Our Mission and Impact
TCRC’s Mission
TCRC - CHC has a threefold mission to help aid in the betterment of Philadelphia.
Reentry
Support
TCRC-CHC assists formerly incarcerated men and women to successfully transition to freedom, by providing principles to live by, and creating a culture of strong families, fidelity, solid relationships, marriage, and quality parenting. TCRC-CHC promotes discipline, self-respect, and provides referrals for employment, housing, and financial education for the community. We believe in social responsibility, political activity, voting and positive social, spiritual and religious community interactions. We also believe that every person released from imprisonment needs therapy to heal from the trauma of mass incarceration.
Food
Programs
Since the Covid epidemic in 2020, the distribution of food and resources to assist families in our community who are in need is a growing problem. Economic instability, unemployment, global conflicts, and war, has contributed to rising prices for gasoline, rent, food, clothing and all household essentials. The work of TCRC-CHC in establishing food and clothing distributions, diapers giveaways, mattress, sheets bedding and furniture dispersals contribute to community health & growth and stability.
Conflict
Resolution
TCRC-CHC programs and structures help young people in Philadelphia resolve conflicts without violence and develop relationships. It is important to nurture and mentor young people, to teach them that they are part of a universal human family that is not divided by geographic boundaries and social constraints. It is also critically important that they understand the legal consequences of violence. Life without the possibility of parole is the sentence for 1st and 2nd degree murder in Philadelphia. That means a life without freedom, doomed to live in a concrete cell, no more normal relationships, sex, family, fun, dates, college or future. The aftermath of violence must be stated to young people in real terms.
TCRC’s Impact
TCRC - CHC has always evolved to meet the needs of the community.
At the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak, there was a serious need for a way to address food scarcity. TCRC evolved from an organization that was originally formed to address the needs of the Returning Citizen population into an organization that turned to food distribution serving thousands of Philadelphia families since our first month of operation, June 2020.
In response to the rising tide of violence and murder, TCRC has continued to build relationships in the community to address gun violence. This has taken the form of Conflict resolution workshops in city high schools, community events, mentoring and involving young people in food and clothing distributions. In partnership with organizations such as Beyond the Bars, and All Together Community Alliance TCRC-CHC is impacting young people where they live.
TCRC-CHC is not an organization that you will see often in the media or in marches against gun violence. We prefer to build relationships among young people, find employment for them, establish mentorships, and connect volatile young people to seasoned formerly incarcerated individuals in their neighborhoods. This allows for relationships to build and flourish that can make an impact on the increase in gun violence.
TCRC as an organization (The Center for Returning Citizens) has a history of assisting folks who are formerly incarcerated to live better lives, retain their freedom and make their neighborhood better. Although the food and clothing distribution has consumed the majority of the time and resources of the organization, Reentry work and Conflict Resolution is still a vital part of our work.
