# Germantown: Building Community One Conversation at a Time

Keith Schenck sees familiar faces on every Germantown corner. Schenck, a photographer, is involved in an artists' collective as a leader and mentor. He and fellow artists organized two [One Love Guns Down](https://www.facebook.com/onelovegunsdown/) events to raise funds to fight gun violence in Philadelphia. He works closely with the [Friends of Germantown Northwest](https://germantownnw.blogspot.com) to host fundraisers and community-building activities in Germantown. Schenck and fellow neighbors recently held a Germantown Avenue clean-up. Above all, Schenck, who has been in the neighborhood since he was 13, believes there is no better way to improve a community than by using teamwork and establishing personal relationships. He believes a neighborhood can only be built with strength through people, and this mission drives him to connect with his community daily. **How are you helping people in the community through the artists group?** Our focus is arts and activity and project-based learning, so that’s how. When you’re involved with people and you’re doing an activity, it’s natural. You learn so much about a person and you can filter out any biases and prejudice you have already just by observation. ![](https://phillyn-media.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/25150955/IMG_5100-577x866.jpg)   **How do you get people engaged in community projects and events?** Looking for the human potential, the good in each person, leading by example, providing a model, being non-judgmental, being consistent, attending to yourself and others’ needs, meaning being present. So, having a purpose when you’re doing the work. It’s more about the relationship and building a relationship. **What sparked your getting so involved?**  It’s a story of transformation and healing and redemption. I lived another way. I was involved in subculture. It was counter-productive. It’s just the optimal health benefits of living the right way and doing the right thing. I’m always about restorative justice, so that the other person’s rights are being respected. ![](https://phillyn-media.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/25150932/meeting-577x385.jpg)**You moved here as a kid, grew up here, have your own kid and now work with kids. What really draws you to working with kids?** They’re phenomenal beings. Give them a crayon and you have an artist. I believe in one child. I certainly believe in them being lifelong learners and capable learners. They can shape the world around us. **What’s the reward you get from doing community service?** It’s a positive reinforcement for the core values that keeps us healthy. ![](https://phillyn-media.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/25150952/IMG_5152-577x385.jpg) **Why do you feel like it’s important to connect with neighbors?** How else could you have a neighborhood if you didn’t know your neighbors? *-Text and images by Drui Caldwell and Margo Reed.*