For Tia Hall, executive director of Big Picture Philadelphia, taking risks is a part of the job, writes Aaron Moselle for WHYY. 

With the mission of challenging systemic inequities in education by providing transformative learning experiences, safety for her students and staff is among her highest priorities. 

As a result, moving El Centro de Estudiantes – one of the nonprofit’s alternative high schools – to Kensington was not something she felt comfortable doing unless she knew they felt safe. 

Once she got confirmation, she was on board. 

El Centro de Estudiantes is soon being moved to the former site of a textile mill in Kensington. 

When it reopens as a school, the 28,000 square-foot structure will feature 11 classrooms to hold El Centro de Estudiantes’ workforce development programs, as well as a community space. 

El Centro will open with between 115 and 125 students, to upwards of 200 later on. 

Most of the students are residents of Kensington or Harrowgate. 

The school will offer an accelerated program that enables them to earn their diploma in 1.5 to 3 years, as well as access to workforce training. 

“We want financial freedom for them. We want them to not walk the path of some of the people that they’ve seen around them, but walk their own path,” said Hall. 

Read more about how Big Picture Philadelphia is shaping young people’s lives in WHYY. 

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Carla is a mentor at Big Picture Philadelphia.