A nonprofit organization that worked to coordinate education, economic, health, safety and family support services in the city is shutting down at year’s end because of funding issues.
Youngstown Promise Neighborhoods, created in 2015 as Taft Promise Neighborhood, made the announcement Thursday.
“This decision was not made lightly nor was it made until all solutions had been thoroughly considered and exhausted,” April Alexander, president of its board of directors, wrote in a letter.
She added, “While Youngstown Promise Neighborhoods was able to raise small amounts needed to support programs and events” the money “necessary to build a staff and the capacity to administer those programs did not materialize.”
Mayor Jamael Tito Brown said, “Youngstown Promise Neighborhoods has been a great asset in the community and has made significant impact in the neighborhood. It is our desire as a city to work with the partnering agencies that were involved so that the great work that was started will continue.”
The organization, located on South Avenue near Taft Elementary School, worked with other groups in the city “to break the cycle of systemic inequities often afflicting multiple generations of families,” Alexander wrote.
The group’s goals include access to better educational opportunities, exposure to healthy lifestyles and wellness strategies, career stability and greater economic mobility, and improving neighborhood safety and infrastructure.
The work, Alexander wrote, will continue through the organization’s partners including the city of Youngstown, Community Legal Aid Services, Mercy Health, United Way of Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley, the city school district, Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corp. and the 7th Ward Citizens Coalition.
To see the full story from The Vindicator, click here.
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