about four years ago from cancer; she had been teaching for close to 37 years. She was really looking forward to retiring but was never able to, so I decided that I would retire when I could.

What do you want to say to your colleagues?

You’re here for the kids and that’s your main focus. You’ll never make a lot of money working here, but you’ll become rich through the experiences you have.

Teens in participating cities who are considering running away from home can walk into Safe Place sites (Wal-mart and the YMCA are local examples) and receive timely, compassionate support from employees and Safe Place volunteers. Safe Place staff and volunteers assist teens in finding youth-serving agencies where they can spend the night, identifying resources that they need, and in working through the conflicts that caused them to leave home. This effort is extremely important, as national agencies estimate that approximately 1.6 to 2.8 million youth run away from home each year.

The event featured an exciting and diverse program: an inspirational speech and a truly unique magic show by Jon, a heartfelt reflection by Fred about the reasons avoiding obstacles and finding success in life, and, of course, tons of good-natured fun courtesy of SWOOP. In the afternoon a number of teens bravely shared their stories and spoken word artists El Poeta and Amun Miraaj performed poems that echoed the event’s dominant themes of self-respect and compassion for others.

YSI would like to thank the Philadelphia Eagles and Teva Pharmaceuticals for their support of YSI and the Youth Emergency Service shelter, the poets and young people who shared their stories, and all of the sponsors who donated food items and prizes. To see some great photos of the event taken by El Poeta, go to our Facebook page. For more information about YSI’s Safe Place program, click here.

Job Title: Supervisor, Youth Care Workers*

Employment Status: Full-Time Regular

Program – Dept/Location: Youth Emergency Service

Job Summary: Responsible for the overall supervision of the youth care worker staff and daily living aspects of shelter care

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Services; Master’s degree preferred
• Minimum of five years experience working with at-risk youth
• Supervisory experience required; preferably in a residential environment
• Effective verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to lead, coach, and mentor staff
• Computer and database literate
• Valid driver’s license and own vehicle required

For consideration as a candidate for this job opportunity, please send resume to jobs@ysiphila.org

NOTE:  As a condition of employment acceptable FBI clearance, Child Abuse Clearance and Criminal Investigation Report are required for all positions.  For direct service (*) positions, the FBI clearance must be dated no older than 1 year of date of hire; and the Child Abuse Clearance and Pennsylvania Criminal Investigation Report must be dated no more than 60 days of date of hire.  Direct service (*) positions also require a health assessment, which includes a TB screening.

Youth Service, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. 

A series of articles profiling the dedicated individuals who make the agency’s success possible.

Nancy Roth is a YSI Board Member

When did you join the YSI Board?

I joined the board in September 2011. Before joining I volunteered for a year at Youth Emergency Service (YES) as a counselor. I am passionate about finding ways to improve the lives of children and young adults.

What is special about YSI?

YSI focuses on people who are especially vulnerable in these difficult economic times. We offer services and support that are unique and necessary. For example, YES is able to offer emergency shelter to teenagers who have run away or been thrown out of their homes or who are being abused or neglected.

What do you do professionally?

I’m a psychotherapist. For the last couple of years I’ve had a private practice. I recently accepted a psychotherapy position at Philadelphia Fight, an organization that primarily serves people with HIV and AIDS.

What other work have you done during your professional career?

I spent 14 years in the pharmaceutical industry working on drug development, health literacy, patient education and patient adherence issues. Before that I was a university professor, a lobbyist on Capitol Hill, and a management consultant working on federal government projects, most of which were health-related.

How is your work similar to YSI’s?

Many of the clients I see at work had childhoods that are very similar to those of the children that YES serves. My work at YES has helped me to understand the kinds of experiences that have played a role in shaping my clients’ adults lives.

What was your experience with the YES staff like?

I was very impressed with the dedication and professionalism of the YES staff, the range of services offered, and the challenges of working with such vulnerable youth. More than anything, I was struck by the way that staff members expressed their genuine concern and care for each client. The staff have very difficult and challenging jobs. It would be easy to just go through the motions each day. But these staff members took the time, energy, and patience to care for each client. It was really amazing.

What has your experience on the Board been thus far?

I’m a newbie, so right now I mostly just listen. I’ve been on other boards before, and I am impressed with this board’s efficiency and focus. Each member brings specific expertise, experience and connections that help the board to support the agency effectively.

What do you bring to the Board because of your background and experience?

I hope that my mental health background as well as my experience in corporate management and education can be helpful to the Board. Over time I think it will become clearer how I can best participate.

What do you do for fun outside of work?

I run triathlons, read voraciously, travel and love movies, plays, and dance.

What is your message to YSI’s staff?

Keep up the great work! I know that your jobs are sometimes difficult. Thank you for dedicating yourselves to doing this important work. Know that an equally dedicated board is here to partner with you.