Say Yes Philly- Outreach Programs
Say Yes Philly is a network organization for UMA, MoveMakers Philly and Philly Music Factory. Say Yes Philly is a registered non-profit geared toward strengthening individuals and uniting diverse communities in Philadelphia by celebrating various folklore and subcultures, and by fostering the creation of new American cultural practices.
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Say What????
……Say Yes! Say Yes Philly outreach programming celebrates 5 years of operation in 2026. Your donations to close 2025 will power us into our 5 year anniversary. Donate Today! |
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How did we get here?
Say Yes Philly was built from I Am The Move, MoveMakers Philly’s summer camp scholarship program launched in the summer of 2021. In 2022, I Am The Move expanded its reach by becoming a Strategic Partner with the Philadelphia school district, offering Street Dance education in Philly public schools during school hours. Since 2022, the I Am The Move program has served 10 Philadelphia public schools with free programs. Each year since 2022, between assemblies and work in classrooms, a minimum of 300 students have been reached. A key player in our work in Philly classrooms has been Mr. Rukkus, who has defined the standards of this program. I Am The Move hasn’t only been a platform for us to serve Philly youth. It has provided an important arena for Rukkus to maximize his passion, gifts and vision as an ambassador and educator of street dance.
Where are we now?
Say Yes Philly launched as an organization devoted to continuing I Am The Move and other initiatives that support youth arts education and serve Philly dancers and musicians. Play It Forward Orchestra, a youth led education and performance program is entering its third season in 2026.
Say Yes Philly promotes collaboration and experimentation between artists and musicians in an annual dance battle set to live music called the Philliest Diss. Since the Fall of 2024, Say Yes Philly helped to power over 10 Philly Fringe productions by local dancers and musicians. .
Say Yes Philly supports monthly music concert series at First Unitarian Church. Free Range is a series featuring local Jazz artists and singer songwriters. Iris is a music series that celebrates local femme voices in music.
In 2025, Say Yes Philly, in collaboration with MoveMakers Philly, began hosting monthly Adaptive Dance classes, which serve kids with disabilities. Say Yes Philly’s Adaptive Dance classes advance the organization's commitment to using creativity and expression as a means for empowering individuals and uniting diverse communities.
We continue to work with Logan, McCall, Nebinger and Webster Elementaries as our core group of schools. We are aiming to expand to Comegy Elementary in 2026. If funding allows we would love to add 1-2 more Philly public schools.
In 2025, Say Yes Philly received its first grant from the Bartol Foundation which has supported an extension of Play It Forwards season and I Am The Move’s season in Philly schools.
What’s Next?
In 2026, I Am The Move in PSD schools and MoveMakers scholarships will continue. Play It Forward Orchestra will start its third season. And we will continue to produce events that enrich Philly’s dance and music scene.
To celebrate our 5th year, we are committed to making Say Yes Philly’s work more visible throughout Philly. More effort will be given to documenting and promoting the work that we do throughout the year.
Our immediate expansion goals are to add Comegy to our PSD school roster, grow the Play It Forward Orchestra’s student base and to grow the Adaptive Dance program, which would include more classes offered per month and increasing the amount of students reached.
Say Yes Philly was built from I Am The Move, MoveMakers Philly’s summer camp scholarship program launched in the summer of 2021. In 2022, I Am The Move expanded its reach by becoming a Strategic Partner with the Philadelphia school district, offering Street Dance education in Philly public schools during school hours. Since 2022, the I Am The Move program has served 10 Philadelphia public schools with free programs. Each year since 2022, between assemblies and work in classrooms, a minimum of 300 students have been reached. A key player in our work in Philly classrooms has been Mr. Rukkus, who has defined the standards of this program. I Am The Move hasn’t only been a platform for us to serve Philly youth. It has provided an important arena for Rukkus to maximize his passion, gifts and vision as an ambassador and educator of street dance.
Where are we now?
Say Yes Philly launched as an organization devoted to continuing I Am The Move and other initiatives that support youth arts education and serve Philly dancers and musicians. Play It Forward Orchestra, a youth led education and performance program is entering its third season in 2026.
Say Yes Philly promotes collaboration and experimentation between artists and musicians in an annual dance battle set to live music called the Philliest Diss. Since the Fall of 2024, Say Yes Philly helped to power over 10 Philly Fringe productions by local dancers and musicians. .
Say Yes Philly supports monthly music concert series at First Unitarian Church. Free Range is a series featuring local Jazz artists and singer songwriters. Iris is a music series that celebrates local femme voices in music.
In 2025, Say Yes Philly, in collaboration with MoveMakers Philly, began hosting monthly Adaptive Dance classes, which serve kids with disabilities. Say Yes Philly’s Adaptive Dance classes advance the organization's commitment to using creativity and expression as a means for empowering individuals and uniting diverse communities.
We continue to work with Logan, McCall, Nebinger and Webster Elementaries as our core group of schools. We are aiming to expand to Comegy Elementary in 2026. If funding allows we would love to add 1-2 more Philly public schools.
In 2025, Say Yes Philly received its first grant from the Bartol Foundation which has supported an extension of Play It Forwards season and I Am The Move’s season in Philly schools.
What’s Next?
In 2026, I Am The Move in PSD schools and MoveMakers scholarships will continue. Play It Forward Orchestra will start its third season. And we will continue to produce events that enrich Philly’s dance and music scene.
To celebrate our 5th year, we are committed to making Say Yes Philly’s work more visible throughout Philly. More effort will be given to documenting and promoting the work that we do throughout the year.
Our immediate expansion goals are to add Comegy to our PSD school roster, grow the Play It Forward Orchestra’s student base and to grow the Adaptive Dance program, which would include more classes offered per month and increasing the amount of students reached.
Make a Tax Deductible Donation
ArcheDream for Humankind remains a fiscal sponsor for our outreach programs, allowing your contribution to be tax deductible.
We encourage folks who are interested in making larger contributions to participate this way. Also, for anyone not participating in the other two methods described below, this would be the option for you.
Do you work for a company that matches your charitable contributions?
Are you interested in pledging an amount and challenging our broader community to match your pledge? This is a great way to propel us to our goal.
Tax deductible donations can be made via the link at the end of this email or via check to ADHK.
We encourage folks who are interested in making larger contributions to participate this way. Also, for anyone not participating in the other two methods described below, this would be the option for you.
Do you work for a company that matches your charitable contributions?
Are you interested in pledging an amount and challenging our broader community to match your pledge? This is a great way to propel us to our goal.
Tax deductible donations can be made via the link at the end of this email or via check to ADHK.
*The hyperlink for donation will take you to our fiscal sponsor, ADHK’s PayPal page. You will initially receive a receipt that payment is complete. Soon after, you will receive an email notice that contains information for your tax filing.
To donate by check, email [email protected]
To donate by check, email [email protected]
Learn more about these programs and their impact by checking out SYP Spring 2025 Fundraiser Brochure below!