The mission of Safe Harbour is to provide housing and supportive services for individuals and families to help them achieve independent living by increasing their basic life skills. Adequate and safe housing is a fundamental part of the GCP’s vision of a future in which all residents can live rich and meaningful lives. Safe Harbour provides housing to homeless and potentially homeless individuals and families in the Carlisle Area. With Safe Harbour’s supportive services, clients are able to get back on their feet and continue to help this community grow and flourish.
YWCA Carlisle is a non-profit, social justice centered agency that works to eliminate racism and empower women in the Carlisle community and beyond. YWCA operates programs for people of all genders, from preschool age into adulthood. Many of their program offerings focus on educating members of the Carlisle Community. For example, a youth program called “After School Homework Club” provides “a safe and enriching environment for students in grades kindergarten through fifth to complete their homework.” Many of their programs, like this one, are staffed by volunteers from the Carlisle and Dickinson communities. Other programs focus on teaching nutrition, sexual violence prevention, physical wellness, fitness, and respectful communication. There are many volunteer opportunities and ways to get involved, which can be found on the YWCA Carlisle website.
The LEAF Project (Leadership Education And Farming) is a farm-based youth employment program. Launched by Heidi Witmer in 2013, the project envisions a community in which our youth, as well as all members of our region, are connected to the food that nourishes them, the land on which it grows, and to each other. To achieve this, LEAF provides paid internships to youth, ages 14-18, to work alongside farmers and chefs in the greater Carlisle region. These internships are meant to engage and inspire youth through the meaningful work of building a healthy local food system. Youth work, collaborate, and learn together, motivating personal and social change while increasing knowledge about and access to locally raised food in our community.
The Parks and Recreation Department of the Borough of Carlisle works to provide open spaces and movement based activities for members of the Carlisle community. Parks and Rec created and maintains a bike trail system which provides community members with a safe place to exercise. They have produced a map to make the trails more accessible (see below).
The Carlisle Arts Learning Center (CALC) serves and enriches the community by encouraging creativity and self-esteem through exploration and appreciation of the visual arts. It does this via classes and workshops, exhibits, and participation in community events. Since its founding in January 1992, CALC has offered a variety of courses for children and adults in a number of settings, including the Carlisle YWCA, Carlisle Community Center, One West Penn, Cumberland Crossings, and Memorial Park Train Station. Disadvantaged children and adults may participate in CALC classes at reduced charges via its scholarship program. In 2001, CALC began offering customized workshops at the request of organizations like the Girl Scouts and the YWCA summer day camp program. Since 1998 CALC has also mounted a variety of arts and craft exhibits that are free to the public.