Chester youth present summer heritage trip to council after weeklong PLA program

Ten Chester youths who attended a PLA Summer Adventures trip presented art and short remarks to City Council, describing a multi‑state program that included visits to the Penn Center, the Harriet Tubman Museum and sites in Savannah and Philadelphia.

Victor Cabral, vision/actualization and community connection specialist at nonprofit 4 Circles Beyond, said the organization led the youth program and urged continued community support. Youth speakers summarized what they learned: understanding local and national Black history, connections to ancestors at the Penn Center, and civic lessons drawn from visits to the MOVE bombing memorial in Philadelphia and the Tubman Museum. "After my visit to the Harriet Tubman Museum, I was inspired to write this letter to Harriet," 16‑year‑old Kayla said in a prepared reading.

Organizers showed a collage and artwork created by participants and said they would leave the pieces in City Hall for viewing. Parents and council members praised the program: one parent said her child returned "more mature than 13 years of school could ever do," and council members thanked the youth and encouraged broader participation in similar programs.

4 Circles Beyond said the summer trip targeted youth ages 13–16; staff said future programming will expand to other age groups and that donations may be made at 4circlesbeyond.org. Cabral said the nonprofit plans additional year‑round activities and is already discussing next year’s trip.

Why it matters: Council members and parents framed the program as a civic and cultural education that provides young people travel and hands‑on historical learning the speakers said were not available through regular school curricula. City officials agreed to post the art and to help publicize future needs for funding and volunteers.

Attribution: Remarks by Victor Cabral and youth are taken from the group’s presentation to council and the public‑comment record.