Kensington: Local Gardens Cultivate Community, Help Revitalize Neighborhoods
It was in the 1970s when drug use and the violent state of the neighborhood spurred a unique change among a small group of Puerto Rican women in West Kensington. These women, called the Grupo Motivos, worked with an elementary school teacher and a professor to reclaim land and create a place for growth and […]
Fairhill: New Chapter For Library Means Bittersweet, Temporary Closure
Rebekah Ray and the staff at the Lillian Marrero Library have been dedicated to the future of the branch, long before the building recently closed for renovations. Now, they are left wondering how the community is going to fare for the next two years, without the essential resources they provide. The Lillian Marrero Library at Sixth […]
Kensington: Next On Tap At Saint Benjamin Brewery? Full-Service Kitchen
Five years ago, Tim Patton and Christina Burris would have never thought they’d be running their own brewery. Now, they’re not only making Saint Benjamin beer at a re-purposed warehouse in Kensington, they are set to add a tap room and kitchen in May. Using funds from the American Street Empowerment Zone business grant program, their tap […]
Fairhill: Puerto Rican School of Music Reflects the Beat of the Community
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 – filtering out the upstairs windows. With only a couple of classrooms, the Puerto Rican Institute of Music has about 10 […]
West Kensington: Peace Corps Alumnus Continues Work With Latino Community
Entering the Norris Square Neighborhood Project (NSNP) is an experience in itself. With bright colors, the side-by-side row homes create a place that becomes a safe haven for youth in Kensington. Through numerous after-school programs, garden projects and summer work opportunities, the NSNP works to support and bring together the Latino youth community. Justin Trezza, the […]
Kensington: Neighbor Helps Improve Access to Healthy Food Through Co-Op
The Kensington Community Food Co-Op started in 2008 when the community came together to talk about issues in the neighborhood. Residents weren’t satisfied with the healthy food options that were available. Conversations evolved from those initial concerns. Holly Logan is the president of the Kensington Community Food Co-Op. Its mission is to open a member-owned cooperative […]
Kensington: Five Places Helping to Create an Art Community
Slowly but surely, the art community in Old Kensington is pushing forward. It’s hidden among the abandoned factories and vacant lots of the area, but the artists aren’t complaining. “There are five studios within blocks of here, but you would never know,” said Charles Cerrone, a photographer working out of Sharktown Studios on Mascher Street, near […]