About Us

Celebrating 10 Years

For ten years, Currently Trending has empowered Philadelphia’s young people to discover their purpose, develop their leadership potential, and prepare for success in high school, college, careers, and life. What began as a vision has grown into a community committed to helping students lead with confidence, integrity, and courage. As we celebrate our 10th anniversary, we remain dedicated to transforming lives and inspiring the next generation of leaders.

Mission

Transforming Teenagers into Leaders for Life

Vision

“Every teenager sees themselves living boldly, leading confidently, and succeeding fully.”

Expresses a vision where every young person is empowered to imagine, pursue, and fully experience a vibrant life. It means creating an environment where each child recognizes their potential, feels confident in their abilities, and sees themselves actively shaping their own future—not just surviving, but thriving, dreaming, and participating fully in their communities and the wider world.

Coaching to Commencement

Each family is paired with a dedicated coach who serves as their primary point of contact for all educational concerns and achievements. This coach remains with the family throughout the student's academic journey, providing consistent support from enrollment through high school graduation.

High School Summer Leadership Retreat

Students are recruited at the end of 8th grade to participate in a summer retreat designed to prepare them for high school. The retreat introduces students to graduation requirements, high school expectations, strategies for building positive peer relationships, opportunities for club involvement, and guidance on developing a post-secondary plan aligned with their long-term goals.

Saturday Leadership Sessions

Monthly leadership development sessions are held on Saturdays, each focused on a specific Leadership Pillar. Students are introduced to the pillar, observe it being modeled, and participate in team-based role-playing activities to practice integrating the concept into their daily lives.

Youth Advisory Council

The Youth Advisory Council empowers students to take an active leadership role in shaping the direction of the program. Council members are selected for their commitment, insight, and potential to influence their peers. Through structured meetings, students provide input on program development, participate in decision-making, and engage in real-world leadership experiences that strengthen their voice, confidence, and civic engagement.

Parent Engagement Sessions

We recognize that parent involvement is essential to the success of our program. Parents are actively engaged in key decisions and are encouraged to reinforce the Leadership Pillars at home. These sessions foster collaboration and ensure that the values taught in the program are consistently supported by the family environment.

Our Unique Approach

Currently Trending establishes a four-year partnership with students and their families beginning the summer prior to high school entry. Through collaboration with city and school officials, we empower students and families to achieve on-time high school graduation by equipping them with the skills and support essential for success.

Our coaching team consists of experienced educators dedicated to guiding students on their academic and personal journeys. Working closely with parents, we develop a customized curriculum tailored to the unique needs of today’s high school students. Additionally, our program encourages parents to serve as valuable resources for one another, fostering a supportive community where shared experiences and insights contribute to collective growth and learning.

2026-2027
Saturday sessions are reserved for team building, college preparatory, and leadership development curriculum.

Saturday Sessions

September 19th
October 24th
November 21st
December 12th
January 23rd
February 20th
March 20th
April 24th
May 22nd

K-8 School Partners

Thomas K. Finletter School
Edward Gideon School
George Meade School
John F. McCloskey School
Universal UCIS
Mathematics, Civics and Sciences Charter School
Laboratory Charter Schools of Communication and Languages

Our Partners

Dr. Linda Cliatt-Wayman

Meet the Executive Director

Dr. Linda Cliatt-Wayman, a fierce advocate for children, has spent three decades fighting for children in poverty to be properly educated in Philadelphia Public Schools.

Linda spent 20 years as a Special Education teacher before becoming a New Teacher Coach, Principal of three high schools and Assistant Superintendent for all 56 Philadelphia Public High schools. She is the only woman and African American to ever lead ALL the Public High Schools.