Meet Ed Mack

Edward Mack is Case Manager with the Chester Community Coalition assisting families and individuals to achieve and plan goals. Edward earned an undergraduate degree from Cheyney University majoring in Business Management with a minor in Marketing. This led to him establishing and having a successful business; however, his passion has remained steady with a passion for community service.

Edward was born and raised in North Philadelphia in a community that was infused with poverty and violence. His memories of losing loved ones to gun violence perpetuated his continuous involvement in social services, specifically focusing on trauma informed care. Professionally, Edward holds 25 years working with the community in various aspects of social services such as: Case Management, Family Services, Transitional Housing for college bound youth, Life planning/mentoring skills.

The greatest thing that Edward has learned as a mental health worker is the understanding of different cultures and how to apply his skills, knowledge and most of all personal experience to addressing the community and or individual’s needs. Creating voice and joining forces with the underserved and many times overlooked communities and individuals. Edwards application to emotional intelligence is at the center of everything that he does professionally or personally.

Teen Mental Health First Aid

We are delighted to share that CCC will be bringing teen Mental Health First Aid to high school students in Chester. Teen Mental Health First Aid (tMHFA) teaches high school students how to identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental illnesses and substance use disorders among their friends and peers by helping them connect with a trusted, responsible adult.

Because of the important social, emotional, and physical growth goals achieved during adolescence, this period becomes a vulnerable stage for the onset of mental health conditions. Approximately 8% of US teens suffer from an anxiety disorder, but often times, their difficulties are not addressed.[1] Moreover, around 13% of US adolescents – 1 in 8 – experienced one or more episodes of major depressive disorder in 2017, but less than half of teens who needed treatment have received it. Having considered this, we must acknowledge that youth who have been assaulted or witnessed community violence are especially at risk.

The Foundation for Delaware County has made it possible for Chester Community Coalition to collaborate with the Boys and Girls Club of Chester and the Chester Charter Scholars’ Academy to bring tMHFA to Chester’s 10^th – 12^th graders.

Studies have shown that students trained in tMHFA

demonstrated increased mental health literacy,
were more confident helping a peer with a mental health problem,
viewed seeking help from mental health professionals (e.g., school counselors, therapists) more positively
reported less psychological distress

We are grateful to be able to offer this evidence-based program.

[1] https://www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org/cs/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/MHFA-Grant-Application-Toolkit.pdf

We're so proud of Carol Kazeem, our outreach worker, named a Toyota front-line hero, dancing here with the Philly Phanatic

Watch this trailer for CCC's Virtual Conference: Best Practices in hospital-linked violence intervention: The Challenges for Delaware County. Videos of the presentations are posted here on our website.

Looking for a way to center yourself and relax this summer? Join us for trauma- informed yoga on Wednesday evenings. Our instructor, Ahminah Cottman is a highly trained yoga instructor and a recent graduate of Widener University's MSW program. Each class is designed to provide gentle reconnection with the body and the present to facilitate relaxation and healing. Text or call us to register. It's not too late! 610-368-0714.

Your support allows us to offer participant families safe, door to door transportation (via Lyft), and supper, shared with counselors and volunteers. Donations pay for extra therapists’ time in the schools and in community organizations. Donations support community outreach.

Violence is contagious; trauma is its vector. Helping more people understand the effects of trauma – flashbacks, nightmares, trouble sleeping and concentrating, self-medication with drugs and alcohol – will reduce violence.

For those who prefer to donate by check, please make check out to “Urban Affairs Coalition, Chester Community Coalition”, and mail to:

Urban Affairs Coalition
Attn. Lee Wall
Suite 700
1207 Chestnut St.
Philadelphia, PA 19107

CONTACT US

703 Central Ave.
Chester, PA 19013
(610) 368-0714

info@chestercommunitycoalition.org