Lafayette Square made a multi-million-dollar investment alongside partners Shift Capital and Voyage Investments in a project aimed at facilitating the adaptive renovation of a formerly vacant warehouse for use by the El Centro de Estudiantes Big Picture Philadelphia School._x000D_
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“This commitment represents an investment in the future of El Centro, and by extension an investment in the future of Philadelphia,” Damien Dwin, founder and CEO of Lafayette Square, said. “At Lafayette Square, education plays a crucial role in driving community impact, yet too often alternative learning programs are overlooked and underserved. El Centro is well aligned with our mission to create better outcomes for working-class communities.”_x000D_
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“We’re proud to partner with Lafayette Square and Voyage Investments on this important project that aligns with our vision of sustainable development and community revitalization,” Brian Murray, CEO of Shift Capital, said. “El Centro’s mission to provide educational opportunities for Philadelphia’s youth is critical to the long-term health and vitality of the city’s working-class neighborhoods. By reinvesting in underutilized spaces like this warehouse, we’re not just creating a school, but a foundation for future success.”_x000D_
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By partnering on this project with Shift Capital, Voyage Investments, and now Lafayette Square, we are investing in our city’s most deserving youth, as well as in our future as a community – as a workforce, as leaders, and as a society,” Tia Hall, executive director of Big Picture Philadelphia, said._x000D_
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Phase I of construction at the 3360 Frankford Avenue warehouse was completed in June 2024, and Lafayette Square’s investment will support Phase II, beginning in summer 2025. The project is expected to create 50 construction jobs, 20 permanent jobs and enhance El Centro’s job readiness and workforce training programs for 200 students each year.
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