East Passyunk is well known for its restaurants, local markets, mom and pop shops, boutiques, bakeries and corner bars. The neighborhood is easily one of the most desirable places to live in the city of Philadelphia. However, the building and success of such a strong neighborhood wouldn’t be possible without the help of its community members and activists.
Andrew Emma
Andrew Emma is Beautification Committee Co-Chair for the Passyunk Square Civic Association and also works for the Parks and Recreation Department. He has been on the board for six years and lived in Passyunk for nine. Emma is a Temple graduate with a degree in urban studies. He manages and develops “Tree Keepers”, a program that trains ex-offenders on urban agriculture and teaches them how to plant and maintain trees. The civic association has planted over one thousand trees in the last nine years and Emma has led and organized the plantings since the Fall of 2009. He helped oversee Passyunk Gardens and co-created the Capitolo Community Garden. He worked with artists and the Mural Arts organization to get the murals and art completed at Capitolo. One of Emma’s main goals is to make South Philly known for art and green space. Check him out in South Philly Review.
Chris Dicapua
Chris Dicapua is vice president of the Columbus Square Park Advisory Council and the PSCA’s parks liaison and outreach coordinator. He is also a Spanish professor at the Community College of Philadelphia. Dicapua is passionate about keeping East Passyunk’s Hispanic population connected with the rest of the community.
“We want to help the families assimilate and feel comfortable,” said Dicapua.
To overcome the language barrier, he translated the PSCA newsletter into Spanish and began ESL classes for local Spanish speakers. The successful first round of classes started in February and is set to continue in April.
Ilene Wilder
Ilene Wilder is President of Columbus Square Park Advisory Council as well as the Sponsorship and Fundraiser Chair for PSCA. Prior to moving to Philadelphia she was an environmental lobbyist in Washington, D.C. Wilder has always seen herself as an activist and someone who strives to promote community participation. This year she is heading the redesign of Columbus Square Park. She helped the PSCA receive a grant from the Community Design Collaborative to begin the project and continues to throw her efforts toward the funding and completion.
“I know how to raise money,” said Wilder. “I know how to ask for money.”
South Philly Review even dubbed her “community crusader.” Ilene loves her neighborhood and puts her heart and soul into community involvement.
Tom Wyatt
Tom Wyatt is a community volunteer and chair of the Education Committee for the PSCA. He works with Kirkbride and Jackson elementary schools regularly. Wyatt strives to have committed parents in the community schools and promote involvement. He helps lead fundraisers and events that shine light on the positive things happening in the schools. He has held “Breakfast for Teachers” events, supply drives, happy hours, and any kind of outing that allows for parents to socialize and raise money. Ultimately, he would like for every parent to be able to make the choice between a neighborhood charter school versus a neighborhood public school.
– Text and images by Ali Bristow and Danielle Parsons
Could you not find a 5th?
Good list, but I only count four.