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On 60th Street in West Philadelphia, the white building on the corner appears to be just another corner store, but a look inside reveals this isn’t any ordinary building — it’s a gemstone of the Haddington community.
The building is the home of ACHIEVEability. ACHIEVEability is a non-profit organization working to serve single parents, low-income families and the homeless. The organization helps residents with an array of services which include utility assistance, home ownership, job search and educational development.
“Most people who come to ACHIEVEability need help finding jobs,” said Nijah Famous, community development manager of ACHIEVEability. “We also help residents get their utilities cut back on if they receive shut off notices.”
The people the organization serves the most are single-parent mothers and the elderly.
ACHIEVEabilty has been serving the Haddington community for 31 years and is the only non-profit in the area.
The community is an active part of the organization and they help to keep it running.
Once a month the organization holds town hall meetings to discuss issues in the community and to plan upcoming events. The meetings are led by the Community Advisory Council. The council is comprised of elected officers who are active members of the community and have a firsthand knowledge of what the community needs in order to be more successful.
People who volunteer for ACHIEVEability come from all walks of life, but they have one common goal of wanting to help people in the community.
Cheron Wise, who is one of the volunteers, said she volunteers because it helps her stay positive and allows her to give back to the community. Wise said she hopes to open a non-profit organization one day.
“I am currently in graduate school to receive my masters in public administration, and I hope to open my own non-profit that would focus on programs for the youth, such as tutoring and after-school programs,” Wise said.
Mosi Blaylock, who is another volunteer, said he gained skills in public speaking due to volunteering at ACHIEVEability.
“Being a volunteer at ACHIEVEability has helped me with my public speaking skills, it has allowed me to be more professional because I make telephone calls and answer the phone,” said Blaylock.
The volunteers play a huge part in the success of the organization and help to keep it running smoothly.
“The volunteers are the backbone of this organization,” said Yahya Bey, a community service associate.
In the future, ACHIEVEability may expand their services to more communities in the Philadelphia area.
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