One of The Village’s buildings is outfitted as a long-term artist residency space with 2 bedrooms and an office/studio. During 2012, this will be home to Haas&Hahn, the Dutch artist team brought to Philadelphia by the Mural Arts Program as they transform the Germantown Business Corridor with their signature neighborhood-sized art.

The Village is contracted by the United States Attorney’s Office and Philadelphia Family Court as the lead after-school program provider for its Youth Violence Intervention Initiative, in which it provides meaningful after-school engagement that utilizes film making and storytelling to discuss the impact of violence on families and communities with adjudicated youth.

At The Village’s summer camp, children have a blast with activities ranging from lunches in the park, movie days, trips to local museums, as well as indoor and outdoor playtime. Children tap into their creativity with arts and crafts projects, dance class and creative writing workshops. Under the supervision of our experienced and caring staff, children continue learning during the summer while having fun and meeting new friends.

The Free Library Hot Spot at The Village is a 7-seat computer lab with free color printing, internet access and staff to provide assistance. We invite users of all skill levels to get help with resume writing, online job searches, Microsoft Office and computer basics. The lab is open M-F, 12-4 PM at 2544 Germantown Ave. This Hot Spot is made possible by the Knight Foundation.

In 2010, Spells Writing Lab moved to the Village and became an indispensable asset to the N. Philadelphia community. Spells, an organization that develops the creative and expository writing abilities of children through free, fun, and imaginative writing programs and teacher development opportunities, works independently and in collaboration with The Village to improve quality of life for children and their families.

Led by master carpenter and educator Harold Hood, The Village Workshop helps low-income men and women become productive members of their communities through fellowship, work-based learning in carpentry and construction, contextual literacy tutoring job placement assistance. TVW is currently working with Tyler Art Gallery on a 6-month design-build project titled, “Project Shift.”

In partnership with The Federation of Neighborhood Centers, The Village hosts Parent Empower—a weekly enrichment course designed to nurture and educate parents towards better child-rearing practices. Each week, certified facilitators lead support groups and discussions, ranging from nutrition and exercise, to helping children deal with bullying. Upon completion of the program, parents receive a certificate and monetary stipend.

As part of Parent University’s Summer Session, The Village partners with The Clay studio to provide parents and children with the opportunity to learn side-by-side. The summer workshop is designed to use art, specifically clay working as a device to understand different cultures and to enhance parents’ ability to assist in their children’s day-to-day education.