FAQ

A niche is a comfortable or suitable position in life or employment.

Everyone. All people deserve to experience safety, fulfillment, and a sense of respect among the members of their community.

When individuals, especially young people, do not see a place for themselves in their community, they often feel rejected. This puts them at higher risk for making choices that further alienate them from their community.

Unfortunately, far too many young people in Philadelphia struggle to find their niche. The traditional avenues to obtaining safety, fulfillment, and respect through education, family, and marketable skills may be closed off to them.

Our team, supported by a diverse network of individual, small business, and institutional partners, delivers a one-of-a-kind program built on the following core ideas:

• Financial literacy is necessary for building wealth and finding sustainable employment.
• There is dignity in work when it is fairly compensated, valuable to the community, and aligned with one’s values, skills, and passions.
• Strong bonds are the cornerstone of a healthy community.

Finding one’s Niche isn’t just a matter of getting from point A to point B. A roadmap is useless without a destination in mind. Instead, think of The Niche Clinic as a kind of flight simulator. We put our youth in the pilot’s seat and they learn by doing. When they finish our program, they haven’t just developed the skills to fly their plane, but also the knowledge to navigate treacherous conditions, and the mindset necessary to persist throughout the long journey to financial security.

Our program offers the following core elements:

• Hands-on financial literacy. In our Laws of Money Program, youth learn how to manage money and build wealth through in-person classes, a token economy system, and videos built on our PA Standards aligned curriculum.
• Paid career learning opportunities. This is our Learn and Earn Program. Whether they complete a project, participate in a short-term internship with one of our business partners, or start their own business, youth earn stipends for engaging in experiences that expose them to various career fields. Our growing catalog includes horticulture, the sciences, hospitality, education, graphic design, music production, culinary, and cosmetology, and we hope to add carpentry, construction, and other skilled trades in the upcoming year.
• Supportive services. We provide transportation support, income tax filing support for youth and families, meals, vital document acquisition assistance, and additional support on a case-by-case basis.
• Advancement Pathways. The Niche Clinic works with local high schools and College Together to develop a debt-free pathway to a college degree for youth who have struggled to find success in a traditional school environment.

We have 3 program cycles. Enrollment for Autumn Niche Jobs (October-December) takes place in September. Enrollment for Spring Niche Jobs (March-May) takes place in February. Enrollment for Summer Niche Jobs (July-September) occurs in June.

We serve youth and young adults aged 12 to 24. They connect with The Niche Clinic in one of three ways:

• They are a student at one of our school partners.
• They are referred to us by the District Attorney’s Office after contact with the justice system.
• They engage in the City of Philadelphia’s career learning program, administered by JEVS, a City Intermediary.

The Niche Clinic is exceptionally proud of the results that our program has had within our community, particularly in the following ways:

• Justice-involved youth who complete The Niche Clinic are significantly less likely to experience recidivism arrest. 7% of our youth have experienced subsequent encounters with the justice system compared to the 27% average among diverted youth.
• These young people also stand to benefit the most from our financial literacy program. We observe a 20% to 30% increase in standardized financial literacy test scores when comparing pre- and post-test results.

We have anecdotal evidence that indicates the great potential for long-term positive impact. One recent success story is that of Jeiber, who first engaged with The Niche Clinic in 2020 at Olney High School. He discovered a passion for finance and recently earned his bachelor’s degree from La Salle University. He is currently employed by one of Philadelphia’s largest accounting firms and graduated from college debt-free.

See our Supporters page to learn about our generous supporters.

The Niche Clinic community stands to benefit in so many ways through the involvement and support of individuals who believe in the power of financial literacy and paid workforce development opportunities. We are seeking:

• Local small business owners interested in hosting Niche Clinic interns.
• Local craftspeople, artisans, entrepreneurs, and others with specialized skills interested in leading career learning projects with our youth.

We also welcome monetary support for the following purposes:

• General operating funds of any dollar value.
• Transportation. $50 provides SEPTA fare for 10 students to attend 1 day of program.
• Technology. $150 funds one Chromebook for youth to use at our site.
• Startup capital. $200 funds one young entrepreneur’s business plan.
• Debt-free college pathway. $1,200 supports one youth’s enrollment in a high-school equivalency program, a critical step for many youths who have struggled to succeed in a traditional school environment.