Who We Are
Chester Eastside, Inc. works to help children and families by providing access to hunger safety net programs and a safe environment for adult and youth education and exploration. CEI’s mission is to be a welcoming and inclusive community that enables individuals of all ages to achieve their goals and aspirations, promoting a peaceful co-existence in Chester through advocacy and programs for education, social services, and justice.
Our Values
Integrity
We are committed to operating with integrity in everything we do.
Social Justice
We believe in fostering and advocating for a just community that ensures all Chester residents are treated with dignity.
Love and Respect
We maintain an environment that is grounded in love and respect for all people.
History of Chester Eastside
Founded in 1985 as part of the Presbytery of Philadelphia, Chester Eastside is a welcoming and inclusive community that enables individuals of all ages to achieve their goals and aspirations, promoting a peaceful co-existence in Chester through advocacy and programs for education, social service and justice. We are committed to living that mission every day with integrity, social justice and love and respect.
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church
Originally known as Chester Eastside Ministries, the organization operated from Third Presbyterian Church until 2012. When the aging facility required a move, we were grateful to be invited to the historic St. Paul’s Episcopal Church on 9th Street, where the relationship has blossomed and deepened.
Chester Eastside has been led by Executive Directors Rev. Bernice Warren (1985-2016), Rev. Zuline Wilkinson, M.Div., MSW (2016-2022), and Rev. Andy Jacob (2022-). In 2014, the agency changed the nature of its relationship with the Presbytery, striking out on its own by incorporating as a not-for-profit 501c (3) organization. Successfully navigating the transition has allowed Chester Eastside, Inc. to expand its services.
CEI focuses both on Chester’s present and its future, evolving with the city in an effort to meet needs in three primary spheres: Intergenerational Education, Emergency and Healthy Food Initiatives and Community Engagement. Programs such as our Food Ministry, which provides more than 100,000 meals each year, are coupled with those including our Out of School Time (OST) program and award-winning Community Garden.
CEI is committed to developing and implementing programs that incorporate best practices and evidence-based approaches and reflect the lives of our clients. We are proud of the long history and even more excited about the burgeoning potential of the constantly evolving environment that is Chester Eastside, Inc.
