As the Workplace Changes, So Does its Most Important Values

Original Article: Philly Mag A recent feature by The New York Times notes that skills typically deemed “feminine” — think empathy, diligence and cooperation — are becoming increasingly important in today’s workplace.So what does that mean? It seems that while technology continues to grow and evolve, there are some inherent human traits that are growing in importance […]

Don’t Be Afraid of a Municipal Bank There’s so much to be gained.

Original Article: Philly Mag Lately there has been much talk about the merits of a municipal bank here in Philadelphia. Mayoral candidate Anthony Hardy Williams has been touting it as a part of his mayoral platform; and Nelson Diaz thinks it’s a good idea too. Lynne Abraham, in classic Lynne Abraham fashion, shot the idea down saying, “That scares me.” […]

Local United Way must diversify leadership team

Original Article: Philadelphia Inquirer, 10/4/2017 Lately, I have been concerned with the direction of the United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey. The organization does not have a single person of color on its executive leadership team. Not one. And there are less than 10 people of color among its 70 regional board […]

In cheering a super PAC for Krasner, progressives abandon principles

Original Article: CityandStatePA.com Remember when so-called progressives railed against the outsized influence of billionaire-funded super PACs in elections? Remember when those same progressives reviled Citizens United as if that decision was handed down not by the US Supreme Court but by Lucifer himself? How about when they lauded campaign finance reform and contribution restrictions? Or […]

Mayor-to-Be Kenney, Please Make Poverty a Cabinet-Level Priority

Original Article: Philly Mag Philadelphia’s problematic poverty rate is an issue that demands strong action, and a cabinet-level position to address poverty is exactly the kind of strong action our next mayor must take. I believe that a Mayor can accomplish anything if he tries; even reducing Philadelphia’s embarrassing poverty rate in a major way. […]

Sustaining a Two-Generation Strategy: A Social Enterprise Opportunity

Original Article: Social Innovations Journal In a volatile funding environment, Diversified Community Services (Diversified) has sought to finance one social innovation with another social innovation. In 2014, the William Penn Foundation granted Diversified $438,000 over 30 months to implement Philadelphia’s first two-generation model. The two-generation model is a new approach to quality early childhood education […]

ThinkFest Preview: Otis Bullock Jr. on Solving Generational Poverty

Original Article: Philly Mag  |   Event Tickets: ThinkFest   Philadelphia’s movers and shakers could easily choose to dwell on the feel-good stories that have sprouted around here during the last decade or so: the slight (but welcome) population growth, the steady rise of condos and office towers, the overall drop in violent crime. It’s nice, chit-chatting about viaduct parks and open […]

Generational Poverty: Trying to Solve Philly’s Most Enduring Problem

Original Article: Philadelphia Magazine, Sept. 17, 2016 Mattie McQueen is desperately poor. So were her parents, her grandparents and her great-grandparents. So are her children and her young grandchildren. Is there a way out? OTIS BULLOCK JR. was in the second grade at Meade Elementary School in North Philadelphia when a teacher asked him to […]

President Clinton Spotlights HIPPY at the DNC in Philadelphia

Less than two weeks ago, Diversified Community Services celebrated the end of its first year with its HIPPY families. HIPPY is the Home Instruction for the Parents of Preschool Youngsters. HIPPY is a groundbreaking preschool program that partners with parents to prepare their children for success in school, particularly those most at risk because of […]

Local men receive President’s Volunteer Service Award

Original Article: Philadelphia Tribune Several men from Philadelphia were among more than 60 African-American peers to receive the President’s Volunteer Service Award from the Corporation for National and Community Service on Friday afternoon. Despite the White House being briefly locked down after reports of a gunman outside the grounds, the members of BMe (Black Male […]

Child care programs reach for STARS

Original Article: Philadelphia Tribune by Wilford Shamlin III Diversified Community Services operates two childcare centers, both of which have been distinguished with four Keystone STARS. While Otis Bullock, executive director of the nonprofit agency, is proud of the designation, he understands how difficult it can be for other facilities to achieve such status. He understands […]

Point Breeze gets new parent-resource centers

The resource centers will support Diversified’s effort by providing a quality education for infants and young children, but also by offering needed services for parents, such as parent training, financial workshops, computer literacy, résumé preparation, and workforce development.

City, Partners Announce Earned Income Tax Credit & Savings Day in Philadelphia and Opening of 11 Free Tax Preparation Sites

Today city officials and partners joined The Campaign for Working Families to announce the opening of 11 free tax preparation sites throughout Philadelphia. The announcement took place on “Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) Day,” a nationwide effort to increase public awareness about the EITC and free tax preparation sites. It marks the 36th year the […]

Q&A: How Financial Analytics Are Helping One Nonprofit

The following is an interview conducted by Peter Kramer, Senior Associate, Nonprofit Finance Fund, with Otis Bullock, Executive Director, Diversified Community Services. This is a cross-post from the Nonprofit Finance Fund blog. To read the original post, go here. Illuminating Financial Dynamics for Improved Nonprofit Management: An Executive Director’s Experience Otis Bullock tells me that […]

Diversified, Norris earn Philly DoGooders distinction

An inaugural competition honored
 a pair of Point Breeze-based
 entities for their altruism.
 Scottish poet Robert Burns noted in 1785 that “The best-laid schemes of mice and men often go awry,” and 228 years later, Christopher Norris is altering that sentiment by succeeding at endeavors he had never envisioned attempting. The 26-year-old entrepreneur received his […]

Legacy of Leadership 2012

Otis graduated from West Chester University in 2000 with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. He then went on to Temple University where he earned his law degree in 2004. Otis’ call for leadership and public service began at West Chester, where he served as president of The Black Student Union. He also served […]

Mayor Nutter Announces Appointments

Mayor Michael A. Nutter announced the appointment of Lydia Hernandez Velez as the Deputy Managing Director for Aging and Otis L. Bullock, Jr. as the Executive Director of the Mayor’s Office of Community Service (MOCS). “Lydia is someone who will help redefine what it means to age well in Philadelphia. In this new role, she […]

New educational programs launch in Point Breeze

A $438,500 grant from the William Penn Foundation is being funneled into new educational programs aimed at helping families in a South Philadelphia neighborhood escape the cycle of poverty.  “This is both a short term and long term strategy to pull families out of poverty,” said Otis Bullock, executive director of Diversified Community Services in […]

Otis & Donna Bullock: The Lawyers on the Block

For a neighborhood full of Philadelphia families, Otis Bullock ’04 and Donna Johnson Bullock ’03 are known simply as “Mr. O and Ms. Donna” – or, alternatively, “the lawyers on my block.” Their day jobs take them downtown – he’s the Executive Director of the Mayor’s Office of Community Services (MOCS), and she’s the Community […]

Crime has some thinking twice about Philly life

 BORN-AND-RAISED Philadelphian Danielle Harvey never really saw herself moving away from her hometown. Then, last spring, she witnessed a shooting at the same bus stop where she had been robbed about a month before. Harvey, 24, who worked at a law office in Center City, said that she was able to shake off the robbery, […]