PHILADELPHIA (May 23, 2022) — District Attorney Larry Krasner today announced the awarding of $60,000 in violence prevention grants to three community-based youth-cycling programs. The awardees are as follows: Bartram’s Garden ($30,000); Neighborhood Bike Works ($20,000); and the Philly Pumptrack ($10,000).As warmer weather approaches, so does the likelihood of increased gun violence. This latest round of awards is in keeping with the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office’s (DAO) commitment to community-based organizations carrying out the important work of addressing the root causes of gun violence. Since May 2021, the DAO has awarded over $700,000 in violence prevention funding to local nonprofit organizations.
Bartram’s Garden provides free youth bike programming in Southwest Philadelphia throughout the spring, summer, and autumn months. Their programming includes bicycle repair workshops, free rentals, group rides, and more. Learn more.
Neighborhood Bike Works’ Youth Bike Education & Empowerment Program (YBEEP) has been engaging Philadelphia youth ages 8-18 for two decades with a wide range of education, recreation, leadership, and career-building opportunities. YBEEP offers bicycle riding and mechanic workshops that strive to teach youth healthy habits, problem-solving, conflict resolution, and leadership skills that can often lead to academic and professional successes. Learn more.
The Philly Pumptrack, which officially launched in May of this year, plans to expand its pilot BikeLife program. BikeLife’s mission is to specifically engage community youth who have been exposed to violence by helping to improve their health and wellness, provide mentorship opportunities, and develop career-building skills. Learn more.
“Simply put, programs like these are part of the solution to saving the lives of our city’s youth and improving public safety in the long-term,” said DA Krasner. “Quite often, when you give young people options, such as learning how to ride a bike, access to skill building and mentors, and more, they choose the right path. I applaud the work that these organizations are doing, and I implore deep-pocketed city stakeholders to heavily invest in these programs because they work.”“Bartram’s Garden provides a beacon of hope, light, and endless possibility for our youth in Southwest Philly,” said PA House Minority Leader Joanna McClinton. “Countless children benefit from the summer programming and many become employees at the Sankofa Community Farm. I am proud to be an advocate in Harrisburg for this city gem and am appreciative to District Attorney Krasner for wisely reinvesting into this entity.”
“I used to ride my bike with my friends up and down our block. There was only so much you could do with that,” said 17-year-old Christopher Leggett, a recent high school graduate and current Philly Pumptrack employee. “But when I found this place, I immediately knew I had to bring everybody here. It really helped keep me off the streets, and that’s why I really want a lot of other people to know about this great program.”
DAO violence prevention grant funding, derived from the lawful and appropriate use of civil asset forfeiture, is distributed and audited by the Philadelphia Foundation.
###
The Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office is the largest prosecutor’s office in Pennsylvania, and one of the largest in the nation. It serves the more than 1.5 million residents of the City and County of Philadelphia, employing 600 lawyers, detectives, and support staff. The District Attorney’s Office is responsible for the prosecution of approximately 40,000 criminal cases annually. Learn more about the DAO by visiting PhillyDA.org.