Who We Are

Empowering Youth.
Breaking Cycles.
Building Futures.

We provide comprehensive wraparound services designed to uplift, heal, and inspire Philadelphia's next generation.

Neferteri Raynor
"My lived experience drives me to ensure every young person sees their potential and has the tools to reach it. We are not just building programs; we are building a village."
Neferteri Raynor
Founder & Executive Director

Our Focus

Targeting youth ages 25 & under. We bridge the gap through Education, Advocacy, STEM, Arts, and Financial Literacy programs.

Our Roots

Founded to break cycles of trauma and build confidence. We offer mentorship, trauma-informed care, and safe spaces for healing.

Our Promise

At Black Bird Organization, we believe every young person deserves a voice, a chance, and a future filled with purpose.

Join Our Village
The State of Education

The data shows the barriers. Our mission provides the breakthrough.

The Math Proficiency Gap
White Students 44%
Black Students 9.3%
2.65x
Higher Suspension Rate

Black students in Philadelphia are nearly 3 times more likely to be suspended than their white peers.

The Funding Crisis

A recent analysis found a statewide funding shortfall that disproportionately affects low-income districts.

43% of Black/Latinx students attend underfunded districts.
Statewide Shortfall
$6.2B

Why We Must Act Now

These aren't just statistics; they are the lived realities of our children. When schools are underfunded and discipline is disproportionate, we tell our youth they don't matter. This systemic neglect creates a pipeline that pushes brilliance out of the classroom and into the justice system.

Bringing high-quality programs directly to our communities is not a luxury—it is a survival strategy. By providing safe spaces, mental health support, and tangible career skills, we are actively dismantling these barriers.

We are not waiting for the system to correct itself. We are building the village our youth deserve right now.

Our Impact Goals

Interrupt Trauma: Replacing punitive discipline with healing and restorative care.
Economic Mobility: Closing the wealth gap through financial literacy and career placement.
Safety & Belonging: Ensuring every young person has a place where they are celebrated, not tolerated.
Frequently Asked Questions
Our programs are open to youth and young adults ages 25 and under. We focus specifically on empowering underserved communities in the Philadelphia area, providing a safe space for growth, leadership development, and healing.
No. Our mission is to remove barriers to access. All core programs, including Workforce Development, Healing Circles, and Life Skills training, are provided free of charge to eligible participants.
You can register online through our Contact Page or by visiting our main office. We have rolling admissions for many programs. If you need help determining which program is right for you, please reach out to us directly.
While Black Bird Organization does not own housing facilities, our 'Youth Support Navigation' program is designed to help young people connect with external housing resources, emergency shelter, and other essential social services.
We accept donations of professional clothing for our career programs (suits, blazers, slacks) and non-perishable food/hygiene items for our community drives. Please check our Events page for upcoming drive dates.