The Southeast Philadelphia Collaborative (SEPC) brings together a group of neighborhood-based organizations dedicated to providing educational, safe, fun and inspiring learning and social environments for youth ages 12 to 18.

Since 1999, SEPC has served as the primary network for after-school programming in Southeast Philadelphia, pooling the expertise, experience, programs and resources of nine youth-oriented organizations. More than 500 youth participate in SEPC’s arts and culture, technology, health and wellness and after school programming each year. At SEPC, youth not only enjoy a place to socialize and call their own, they have opportunities to be responsible and accountable for their own space and activities.

Targeted Solutions’ consultation with SEPC began in spring 2009 with the development of strategic communications plans for the organization and for a broader coalition in which it participates. Targeted Solutions has since assisted with the plan’s implementation by creating a new logo and brand identity, stationery and e-blast templates, and a new website. The William Penn Foundation Matching Fund provided SEPC with a subsidy through the Technical Assistance Matching Fund at PHMC to help cover the cost of the Targeted Solutions services.

“Our work with Targeted Solutions has helped to ensure that the Southeast Philadelphia Collaborative engages our youth in new and exciting ways,” says Cory Miller, program director for SEPC. In May, SEPC is expecting to launch a new interactive website that emphasizes its use of social networking tools including Facebook, Flickr and YouTube, as well as a new texting and email digest campaign through which youth sign up to receive news via email or their mobile phones. “Keeping up with our youth's communication preferences will result in a website that is interactive and fun, and that gives the user multiple ways to easily get involved with the press of a button. Giving youth the control to get involved in an independent way is a testament to how we want to help develop leadership skills,” Miller says.

At the onset of the consultation with Targeted Solutions, Miller expressed how important it was to include both Adult and youth stakeholders in the decision-making process. “Throughout the entire consultation and process, Targeted Solutions staff made it easy for us to get the input of our youth stakeholders. Holding meetings at times when our youth could attend and utilizing SurveyMonkey in our Teen Lounges allowed youth to have a vote and a chance to share feedback throughout the design process, which led to our new tagline Empowering Youth and the creation of a more modern and youthful logo.”

Visit SEPC at sephillyyouth.com.