PAL Programs:

PAL Day at City Hall

Basketball

Talent Shows

Community Thanksgiving Turkey Distributions

Peer Tutoring

PAL Scholarship Recipient

Field Trips such as Phillies and 76ers Games

Family and Friends:

Caleb’s aunts, uncles, cousins, and a host of friends were involved with PAL

PAL’s Influence on Caleb’s Life:

I’m 18 years old and a Freshman at Drexel University with a major in Music Industry. I graduated from Carver Engineering and Science High School with honors in June 2021. I have been a member of the Police Athletic League (PAL) for more than 12 years; starting out at Lenfest PAL and later becoming more involved at Cozen PAL Center. Both centers were run by Officer Phyllis Young.

In my third-grade year, music class was cut from the school district budget. Later, I realized that they cut out my passion and primary career interest. In addition to these cuts to the arts, there were cuts to athletics. My high school, for example, shares a football team with another local high school.

These cuts take away opportunities for inner-city students having access to college scholarships based on their talents. Neighboring schools in the suburbs get to enjoy vibrant arts programs and athletic programs. Where does this leave those like me? Those opportunities did not exist. Instead, I had to sign up for them on my own outside of school. Once I joined PAL, I had the opportunity to participate in a lot of the things my high school was lacking, such as a variety of sports, community service projects like the annual turkey drive, and having the opportunity to showcase my musical abilities in PAL talent shows. Being able to befriend other PAL students who went through the public school system and related to the struggles of going to school in Philadelphia made me realize that PAL was more than a program. It was sort of an oasis to the struggles of Philly.

My experience with PAL has taught me how to communicate with many different types of people. The social skills I gained through PAL have made it easier to make new friends as I transitioned into my freshman year in college. PAL also influenced me to be a person open to new experiences. During my time in PAL, I had opportunities to join sports I’ve never played or attend field trips to places I never been before. Those experiences helped shape me into an adventurous person whether it’s taking a harder class, or traveling to a new place.

June 2022