Educational nonprofit Mighty Writers has restored programming at its Camden locations amid an ongoing organizational furlough, but the future of its operations in Philadelphia still face challenges.
The furlough that began in September prompted a pause on services including food distribution efforts, summer camp, and after-school and literacy programming at all Mighty Writers locations. Now, the organization has made “meaningful progress toward reopening,“ CEO and executive director Corinne Green said in a statement.
That progress includes the full resumption of services at both Mighty Writers locations in Camden, which comes following a $563,000 grant that is to be paid out over eight months. The award comes through the EMR Camden Community Benefits Fund, and is the largest corporate grant received in Mighty Writers’ history, Green said.
Grant money, Mighty Writers said in a joint statement with EMR Advanced Recycling, a U.K.-based scrap metal recycler that has courted some controversy locally, will be used only for Camden-based programming. With it, Mighty Writers said it has restored two after-school literacy academies, summer camp programming, and food distribution services, and brought back six full-time staffers.
“We have heard loud and clear the need for stable funding for organizations like Mighty Writers that provide such vital services to our neighbors, and we are proud to support their important grassroots work,” said Joe Balzano, CEO of EMR Metal Recycling USA.
The fund, administered by the Community Foundation of South Jersey, was created last year following a large fire at the company’s Camden shredding facility, and is intended for community improvement initiatives. Camden last month sued EMR in connection with the fund, claiming it had not made more than a million dollars in promised donations. Balzano previously told The Inquirer the company had met its obligations, and the case remains ongoing.
Challenges in Philadelphia
Across the river, most of Mighty Writers’ five Philadelphia locations will need new homes before they can resume services, largely due to the end of a partnership with the Philadelphia Housing Authority. The PHA owns three buildings where the nonprofit operates in West Philadelphia and North Philadelphia — outposts known as MW West, MW North, and MW Hartranft.
The authority, Green said, recently told Mighty Writers it wanted to “explore opportunities with other service providers.” The change resulted in layoffs for four Philadelphia staff members. The Mighty Market food distribution effort, housed in MW West, is slated to operate through the end of 2026 before being relocated.
“We are grateful for the opportunity to have served children and families within these communities over the past seven years,” Green said. “Although this chapter of our partnership is concluding, our commitment to these communities remains unchanged.”
Green previously estimated Mighty Writers’ furlough could last about 12 weeks. Now, with the PHA partnership coming to an end, that timeline could be extended, she said.
The authority said in a statement that it “decided to pause the partnership” while Mighty Writers “rebuilds and strengthens its financial stability.
“We congratulate Mighty Writers on securing new funding, wish them continued success, and look forward to the possibility of working together again in the future,” said PHA spokesperson Nichole Tillman. She added that new programming efforts have begun at most locations with other partners.
Mighty Writers also plans to relocate its El Futuro location in South Philadelphia, and programming will not be restored there before any move, Green said. Conversations with new community partners and searches for new locations remain ongoing for all impacted facilities.
Its location in Northeast Philadelphia, however, has restarted enrollment and was slated to begin offering after-school programming this week, becoming the first location in the city to fully restore services since the furlough. Additionally, Mighty Writers’ food distribution efforts in Kennett Square and Atlantic City are now running twice weekly.
Alongside announcing the temporary pause on services last month, Mighty Writers also said it had furloughed 26 employees. Since then, 11 employees have been restored, including three full-timers in Philadelphia and two part-time workers in Kennett Square. Six other workers await recall, three resigned voluntarily, and six were laid off.
Currently, Mighty Writers is accepting individual donations, and plans to hold its annual fundraising event, the Mighty Literacy Bash, next month. Founded in 2009, Mighty Writers said in a 2025 annual report that it served more than 5,800 students and made 110,000 family distribution visits.
Though the organization faces challenges, Green she said remains optimistic about its future.
“We have restored programs. We have secured new funding. We have welcomed employees back. We have developed new partnerships,” she said. “And we are actively building the infrastructure necessary to sustain our mission for years to come.”