STRAWBERRY MANSION LEARNING CENTER

What STRAWBERRY MANSION LEARNING CENTER does

Strawberry Mansion Learning Center (SMLC) is a Philadelphia-based nonprofit community organization founded in 2008 by Kevin Upshur, operating from a converted family-owned bar at 2946 Dauphin Street in the Strawberry Mansion neighborhood of North Philadelphia. The center delivers three core programs: an After School Tutoring Program (Mathematics, Civics, Science) for youth ages 10-17 running Monday-Thursday from 3:30 PM to 6:00 PM; a Mentoring Program with adult-led field trips to civic landmarks; and a Summer Camp and Reading Program running July through August. It serves at-risk youth and local families in a neighborhood characterized by gun violence, poverty, and low literacy rates, functioning primarily as an after-school safe haven with adult mentorship.

The organization employs 9 people and has no proprietary technology platform, digital distribution, or app-based delivery; services are accessed in person at the physical location. The revenue model is donation- and grant-based, with services provided free of charge to beneficiaries; funding sources include individual donations via a GoFundMe campaign for building renovation, sporadic corporate gifts (notably AT&T), and in-kind community support. SMLC maintains a partnership ecosystem that includes the Philadelphia Phillies, Temple University, NET Community Care, the Strawberry Mansion Tennis Association (SMTA), Brightside Academy Daycare Centers, Enon Baptist Church, Community College of Philadelphia, and the Veronica Jouner School for tutoring curriculum.

SMLC is governed by a board chaired by Inayah Hart with Kevin Upshur as Founder/President, Donna Carroll as Board Secretary, and additional directors Lin Thomas, Salim Amir Ali, Stanley L. Straughter, and Anuj Gupta. The organization has been featured in earned media across NBC News, HuffPost, CBS Philly, ABC News, the Philadelphia Inquirer, and Spirit News. There is no parent company, no outside institutional investment, no M&A activity, and no public stock listing; the operating footprint is confined to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Name

STRAWBERRY MANSION LEARNING CENTER

Legal name

Strawberry Mansion Learning Center

Website

https://strawberrymansionlearningcenter.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Strawberry Mansion Learning Center is a Philadelphia-based nonprofit founded in 2008 that provides after-school tutoring, mentoring, and summer reading programs free of charge to at-risk youth ages 10-17 in the Strawberry Mansion neighborhood, funded by donations and community grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Youth Education Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Child Day Care Services (8351)

akta.pro primary industry

School-Age Wraparound Childcare Centers (Holiday/Break Care) (EDACAAAL)

Keywords

• Youth education services
• After-school tutoring
• Youth mentorship programs
• Community learning center
• Nonprofit youth development

Headquarters

HQ city

Philadelphia

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Strawberry Mansion Learning Center provides free after-school academic tutoring (Mathematics, Civics, Science), youth mentorship, and a summer reading/camp program for at-risk youth ages 10–17 in the Strawberry Mansion neighborhood of North Philadelphia. Services run Monday–Thursday from 3:30 PM to 6:00 PM in-school-year and July–August in summer, and are supplemented with field trips, computer literacy, public speaking, music, and tennis lessons. The center also functions as a safe-haven offering adult supervision and positive role models for youth who would otherwise face empty homes or unsafe streets.

Product overview

The Strawberry Mansion Learning Center offers a suite of youth development programs including an After School Tutoring Program for students ages 10-17, a Mentoring Program with field trips and adult mentorship, and a Summer Camp and Reading Program. These programs collectively serve as an afterschool safe-haven providing academic support, mentorship, and enrichment activities for youth in the Strawberry Mansion neighborhood of Philadelphia.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• After School Tutoring Program

Quantifiable outcome

• Transformed a family-owned bar into a community learning center serving youth since 2008

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Philadelphia PhilliesminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024The Phillies participated in MLK Day of Service at Strawberry Mansion Learning Center as part of their Winter Tour. The partnership involves community service events and youth engagement activities at the center.
• NET Community CareminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024NET Community Care is described as wonderful neighbors and partners to the center, supporting the center's work with youth in the neighborhood.
• Temple UniversityminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTemple University participated in community service events at the center, including MLK Day of Service activities.
• Gary BarberaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGary Barbera participated in community service events and support activities at the center.
• Veronica Jouner SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional tutoring program partnership providing assistance with Mathematics, Civics, and Science curriculum for center students.
• Community College of PhiladelphiaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSMTA (Strawberry Mansion Tennis Association) provides services to Community College of Philadelphia as part of tennis and fitness programs.
• Brightside Academy Daycare CentersminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSMTA provides youth tennis camps and services to Brightside Academy Daycare Centers in Philadelphia.
• Enon Baptist ChurchminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSMTA provides services to Enon Baptist Church in Philadelphia as part of community tennis and fitness programs.
• Strawberry Mansion Tennis Association (SMTA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSMTA, founded by Salim Amir Ali in 1998, is a nonprofit that promotes nutrition, health, and fitness programs for youth and adults. SMTA provides youth tennis camps and programs to the Strawberry Mansion Learning Center.
• Miles Gray Jr. Memorial Tennis CourtscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe tennis courts at 33rd Street in East Fairmount Park were refurbished through community activism with the City's Parks & Recreation department. The 10 courts were renamed in honor of the late youth professional tennis player Miles Gray Jr.
• U.S. Air ForceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerIn 1999, Salim Amir Ali conducted youth tennis camps at U.S. Air Force Bases including Seymour Johnson (NC), Patrick Field (FL), and Hurlburt Field (FL).

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Regional players

• Philadelphia Out-of-School Time (OST) Initiative: City-wide after-school program funding and coordination effort, comparable as a regional player funding and organizing programs similar to SMLC's offerings.
• Philadelphia Youth Network: Philadelphia-based intermediary connecting youth to education and workforce opportunities, comparable as a regional coordinator of youth services in the same geography as SMLC.

Direct peers

• Horizons National: Operates summer academic and enrichment programs for underserved youth, directly comparable to SMLC's Summer Camp and Reading Program.
• Police Athletic League (PAL): Provides after-school educational, athletic, and mentoring programs to at-risk youth in urban communities, closely aligned with SMLC's afterschool safe-haven and tutoring model.
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of America: National mentoring organization pairing adult volunteers with youth, directly comparable to SMLC's mentoring program and field-trip-based adult mentorship offering.
• Communities In Schools: National nonprofit that places support staff inside schools to connect at-risk students with mentoring, tutoring, and basic services, comparable to SMLC's wraparound support model.
• After-School All-Stars: National nonprofit providing comprehensive after-school programs including academic support, enrichment, and sports to underserved youth, similar in scope to SMLC's tutoring plus enrichment model.

Broad incumbents

• YMCA of the USA: Operates youth development, after-school, and community programs nationwide, overlapping with SMLC's youth services and community-based mission.
• Boys & Girls Clubs of America: National nonprofit operating after-school and youth development programs for at-risk youth, directly comparable in mission and target population to SMLC, though at vastly greater scale.

Emerging players

• Brightside Academy: Philadelphia-based youth and childcare provider that already partners with SMLC's tennis program, making it a direct regional peer in the local youth services ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/SMLCPHILLY
• Instagraminstagram.com/strawberrymansion_lc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/strawberry-mansion-learning-center

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about STRAWBERRY MANSION LEARNING CENTER