Title
Honoring Counseling or Assistance Services (CORA) for their semicentennial and their service to the City of Philadelphia.
Body
WHEREAS, The City Council of Philadelphia takes great pleasure in recognizing those who, through dedication and excellence, contribute in a meaningful way to the wellbeing of their communities and throughout the City of Philadelphia; and
WHEREAS, Counseling or Assistance Services (CORA) was founded in 1971 by Sister Charity Kohl. Using the resources from the Good Shepard Sister, in their first year, they aided 600 children. In those early years, they operated primarily in Northeast Philadelphia; and
WHEREAS, In the early 2000s, the Sisters of the Good Shepard gave new land to CORA. On that land, the organization built housing units, a conference center, the Early Years Fox Chase program, and the Career Development Resource Center; and
WHEREAS, Having been founded in 1971, CORA celebrated its semicentennial and its expanded services on October 9, 2021; and
WHEREAS, CORA has been a vital community staple. Since their inception, their sole mission has been to serve children. They believe in promoting individual growth, helping heal fractured households, focusing on trauma prevention efforts, and offering an array of referral services; and
WHEREAS, CORA provides after school programs at several schools, including Gilbert Spruance Elementary School, the J.H. Brown School, Northeast Community Propel Academy, Disston Elementary School, the Thurgood Marshall School, Northwood Academy Charter School, Robert Pollock Elementary School, and the St. Martin de Porres School; and
WHEREAS, Their after-school programs provide children with homework help, literacy programming, STEM, arts, sports, and technology. They also help children and families experiencing emotional, behavioral, or situational difficulties. In addition to those services, CORA offers mental health services, substance abuse counseling, and curbing juvenile justice issues;...
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