Center City: New Program Combats Illiteracy Among Philadelphia’s Youth
The Free Library of Philadelphia has long benefited communities around the city. As the adult illiteracy rate in Philadelphia continues to rise, the library system has strengthened a two-year program called Read by 4th to combat illiteracy at a young age. “The statistic we go off of is that less than 40 percent of kids in third […]
Center City: CultureWorks Strives to Expand Cultural Literacy in Philadelphia
CultureWorks started in 2010 as a consulting firm that was being run from a basement. It’s no longer a below-ground operation. Now located at 1315 Walnut St. in The Philadelphia Building, the organization is a fully fledged arts management commons that aims to give a voice to artists by offering them the opportunity to be a part of […]
Center City: Library Expands Services to Include Health Literacy
The Free Library of Philadelphia offers many services to the community to help improve literacy and overall quality of life. Recently, the Parkway Central Library expanded programming to include health literacy through a program called the Reaching HEALthy Initiative. The initiative is one of the first multi-professional health care programs that works with social workers, nurses […]
South Philadelphia: Charles Santore Library Offers Help to Immigrants
Jean Solar came to the United States from Chile two years ago. Despite his professional training as an engineer in his home country, Solar has been unable to secure a work visa in the United States and is struggling to assimilate to the culture. He hopes that by spending time learning English and exploring the city, he […]
South Philadelphia: Diabetes Prevention Program Finds Audience at Fumo Family Library
At the Fumo Family Library in South Philadelphia on Broad Street, residents can not only check out a book, but can also check in on their health. The Diabetes Prevention Program, sponsored by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention and in conjunction with Jefferson University Hospital, has come to the library at an especially apt time. According to the CDC, […]
Mount Airy: Sheila Avelin Making Community Connections at Big Blue Marble Bookstore
Sheila Avelin, owner and manager of Big Blue Marble Bookstore in Mount Airy, strives to maintain a cozy and accessible literary space within the fast-paced technological world. Located at 551 Carpenter Lane, Big Blue Marble is nestled in a central part of town, neighboring the Weavers Way Co-op and Moving Arts of Mt. Airy. Avelin, a former English teacher at […]