So I thought I was going to retire. That didn't really happen. Ulicia Lawrence
During her two months of retirement, Ulicia Lawrence had been spending her time volunteering with Judge Sawyer’s resource sentencing program, working to provide educational coaching and referrals for individuals in the justice system. During this work, however, she recognized the magnitude of need in this community and decided to expand her role.
Through her connections at Temple University, this volunteer work led to her rejoining the workforce: collaborating with the Reentry Coalition and the Office of Reentry Partnerships to support returning citizens, particularly in the Point Breeze neighborhood of South Philadelphia.
Recognizing a lack of resources in her area, Ulicia took charge by installing a community bulletin board outside her home to share information about job fairs, community events, and available resources. She also set up a community refrigerator to help distribute food and other necessities. Her commitment to outreach led her to become the community outreach coordinator at Yesha Ministries Worship Center, where she focuses on connecting seniors and at-risk youth, as well as justice-impacted adults, to opportunities for personal and creative growth.
Through a partnership with the Heinz Creative Arts Initiative, Ulicia has helped launch programs that connect seniors and youth to the arts, bolstering the talents of congregation members and renowned local artists. These programs include music and arts classes, with notable jazz musicians and educators providing mentorship and master classes. The initiative aims to build confidence, foster intergenerational connections, and create a sense of community through shared creative experiences. The program, which began in February 2022, now has about 52 participants, including both seniors and youth.
Ulicia also continues her work with justice-impacted individuals to provide educational coaching, helping them access resources that can reduce their sentences through active engagement in education and job training. She emphasizes the importance of education and resource sentencing for reducing recidivism and improving lives, sharing success stories of participants who have started businesses or achieved personal milestones like earning a GED and professional certifications.
In addition to her ongoing programs, Ulicia highlighted upcoming events, including Philadelphia’s largest citywide job fair taking place at the Aramark STAR Complex on June 5th, aimed at connecting community members with employment opportunities. She expressed the need for more resources and support for her initiatives and welcomed collaboration and information about other organizations working toward similar goals.
Ulicia’s work is continually driven by a passion for uplifting her community, bridging gaps in resources, and fostering hope and opportunity for those who need it most.
Not only do I want to make sure that people in South Philadelphia start to learn about what resources are around them, and are available to them, but I also want to give them the voice to say what resources and what concerns they have and they need. Ulicia Lawrence
Ulicia credits CPI for showing her all the opportunities there are across the city to connect with what she is doing. Because she has been a community advocate and worked in this field for such a significant amount of time, she felt like she had tunnel vision. Although, the diverse instructors and topics covered in the CPI courses, opened her mind to all the connections and opportunities that she has yet to pursue. She now feels as if she has a wider network, along with an information guide to support her in her future projects.
“I keep the CPI folder beside me at all times.”
