Overview
Take Two Youth Film Mentorship and Juvenile Diversion Program, a year round creative workforce and re entry initiative. Take Two, an initiative of The Philadelphia Film Factory in partnership with We Embrace Fatherhood and the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office Juvenile Diversion Programs, is a year round film based diversion and re-entry program designed to interrupt cycles of violence, support positive youth development, and reduce juvenile justice involvement. This program is supported by Spring Point Partners LLC. The program operates on a rolling admission basis, allowing court involved and at-risk youth to enroll throughout the year and receive continuous access to supportive services, mentorship, and skill building opportunities.
At the core of Take Two is a strong focus on one on one mentorship. Each participant is paired with a dedicated mentor who offers consistent guidance, emotional support, accountability, and career exploration. Mentors help youth navigate challenges, develop strengths, and stay connected to positive opportunities that support stability and growth.
The program begins with a personalized intake process. Staff meet individually with each youth to learn about their background, needs, interests, goals, and challenges. Together, the youth and staff create an individualized development plan that may include film production goals, life skills support, mental health resources, academic or vocational needs, workforce preparation, and personal milestones. This tailored approach ensures that each participant receives support that is responsive to their specific circumstances.
Take Two provides a restorative, trauma informed alternative to juvenile court involvement, giving youth a constructive path forward through creative film education and hands on production training, leadership development and life skills workshops, workforce readiness and media career exposure, mental health and emotional support resources, long term mentorship and relationship building, and community engagement and civic responsibility. By combining artistic expression with job training and personalized guidance, Take Two helps youth redirect their path and build long term stability.
As a year round program, Take Two offers ongoing film labs, weekly workshops, production sessions, individualized support, and opportunities for youth to take on leadership roles, assist on film crews, and deepen their involvement over time. This continual structure ensures consistent support and minimizes gaps that can lead to disengagement or reoffending.
The partnership with the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office Juvenile Diversion Programs allows Take Two to serve as a court approved diversion pathway for youth, a community based non punitive alternative to fines, probation violations, or detention, a re entry support resource for youth returning from placement, and a structured environment focused on accountability, creativity, and healing.
Through hands-on film production, youth develop technical skills in cinematography, editing, sound, and storytelling. They express their experiences, challenges, and hopes through creative outlets, build discipline, communication skills, and teamwork, practice real world problem solving, and use art to process trauma and imagine new futures. Participants collaborate to create youth-led film projects that explore meaningful community issues such as violence prevention, mental health, justice, identity, and unity.
Program activities include public screenings and youth-led discussions where participants share their films with families and the community, speak about the issues that matter to them, present ideas for community improvement, celebrate their creative achievements, and strengthen positive identity. These events amplify youth voices, reduce stigma, and foster community connection.
Take Two supports youth in exploring career pathways by providing industry standard film and media training, resume and portfolio development support, interview preparation, access to professional mentors and guest experts, opportunities for stipends or internships when available, and referrals to continuing education, training, or employment resources. Youth can remain engaged with the program for ongoing growth, development, and connection.
