Collaborative effort expands access to summer activities and afterschool programs and strengthens youth violence prevention
Access to safe, enriching experiences outside of traditional school hours is more than a convenience—it’s essential. These spaces support learning, build relationships, foster leadership, and play a critical role in preventing and reducing the conditions for youth violence. Now, a new tool is making it easier than ever for families to find those opportunities.
The RDG Youth Hub, launched in 2026, is a year-round, interactive online map designed to connect youth and families in Reading to local programs and resources. The platform allows users to search by program type, age group, and location—bringing together a wide range of opportunities into one accessible, user-friendly space.
The Hub is the result of a multi-year collaboration between Centro Hispano and youth-serving agencies across the Reading community through the Greater Reading Thriving Together Initiative (formerly the Harwood Initiative). A working group of youth-serving agencies was formed with a shared goal: to increase access to and participation in high-quality afterschool and out-of-school-time programs.
The work began by listening.
Through conversations with students, parents, and community partners, several key needs emerged. Families expressed a strong desire for a centralized, easy-to-use place to find information about local opportunities. They also identified persistent barriers, including transportation, cost, and competing responsibilities—particularly for youth caring for younger siblings after school. In addition, families highlighted the importance of having a diverse range of programs that reflect different interests and age groups, from STEM and the arts to emotional wellness and youth leadership.
Guided by these insights, the working group began building solutions. Early efforts included a Summer Activity Slide Deck in 2021, evolving to a simple Google Map in 2025. That map alone was viewed more than 50,000 times—demonstrating both the demand for and the impact of accessible, centralized information.
Building on that momentum, partners worked together to develop the RDG Youth Hub as a more robust, sustainable, and year-round tool.
“We knew we had tapped into something important,” said Laura Cordero, Director of Community Impact at Centro Hispano. “This platform reflects what’s possible when we listen to the community and work together to respond.”
Beyond improving access to information, the Hub supports broader community goals. Research and local experience show that when young people are connected to meaningful, high-quality opportunities, the entire community benefits. Expanding access to these experiences is a key strategy in preventing and reducing youth violence.
The RDG Youth Hub was designed with Reading School District youth and families in mind, recognizing that factors such as transportation, affordability, language, program quality, and alignment with a young person’s interests all play a role in decision-making.
Organizers hope the platform not only helps families find what they need, but also highlights the depth of opportunity across the city.
“This tool highlights incredible opportunities that sometimes fly under the radar within our community,” says Laura. “At the same time, we can use it to gather important data about programming gaps and demand across our community. This information will be critical to data-driven decision making, and innovating solutions to the issues that matter most to our community.”
The project would not have been possible without the contributions of numerous community partners, organizations, and volunteers. In addition to all the partners on the Greater Reading Thriving Together / Harwood Initiative, special thanks to the Reading School District, the Berks Youth Anti-Violence Coalition, and Laurie Grobman from Penn State Berks. Funding is made possible through Centro Hispano and the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency.
Explore the RDG Youth Hub:
About Centro Hispano
Centro Hispano is a community-based organization serving the Greater Reading area, dedicated to strengthening families and empowering individuals. For over 60 years, Centro Hispano has been providing culturally responsive programs designed to expand opportunity, promote stability, and build stronger, more connected communities.
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