West Philadelphia Alliance for Children (WePAC)

The West Philadelphia Alliance for Children (WePAC) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting literacy among children in Philadelphia public schools. Founded in the early 2000s as an outgrowth of an urban ministry project between Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church and various civic groups, WePAC is now an independent 501(c)(3) corporation.

Mission and Activities

WePAC focuses on re-opening and operating school libraries, primarily targeting children in grades K-4, a critical phase in their educational development. The organization aims to foster a lifelong love of reading among these children, who often lack access to libraries or books at home. WePAC volunteers engage children through Read Alouds, book selection, and circulation services, using resources that align with the Pennsylvania Core Standards for English Language Arts.

WePAC provides its services at no cost to the schools or the School District of Philadelphia, relying entirely on private funding. By circulating thousands of books and engaging over 2,000 students each week across different schools, WePAC plays a crucial role in enriching the educational environment for low-income schoolchildren.

Impact and Expansion

Since its inception, WePAC has made significant strides in improving literacy access. In the academic year 2023-2024, the organization served over 2,330 students per week and circulated more than 33,000 books. WePAC's impact is underscored by its commitment to re-opening closed school libraries, making it the only nonprofit in Philadelphia systematically addressing this issue. As of the 2024-2025 academic year, WePAC is partnering with 11 West Philadelphia public elementary schools, with plans to expand to additional schools.

Programs and Partnerships

WePAC collaborates with organizations like Penn Libraries Community Engagement to develop educational guides and resources. The organization also participates in initiatives such as Dolly Parton's Imagination Library Program, which provides free books to children from birth to age five in certain zip codes. WePAC's library services are entirely volunteer-driven, with over 100 volunteers trained annually to support its programs.

Historical Context

WePAC began its services in West Philadelphia during the 2003-2004 school year by placing six volunteers in one elementary school. It has since grown into a prominent nonprofit, dedicated to addressing the critical need for literacy resources in Philadelphia's public education system. Given the high dropout rates among Philadelphia students and the significance of third-grade reading proficiency as a predictor of future educational success, WePAC's mission is both timely and crucial for the community it serves.