LEAP, the Literacy Enrichment Afterschool Program, is continuously looking for ways to better serve youth in Philadelphia. On January 25, LEAP hosted training for staff on Trauma Informed Approach, led by Michael O'Bryan, the Director of Youth and Young Adult Programs, at the Village of Arts and Humanities.

Michael led the interactive training on working from a perspective that recognizes trauma as a factor in the emotional, physical, and psychological lives of youth. Mike discussed an array of modalities for working from a Trauma Informed Perspective. From strategies to identify signs of trauma, to creating and holding a safe space for listening, to creating safety plans to lessen the effects of trauma and methods to design well-being without creating shame, participants gained the knowledge of how to help their participants purposefully grow and succeed.

LEAP held the training for Afterschool Leaders and Maker Mentors, team members who work with participants, and Teen Leadership Assistants at neighborhood libraries across the Free Library system. In this city-sized network, LEAP recognizes that they serve youth from diverse backgrounds who come from a range of social, economic, and emotional worlds. How can LEAP serve all of these participant’s needs on a daily basis? LEAP ensures staff have diverse tools to address the varied needs of youth in Philadelphia through trainings like Trauma Informed Approach and many others throughout the year. LEAP aims to see youth in our city not only surviving, but thriving! 

You can see Michael describe aspects of the Trauma Informed Approach in the video below, in which he specifically discusses his work in developing new models that allow for personal and economic success for populations living with trauma. From The Lindy Institute for Urban Innovation:

Unfamiliar with LEAP? LEAP offers daily literacy activities, Maker projects, health and wellness programs, homework assistance, computer literacy, and library skills for students in grades K–12, and daily literacy enrichment activities for elementary school students. LEAP is a free, drop-in program at Free Library locations throughout the city. Learn more about LEAP in your neighborhood!

Interested in becoming part of this dynamic team? LEAP is hiring a Maker Mentor for the new Marie and Joseph Field Teen Center at Parkway Central Library! Learn more about this position.