Posted August 1, 2016

Students from the Out of School Time program at St. Martin de Porres School in North Philadelphia were among the more than 3,000 Philadelphia youths, ages 7 to 17, who joined the Mighty Writers public writing project July 26 on the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. According to organizers of the event, it set a record for most children writing at the same place at the same time.

The essay topic the youths wrote about was “If I were president,” which was fitting as the Democratic National Convention was held last week in Philadelphia.

The Out of School Time (OST) program, which archdiocesan Catholic Social Services runs at many Catholic schools across Philadelphia, gives young people who live in disadvantaged and violent neighborhoods a safe place to study and spend time during the summer months and in evenings during the school year. (Photos by Sarah Webb)