Above: Councilmember Rue Landau (center left) and Shani A. Meacham, J.D. (center right) [Senior Vice President of Programs at Valley Youth House], alongside numerous Valley Youth House staff members and Philadelphia City Council members.
Valley Youth House is honored to announce that they have been formally recognized, congratulated and celebrated by the Philadelphia City Council on 20 years of service in the City.
The resolution, which was adopted into law on September 25, 2025, was read aloud during a City Council meeting on Thursday, October 9, 2025. Councilmember Rue Landau led the reading which honors the agency’s two-decade long history of providing young people in Philadelphia with essential services like counseling, housing support, community connections, and life skills training.
Councilmember Rue Landau, who advocated for this generous resolution and recognition, is a civil rights and housing attorney, a public school parent and the first openly LGBTQ+ member of Philadelphia City Council. She has spent her entire career fighting for social justice and equity for Philadelphia’s most vulnerable communities.
“For 20 years, Valley Youth House has been a lifeline for young people across Philadelphia and beyond. Their work has transformed lives and created real, lasting change,” said Councilmember Landau. “As a former housing attorney, I’ve seen firsthand how critical stable housing is to an individual, their family and community. Valley Youth House’s innovative programs, like the Youth Designated Access Point and the Pride Program, have set a new standard for youth-centered, equity-driven care. I’m proud to celebrate their legacy and look forward to the next 20 years of their life-saving work.”
Shani A. Meacham, J.D., Senior Vice President of Programs at Valley Youth House delivered moving remarks, thanking Councilmember Landau, the Philadelphia City Council, and the Philadelphia community at large. “Our growth from one program serving less than 50 youth 20 years ago, to several Independent Living, Housing, and Emergency Services programs serving close to 3500 youth in the Philadelphia region today is not rooted in a motivation for accolades, but rather the dedication to achieve our vision where every youth belongs to a nurturing community. And that community is right here. Both In this room and in this great city,” stated Meacham.
Alongside Meacham were Philadelphia program leadership members including Alyssa Weinfurtner [Director of Philadelphia Emergency Services, Valley Youth House], Chris Bernard [Director of Philadelphia Housing Services, Valley Youth House], and Lennie Grant-Banda [Director of the Achieving Independence Center and Delaware County Adolescents Achieving Independence Program, Valley Youth House], as well as numerous VYH Philadelphia staff and youth alumni.
It is with great pride that Valley Youth House accepts this recognition. The agency would like to extend its most heartfelt gratitude to Councilmember Landau, the Philadelphia City Council, and to the entire city of Philadelphia.
