The hard work and advocacy have paid off. The UPenn Creators for Community Safety Institute is here to train creators on violence prevention language while developing a multidisciplinary anti-violence project “The CUREiculum”.
This creator-led institute is uniquely designed to engage creators from Gen Alpha to Millennials in projects that challenge the traditional ways we engage youth in regard to digital and public safety.
One of our goals is to work with our first spring semester cohort to produce the CUREiculum and travel nationwide to screen and teach our project in schools, institutions, and hospital-based violence intervention programs—demonstrating why creators in public health and public safety are pivotal.
This creator-led project is heavily focused on addressing the social determinants that fuel community violence, such as trauma, the school-to-prison pipeline, identity crises, conflict resolution, cultural norms, and social media trends.
Thank you to the entire UPenn team, our content creation partners, and the funders who helped make this happen and will play a key role in helping us scale far beyond what we can imagine.
We’re just getting started, family!
#Philly to the 🌎
Today’s @thekickbackimpact F.A.M.E Program continued with an inspiring session focused on **Creative Direction**
We had the honor of hosting two incredible panelists:
Nathaniel Williams-Smith blkknate Music Entrepreneur & Marketing Executive at Columbia Records. Nate has contributed to major campaigns for artists like Tyler the Creator, Wale and many more sharing real insight on branding, strategy, and what it takes to move culture.
Jay “JVY” Richardson @thisnotjvy — Creative world builder and Creative Director of Faze Clan. Jay has helped shape campaigns for brands like Disney, Nike, and Porsche, and has been recognized by icons like Jay-Z.
We were also joined by special guest @ashmacgetsit from Radio One’s @rnbphilly who broke down the power of storytelling and how records make it to mainstream radio 📻
Shoutout to our Artist Development mentor @manmanphilly for continuing to pour into our students and prepare them for their upcoming projects 💪🏾
To close out the day, students participated in a hands-on activity Team Kick Back designed to build their own creative campaigns around their music and identity — and the ideas were 🔥
This program is impactful, resourceful, and we’re just getting started!
@montbrown@real_life_dreamer@queendinafusi@stumblemusic@troycarterjrr
Let’s keep the momentum going 😎🤝🏾
#TheKickbackImpact #FAMEProgram #CreativeDirection #MusicIndustry #ArtistDevelopment
Working out and seeing yourself on TV at Planet Fitness talking about the UPenn Creators for Community Safety Institute.
Phase 1: Awareness ☑️
Phase 2: Project Release
Phase 3: Impact
Phase 4: Sustainability
Thank you @senhughesoffice for inviting me to attend the next class of 100 Men Making a Difference in Philadelphia — this year’s Under 30 edition.
It was great meeting and connecting with Black men who’ve paved the way for people like myself and countless others.
Congressman @chakafattah@tumar215
Mayor @dahndynasty@georgiewoodz_215
Congrats to all the young Black men on their awards. Anything is possible, and the future is bright!
#CreatorInCommunitySafety
Today’s Creators for Community Safety Institute session wrapped up with our final presentations, and we began breaking into groups to create multiple planning spaces for activating the project.
Special thanks to Lisa Christian from UPenn for facilitating an impactful conflict resolution workshop.
Shoutout to @manny215mayor , @fisbanga , and @zaymoney._215 for mapping out a skit that’s going to make a major impact with our creators on social media.
This project is definitely going to be outside the box!
UPenn Creators for Community Safety Institute.
This was about two years ago at a roundtable organized by @phlcouncilpresident and @austindavispa . We were basically telling the city what was in the works with UPenn creators for the Community Safety Institute.
At the time, we didn’t yet have approval from the university to officially establish the institute, and we didn’t even have a name. All we had was the Social Media Summit. But through intentional advocacy and teamwork, today’s institute became a real thing.
Thought leaders and creators belong in public health and public safety.
Oh yea do it scared!
Thanks to the team 🤝🏾 a lot of work to do.
@drdesmondpatton Dr Patton
@theflowersherself Dr Kaufman
@docjorich Dr Richardson
Dr Tony Shaw
Shana Kleiner MSW soon to be PHD
Great meeting with @manny215mayor and @glamarstewartsr . This conversation was impactful and further proved that @manny215mayor has a unique connection to the culture and the youth through his innovative ideas and vision.
I believe those of us who are 30+ should have no issue supporting thought leaders who are part of the next generation.
If we truly want to build tangible systems that transform the lives of our youth and accelerate the momentum of those already doing the work, we must continue to get out of their way and support them.
Collaboration over competition is the greatest formula for positive impact.
#Philly #Haveyourpeopleback
Outside of any noise, I’m able to bear witness firsthand to how much Larry Krasner and @glamarstewartsr are truly intentional about advocating for boots-on-the-ground organizations in Philly.
After the DAO’s Violence Prevention Grant Initiative forfeiture fund was vetted by @philafound , it was energizing today to witness @philadao give out $500,000 in grants across dozens of community based orgs. This is proof that local government and community advocates play a huge role in helping organizations keep the community safe.
#SafePhillySummer
Shoutout to @sessimarie123 owner of @sessimariehomecare@sessimarieflavors@sessimariefinancing@kumonphilly and much more! for coming through to speak with the creators at the Community Safety Institute and share that she will be a funding partner for the Creators for Community service trip from Philly to NYC during Gun Violence Awareness Month.
Our creator cohort will serve as mentors and chaperones for a group of 15 youth on a day bus trip to support a partnering NYC youth organization. That same organization will also be invited and supported to attend our Creators for Community Safety Summit 3, where we will showcase what we’ve been working on over the next 8 weeks.
She also spoke about why it’s important for local businesses to support initiatives that positively impact the next generation. Outside of the creators’ anti-violence digital project, this is also a key part of our spring/summer cohort field activation, allowing participants to receive their certificates and financial incentives ahead of Summit Part 3.
Today’s focus for the UPenn Creators for Community Safety Institute continued with the theme:
**“The School-to-Prison Pipeline”** @paulette_branson
Thank you to Paulette Branson from the Netter Center for Community Partnerships for facilitating such an impactful presentation and guiding our creator students as we move closer toward the execution of our multidisciplinary anti-violence project, which will be showcased across the country.
Paulette Branson, MEd, is the Director of Student Engagement and Community Building at the Netter Center for Community Partnerships. She has held numerous leadership roles implementing University-Assisted Community Schools (UACS) programs and is deeply passionate about personal growth and leadership development among K–16 students. Paulette has coached, designed, and implemented sports-based and educational programs for youth throughout the Philadelphia area while contributing to the field as an administrator, educator, and trainer. Her work focuses on mobilizing university academic and human resources to support K–12 programs and partnerships. Her leadership continues to expand youth-led initiatives and collaborative community-based problem solving centered on anti-violence and fostering cultures of love, peace, and healing within school communities.
**The work continues.**
