Programs

Emergency Assistance

North Light extends a helping hand to those in crisis through the F.I.S.H. Community Food Cupboard, CUFF grant program which pays home utility bills, and volunteer "Santa Helpers" who make the holidays brighter for those in need. Neighborhood residents with problems turn to North Light where our staff finds the agencies that can help, and advocates to ensure that community members get the help they need.

Childcare Programs for School Aged Children

A full day summer camp and the KidZone afterschool program provide elementary school kids with fun, enrichment and learning and their parents with supervised care at prices they can afford.

Although North Light was founded to provide community youth with alternatives to juvenile delinquency and crime, its leadership quickly recognized that is not enough to just keep young people "out of trouble". North Light’s youth development approach is one that recognizes and values our young people as community assets. We believe that young people have the capacity to develop their potentialities through self direction and growth when provided with the structure and support to explore their values, talents and hopes, while learning to avoid risky behaviors by moving toward making sound and healthy decisions.

Understanding that adolescence is one of life’s most critical stages, North Light provides a safe and supportive environment with opportunities for personal growth through a variety of activities under the Youth Encouragement Program (YEP), Philadelphia Youth Network (PYN) and the Student Environmental Development Program (SEDP) that enable our youth to develop the social skills, civic and cultural competencies, positive attitudes and a strong sense of community that will shape their future, and in many ways, the future of our community.

Job Counseling & Placement

GED preparation, job readiness training, placement and ongoing workshops help youth find and keep productive jobs in the community. Our job board, updated weekly, lists opportunities for adults.

Subsidized one-on-one tutoring is provided for children to help them succeed at school.

Through funds provided by private donors, North Light administers several scholarship programs which support educational costs for local residents from elementary through post graduate work. The Neducsin Spirit of Manayunk Scholarship awards $10,000 to local high school seniors. Selections are weighted heavily on the candidates' community service and involvement. In addition, the Neducsin Community Scholarship Fund provides $1,000 scholarships on a lottery basis toward tuition costs for students in grades one through twelve.

The Becky Nast Memorial Scholarship awards a four year full tuition scholarship to J.W. Hallahan High School for a student from a single parent household. North Light’s nominees for the Good Citizenship Award of the Union League’s Youth Work Foundation are eligible to apply for the prestigious Union League Scholarship when they become high school seniors.

Arts activities are varied and occur throughout the program year.The North Light Players mounts several community theatre productions annually.

Sports offerings include instructional, intramural and traveling teams.

A computer lab staffed by a core volunteer group provides access for community members to become familiar with computers, learn new skills, improve abilities, or format a resume. This on-site capacity is also a valuable resource that enriches several of our youth programs (career exploration, KidZone, Day Camp). As a member of CTCNet (Computer Technologies Center Network), North Light has access to a broad range of NAT initiatives.

Community Organizing

As a member of the Greater Philadelphia Federation of Settlements and the Eastern Pennsylvania Organizing Project, North Light works with other neighborhood institutions throughout the city to advocate for change to improve the quality of life in the region.  Membership in the United Neighborhood Centers of America connects us to urban centers throughout the United States.