West End Neighborhood House

Happy Father’s Day from our family to yours! 💚💙

Last Friday, we came together for a true Family Reunion at our Life Lines South property, with a staff BBQ, field day, games, laughter, and time to simply enjoy being together outside of the day-to-day work.

The day was a reminder that West End is more than a workplace, it is a community of people who show up for one another and for the thousands of individuals and families we serve each year.

It was also extra special because Life Lines South recently celebrated one year since opening on June 9! This property has already become an important part of our work to support young adults as they build stability, independence, and brighter futures.

Today, we also celebrate the fathers, father figures, mentors, coaches, caregivers, and role models who help strengthen families and communities every day.

Here’s to family, fellowship, and the continued impact of Life Lines South! 💚💙

Bright Spot Farm, Eed At West End, HomeBase_LLP, Launcher, Stand By Me: Delaware Financial Empowerment Partnership, West Side Grows (Wilmington, DE), WestendYdd, Above Xpectations Track & Field

Happy Juneteenth. Today Our House is closed in recognition of this celebration.

Our WestendYdd students created a Juneteenth art project, and they worked diligently to research the history and significance of Juneteenth and then collaborated to create this informative and creative display. Through their research, they learned about the importance of freedom, resilience, culture, and the historical events that led to the celebration of Juneteenth. The project allowed students to combine critical thinking, historical understanding, and artistic expression.

We are incredibly proud of the effort, creativity, and teamwork demonstrated by our students and would love to showcase their work as part of our Juneteenth recognition and celebration. 💙💚

You can also view the individual parts in each picture. Thank you YDD - you did a wonderful job!

Facebook friends, time to celebrate one of our all stars, Keith Márquez Ruiz Taylor, who is one of our kindest staff members, unless you fall out of step on the track! 😉

Keith is our Administrator of the WestendYdd
& Above Xpectations Track & Field Coach, and he is celebrating 11 years 💙💚🖤

He loves “watching young people discover their potential and realize that their circumstances do not define their future.” Keith your ripple effect has impacted hundreds of youth and their families, and we are thankful you are part of our family!

Congratulations to Tyson Tanner for recently completing “another first year” , as he is one of our “Boomerang” staff that started, left and returned, and we’re so thankful he did. 💙🎉💚

He is our Above Xpectations Track & Field
Coach for Long Sprints and Distance. He enjoys “being able to guide the next generation of people who will soon be adults. We get to expose them to life outside of the confines of their reality to structure a new reality they can grasp. Helping them to realize their potential in sport and academics so college becomes more real than just a childhood dream.”

Tyson, keep helping the kids soar! 💚🖤

We love celebrating work anniversaries at Our House, but today is extra special: our Executive Director, Paul F Calistro Jr, is celebrating 35 years with West End Neighborhood House! 💚💙

For more than three decades, Paul has strengthened Our House with innovative ideas, bold partnerships, and programs that respond to the changing needs of our community and state.

To honor this milestone, and yes, because Paul will be retiring by the end of the year, we’re throwing a fun-filled celebration fundraiser on Friday, October 9, from 6:30-10:30 PM at DuPont Country Club.

Expect great food and drinks, live bands, dancing, stories, shared memories, a short program, and plenty of time to celebrate Paul and West End. Tickets are $150 per person.

We are especially grateful to Barclays Bank US, our Presenting Visionary Sponsor, for helping make this celebration possible.

Read Paul’s full message, reserve your tickets, or make a gift in honor of this milestone here: https://conta.cc/4v8cDvj

Please note, we will be closed tomorrow, Friday, June 12th, and look forward to seeing you again on Monday, June 15th. Have a nice day, and a great weekend!

Time to celebrate our Director of Employment and Training for our Education and Employment (EED) , Mia Harvey on her 7 year Work-iversary! 💙💚

She often says, "When in NEED, call EED!" She loves having the "autonomy to explore different endeavors for program development (tapping into her creative side), to meet the needs of our customers where they are without delay. As an added bonus, she celebrates today's National Day - Best Friends Day, daily with her work best friends. Mia, thank you for all you do for Our House and the community.

Tomorrow is Opening day for the weekly West Side Farmers Market at Cool Spring Park, hosted by our friends at West Side Grows (Wilmington, DE), with the theme: Caribbean American Heritage Month Celebration! It's amazing this has been a staple of the community for 15 years! 💚💙

Join us on Wednesdays from 3:30 - 6:30 pm. Excited that our Bright Spot Farm will continue to be there weekly, and we're partnering with Launcher and some of our entrepreneurs and their companies!