The Pennsylvania Department of Education has selected PHMC to operate two 21st Century Community Learning Centers. Beginning in November, PHMC will work with 266 6th through 8th graders at Tilden Middle School in Southwest Philadelphia and McDaniel School in South Philadelphia to implement its first hands-on after-school program, STEM N2 ACTION, to bolster reading, writing, science and mathematical skills.

The STEM N2 ACTION Program uses a club activity model to introduce enrichment projects that are relevant to the students' lives and that focus on core academic standards and Pennsylvania System of School Assessment learning goals.

The grant greatly expands PHMC's footprint in education beyond its current technical support work with the Department of Human Services' Out of School Time (OST) program. The work will support PHMC's efforts to get more involved in education in Philadelphia and create better futures for the city's youth.