Our Mission.
A New Dawn Incorporated is a grassroots, community-based program rooted in the Mill Creek-Parkside section of West Philadelphia. Our mission is to reduce community violence involving youth and young adults by building resilience, supporting families, and fostering engagement among neighbors and residents. We empower youth to address stress and trauma through mentorship, hands-on training, and the maintenance of our community garden and greenhouse, where they learn to grow fruits and vegetables and engage in sustainable agriculture. Our mission is to rehabilitate young people and empower them to promote public safety and neighborhood preservation.
We are committed to holistic community development, integrating wellness practices such as yoga, art therapy, and trauma therapy to help heal our community deeply affected by gun violence. Through diverse programs in drones, artificial intelligence, and STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics), we inspire curiosity and skill development across all ages. With aquaponics and hydroponics education, we advance sustainable agriculture and lifelong engagement through our young adult and senior programming. By focusing on wellness, trauma recovery, skill-building, and community pride, we aim to uplift individuals, cultivate resilience, and create a stronger, self-sustaining community.
Our Cause
Our cause is rooted in the mission to transform Mill Creek-Parkside, a community facing significant challenges with violence, trauma, and deteriorating surroundings. In this neighborhood, the impact of systemic neglect is visible in the abandoned houses, graffiti-marked walls, and barred windows—signs that speak to both the physical and emotional burdens residents carry. The life expectancy here is 7% lower than Philadelphia’s average, and violent crime disproportionately affects the area, with hundreds of residents involved each year and tragic losses to homicide. We at A New Dawn Incorporated are committed to reversing these trends by providing our youth and families with the tools and support to overcome adversity. Through positive programming, mental health support, and community engagement, we aim to reduce stress and trauma, cultivate resilience, and instill pride in preserving and uplifting our neighborhood. Our cause is to bring hope and a renewed sense of safety, wellness, and opportunity to the residents of Mill Creek-Parkside.