Credit: Commonwealth Media Services
PHILADELPHIA, PA — Governor Josh Shapiro visited West Philadelphia on Friday to highlight his administration’s increased investment in community-based violence prevention initiatives. At the heart of the visit was a stop at Beyond the Bars, a nonprofit that supports young people through music and leadership development — a program that has grown significantly thanks to state funding.
Backed by more than $530,000 in Violence Intervention and Prevention (VIP) grants from the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD), Beyond the Bars has expanded from 40 to 56 sites since 2023. The funding has helped the group extend its trauma-informed “Ecosystem of Support” program to schools, shelters, clinics, and diversion centers throughout Philadelphia…