ManUpPHL: ‘We Are Making a Difference, One Life at a Time’

By: Nikia J. Stowe (she/her) 1.31.2025
At ManUpPHL, we are using mentorship to change the course of participants’ lives—and we don’t make that statement lightly.
As a program coordinator here, I’ve seen firsthand the transformative impact of mentorship for young people. We are a community-based violence intervention (CVI) organization dedicated to mentoring young Black men between the ages of 13 and 35 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Our story begins with our founder, Solomon Jones. He launched ManUpPHL just one month after his son’s 15-year-old classmate was tragically shot and killed in South Philadelphia. Using his radio platform, Solomon called Black men together to address the crisis of gun violence in Philadelphia. Four hundred people responded. And in November 2019, ManUpPHL was formed.
In Philadelphia, Black people are 4.4 times more likely to die by gun homicide than their white counterparts. This statistic is a stark reflection of the unequal impact of gun violence that is prevalent in many U.S. cities, particularly in historically underfunded neighborhoods. This violence spreads through social networks and intensifies long-standing inequities and public health disparities.
No single organization can fix systemic racism embedded in our legal, health, housing, and education institutions. But at ManUpPHL, we are doing what we can to offer alternative paths to those most at risk. We step into the lives of those who are statistically most likely to be impacted by gun violence and offer them mentoring, accountability, and access to resources—tools that can ultimately change their lives. By doing so, we help make our communities safer and stronger.
“We are making a difference one life at a time. Many have gone on to secure employment, start college courses, start therapy—this is a tremendous opportunity for young men to make an investment in themselves.”
—Nikia J. Stowe, ManUpPHL
Mentorship is at the heart of our violence intervention work. Our mentors provide young people with connections to resources in six critical areas:
- Employment,
- Criminal justice,
- Education,
- Family,
- Fatherhood, and
- Financial literacy.
But mentorship isn’t just about connecting young people to tangible services—it’s about providing them with a consistent, positive relationship. I can’t overstate the importance of having someone in your life who you know is on your team, and that personal connection is often a critical factor in our participants’ success. Having someone who believes in you can change everything—from your experience in a school setting to the type of job you pursue to your sense of self-worth. And those factors, in turn, can contribute to violence prevention.
We know this approach works because we listen to those who are most impacted by gun violence in Philadelphia.

In April 2021, we launched our “Listening to the Streets” initiative. Through this program, we connect directly with young Black youth and men in the city who are statistically the most likely to be affected by gun violence. These individuals provide invaluable insight into the root causes of the issue, as well as possible solutions.
All of our Listening to the Streets participants receive a $15-an-hour stipend and a free daily meal. Qualified participants are also offered a job at the end of the 8-week cohort. During the cohort, participants:
- Engage in lessons on character, conflict resolution, job readiness, and more;
- Participate in a group therapy session with a licensed therapist;
- Are paired with a mentor and support team for guidance; and
- Share their experiences and ideas about the causes and effects of, and solutions to, gun violence.
In 2021, the first cohorts identified eight factors influencing “gun culture” in Philadelphia, including the role of relationships and self-worth. They also highlighted how community members and organizations can address gun violence. One key finding was the need for “resource connectors”: People who connect those impacted by gun violence to resources and alternatives, such as:
- Individual and family therapy,
- Life skills and vocational training,
- Educational opportunities,
- Life-coaching, and
- Jobs.
“We step into the lives of those who are statistically most likely to be impacted by gun violence and offer them mentoring, accountability, and access to resources—tools that can ultimately change their lives. By doing so, we help make our communities safer and stronger.”
—Nikia J. Stowe, ManUpPHL
In 2022, we expanded our reach by launching a middle school program. This new initiative allows us to start working with youth as young as 13—before they are fully exposed to gun violence culture. We now go into schools to meet with these young people, talking about everything from where they feel safe in their communities to the challenges they face in avoiding the allure of gun violence culture.

Of course, challenges remain. Some participants will make it through the application process but struggle to stay consistent in the program. We’re up against stigma and fear in our communities, which can make it difficult for people to openly discuss how gun violence affects them. But despite these challenges, our programs have shown that change is possible. One of our participants, who found a job through an employer partnership, has already earned high praise at his workplace for his work ethic and dedication. He’s already agreed to come back and speak with a future cohort of mentees. Additionally, many family members—especially mothers—have expressed their appreciation for the changes they’ve seen in their loved ones.
At ManUpPHL, we are making a difference one life at a time. Many have gone on to secure employment, start college courses, start therapy—this is a tremendous opportunity for young men to make an investment in themselves.
As a program coordinator overseeing both our middle school and adult mentor programs, I’ve seen how quickly the demand for our services has grown. Since launching the program in 2022, we’ve already doubled in size, and more schools are requesting our help. But like many organizations, we initially lacked the capacity to meet this growing demand.
Thanks to a generous grant from the Everytown Community Safety Fund, we’re able to change that. The funds will allow us to hire a mentor recruiter, assisting our current volunteer coordinator in finding and training more mentors—the backbone of our program. We’ll also be able to:
- Provide stipends for an additional 50 Listening to the Streets participants,
- Cover program costs like meals and cultural experiences, and
- Hire a job developer to help forge more partnerships between employers and ManUpPHL.
As the desire for our programs increases, this grant and the continued support from our community will allow us to remain engaged with the youth and young men who need us most, helping them stay on track and out of harm’s way. At ManUpPHL, we are committed to supporting our mentees and participants every step of the way.
Learn more
- Learn more about ManUpPHL.
- Learn more about the Everytown Community Safety Fund grant program.
Author
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Nikia J. Stowe (she/her)
Nikia J. Stowe (she/her) is the program coordinator at ManUpPHL.