Robert's Hope for The HCP

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A young 1st grade teacher recognized that a disruptive student named Zaphir couldn’t read. She invested extra time for tutoring sessions. He read his first book that year. But that wouldn’t be enough. Fast forward 10 years to June 2025: he died—along with his hopes and dreams--on the streets of Southwest Philadelphia from multiple gunshot wounds.


Later that June, the Hope Center Philly team joined the 12 th Police District on a Peace Walk in Southwest Philly. On the block where Zaphir and others had died, we prayed for God to protect the next generation. We also doubled down on our determination to develop a safe place for Zaphir’s generation to protect their hidden hopes and dreams.


We’re too late for Zaphir but we are reporting for duty to help shepherd these dreams, making sure these kids can read, stay in school, learn critical life skills. Along the way these kids can make friends, build community, and hear God’s invitations.


Most of my years have been focused on war zones around the world where trauma strips away futures. But experts say the trauma on the streets of U.S. cities is comparable to trauma effects in places like the eastern Congo, Darfur, or Gaza. Kids are struggling to survive and find a way to their future.


Joining the Hope Center Philly team was an easy “Yes” for me. We will remember Zaphir. We pledge to help his peers push through adolescence and into adulthood with their hopes intact, ready to pursue their dreams.


May God bless the Hope Center Philly!


- Robert Briggs

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