As I Plant
This SeedDonate

Community-rooted · North Philadelphia

As I Plant This Seed

As I Plant This Seed exists to serve as a trusted community anchor that equips youth and families with the tools, support, and access they need to grow into healthy, confident, and capable adults.

DonateVisit the Treehouse
Years rooted
14
Families served
500+
Programs
12+
For every youth
Free

Who we are

Growing leaders from the ground up

Ryan Harris founded As I Plant This Seed in 2012 to give back to the North Philadelphia neighborhood that raised him. Today we are a trusted anchor in Hunting Park, offering mentorship, mental health connection, education and workforce experience to youth and families.

Our home is The Treehouse, a community center at 3959 N 9th St that re-opened in 2024 after renovations. Many of the young people from our first mentorship cohort in 2015 now hold the doors open as mentors and leaders.

“I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow.”
1 Corinthians 3:6-7 · where our name comes from

Programs

Free, year-round, for every youth

  • Flagship · Est. 2015

    Mentorship · Ages 5–18

    Talk To Me

    Our flagship since 2015. Relationship-based mentorship and open dialogue that started with 8 mentees and grew to more than 70 in six months.

  • Music production

    Rock 2 The Future

    Hands-on music creation, recording and performance in our in-house studio.

  • Boxing

    Gloves Up, Guns Down

    Discipline, fitness, focus and self-regulation, with community accountability.

  • Academic support

    VOUTS Tutoring

    Tutoring that closes achievement gaps and builds academic confidence.

  • Entrepreneurship

    Candle Wax

    Candle making alongside real business skills: product, branding, pricing and sales.

Visit and contact

Come see us at the Treehouse

Hours

Drop-In
Mon – Fri, 3 – 7 PM
Weekend
Saturday, 10 AM – 2 PM
Garden Collective
Sunday, 8 AM – 12 PM
Mentorship
By appointment

Follow @asiplantthisseed

Plant a seed

Every gift grows something

  • $10

    Supports the community fridge and food for participants

  • $50

    Funds one youth participant for a week in a program

  • $100

    Funds a field trip for one youth participant

  • $500

    Funds one program for a month

  • $1,000

    Supports staff wellbeing and helps keep the lights on

Donate on Give Lively

As I Plant This Seed is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, EIN 46-4012866. Gifts are tax-deductible as allowed by law.