Year: 2016 - Page 30 - Philadelphia Neighborhoods

Francisville: Urbanstead Farm Teaches Neighbors About Food, Responsibility

March 28, 2016Paige C Gross

When Urbanstead founder Lisa Gaidanowicz was given a plot of land in Francisville to create a farm a few years ago, she didn’t realize it might be the first time neighborhood residents saw food coming

Education: YouthBuild Gives High School Dropouts A Second Chance To Succeed

March 28, 2016Matthew S. Leister

Jocquelyn Cain, 21, was turned away when he tried to re-enroll in his high school two years after he dropped out. He was too old. The Pennsylvania Department of Education says that only 70 percent

Education: Piano Teacher Says Music Plays Key Role in Children’s Development

March 28, 2016Matthew S. Leister and

Patrick Fink, 27, a piano instructor and professional musician, has taught music since 2006. Fink has taught private lessons from his home in Roxborough for nearly 10 years, and has traveled to give lessons in

Schuylkill River: Dragon Boat Coach Hype Mattingly Brings Survivor’s Spirit to Racing

March 22, 2016Mark McCormick and

After a late-night practice in 2012, Hype Mattingly had something to tell her team. With the Philadelphia Flying Phoenix Women’s Dragon Boat Team surrounding her, including Against the Wind, the group’s breast cancer survivor team, Mattingly had an

LGBTQ: Mauckingbird Theatre Company Presents Classic Plays With a Twist

March 22, 2016Allison Anne Merchant

A recent production by Mauckingbird Theatre Company was set in the 17th century, complete with all the attire, mannerisms and dialogue of the day — and a cell phone. It’s that type of modern twist on classic plays that reflects the origin

Fairhill: Puerto Rican School of Music Reflects the Beat of the Community

March 21, 2016James M. Kirn and

The Puerto Rican Institute of Music sits on North 5th Street, a road surrounded by Latino influence. Walking by on any afternoon you might even hear the beat of plena – traditional Puerto Rican music –

Francisville: More Than Just Another Furniture Store, Uhuru Seeks to Educate

March 21, 2016Victoria G Mier

When nonprofit Uhuru Furniture moved from Center City to Francisville, sales manager Ruby Gittelsohn remembers one community member’s surprise. “I remember one guy said, ‘I was watching while they were renovating this building, but I

Haddington: Volunteer Wants Library to Serve as ‘Beacon in the Neighborhood’

March 21, 2016Valerie W. Vaincoeur and

Sheila Washington is a 62-year-old Overbrook resident who is passionate about the area. She has been the president of Friends of Haddington Library since 2008. Despite being retired, she loves volunteering in the Haddington library.

Port Richmond: Neighborhood Theater Company Presents “Man of la Mancha.”

March 18, 2016Alison L Kuklinski

The Theatre Company of Port Richmond has been preparing for their spring musical “Man of La Mancha.” The company has made plenty of progress over the years. They began 32 years ago, performing at Nativity Parish.

Oxford Circle: PAL Helps Neighborhood Youth Succeed

March 18, 2016Ashley Rose Kane and

The Oxford Circle Police Athletic League is part of a nonprofit organization that seeks to build relationships between police officers and children within the neighborhood. Its goal is to keep kids off the street and to give