New nonprofit helps people experiencing a divorce

A new nonprofit in Doylestown, the Alpha Community Education Foundation, is working to prevent divorce and the “marriage-go-round” in response to high divorce rates in the area.
In 2020, there were 58,960 marriages and 28,884 divorces and annulments in Pennsylvania, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health. Bucks County was below the state divorce rate with 4,925 marriages and 1,071 divorces and annulments in 2020.
“We believe that if marriages get the right help they can be saved, and if there are marriages that do need to end, we can assist the couples to make the best decisions for their children and all the parties involved,” said Joanna DiRenzo, Alpha’s community outreach specialist.
The organization provides services to couples and individuals of all relationship stages, with a focus on protecting children as adults work through the issues in their intimate relationships.
The foundation offers three programs: marriage success, which focuses on resolving areas that need adjusting; divorce survival, which includes support groups, referrals to legal experts, and assistance on handling money, custody and personal health; and new beginnings, which offers referrals to outside professionals, parenting advice and life coaching for people who are divorced. There are also two programs for children and teenagers – a four-week online story hour for children, attended with a parent, and a six-week support group for teenagers.
“They cared deeply about my entire family’s needs. They helped my now ex-husband and me focus on what would be best for both us and our children as we went through the divorce process,” said Jamie Parker, who went through the foundation’s program in 2019 during her seperation. “We continue to use the strategies today.”

DiRenzo said the organization has a unique perspective because it was founded by someone who worked as an attorney-mediator for 25 years. Keila Gilbert started helping people finalize their divorces without going to court after her personal divorce in 1994. She started the Alpha Resource Center, which provides mediation services, in 2006 while the nonprofit launched in 2021.
“Having walked with people through mediation, she knows every single aspect that divorce touches in their lives,” DiRenzo said. “We’re able to really create programs that tailor to the specific needs of people going through divorce.”
DiRenzo said she is passionate about the aspect of the organization which supports teenagers because of her background working with students. Executive Director Amy Siock is a licensed social worker, a Doylestown local, and also went through a difficult divorce, remarriage, and blended family.
Although the organization is fairly new, DiRenzo said the community has had a positive reaction.
“We don’t say ‘you can’t get divorced, you shouldn’t get divorced,’ we say ‘pause and think about it before you do it,’” DiRenzo added. “People see that and realize we’re not going to shame them for any decisions they made, and if they make the decision to get divorced, we’ll help them.”

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