JSM Program

The JSM Program is our leadership program for adolescents and serves as an avenue of support for the youth of North Central Philadelphia as they grow into readers, writers, thinkers, and future leaders of their neighborhood.  The holistic training of our young leaders includes individualized homework support from their mentors, focus on African-American literature, financial literacy, professional development, college preparation, and community service.

(Meet our JSM Staff.)

Our JSMs participate in their own special reading group and writing workshop with their mentor leaders, and they earn rewards based on the number of hours that they volunteer. In summer 2009, four of our JSMs worked 90 hours and went on their first beach trip to Ocean City, Maryland. Then, in the fall, four of our JSMs went on their first trip to New York City! To see pictures of our JSM reward trips, (browse the JSM gallery.)

“Service is the rent we pay to be living. It is the very purpose of life and not something you do in your spare time.”
—Marian Wright Edelman

Want to be a JSM?

Being a JSM is a mixture of fun and responsibility, and JSMs are important members of the Tree House family. To be a JSM, you must be in the 6th grade or older. Our application process includes writing an essay, having an interview, and getting recommendations from community members and teachers.