Hunting Park: Esperanza’s Gabriella Gabriel Paez Uses Trees To Connect Community
On the blacktop next to McClure Elementary School, Gabriella Gabriel Paez (above) stood in front of what looked like a forest-in-the-making — rows of short and sparse baby trees in planters. She gave them out, free of charge, to families as they left parent-teacher conference night at the school. Gabriel Paez organized the yard tree […]
Fairmount Park: Rep. Donna Bullock Convenes Panel On Environmental Gentrification At Newly Opened Discovery Center
At the end of September, Fairmount Park unveiled the newest addition on the East side of the park, The Discovery Center, located at 3401 Reservoir Drive. The center is established as a nature sanctuary around a hidden reservoir near Strawberry Mansion and Brewerytown. It was open to the public until the 1970s, but closed off […]
Hunting Park: First Haunted Hayride Brings Together Community And Police
The 25th Philadelphia Police District and Hunting Park United (HPU) partnered to host the first Haunted Hayride event on Oct. 30 in Hunting Park. The Halloween event, created by Ryan Barksdale and Albert Cruz, the 25th District community relations officers, Captain Javier Rodriguez and HPU President Leroy Fisher, featured an inflatable corn maze, trailer hayrides, […]
Hunting Park: Community Members Discuss Solutions to Neighborhood’s High Heat
Hunting Park residents and city officials discussed heat-related issues and solutions at the “Beat the Heat” design workshop on Oct. 18 at Esperanza’s headquarters, located at 4261 N. Fifth St. Esperanza is a nonprofit organization that aims to strengthen the Hispanic community in Hunting Park through education, economic development and advocacy. The Office of Sustainability’s […]
Kensington: Esperanza To Spend $14.5M To Transform Vacant Building Into Health Center
The new Esperanza Health Center in Kensington is expected to benefit the entire neighborhood by expanding access to much needed medical services in a state-of-the-art facility, said Juan Perez, operations director at Esperanza Health Center. “We may have been one of three in the city that received this grant from the state,” said Perez (pictured […]
Juniata Park: First-Year Principal Goes The Extra Mile To Help Students Succeed
Emily Mary Trunfio, principal of One Bright Ray Community High School, doesn’t want to just help kids who struggle academically get a high school diploma. She wants to help them achieve success after they leave school as well. The school helps at-risk kids who are behind academically to catch up and get that ever-important diploma. […]
West Poplar: New Community Center Leader Unites Poplar Residents Through Art, Sports
Richard Austin, 54, worked in banking and insurance for almost three decades before making the leap to nonprofit work to connect with communities hands-on. After eleven years in the sector, the Cheltenham resident started a new position in September as the outreach program director at Saint Paul’s Community Center on Wallace and 10th streets. […]
Poplar: Residents Express Concerns About Girard Avenue Development
Poplar residents raised concerns about an influx of college students and the lack of adequate parking after hearing a proposal for a new six-story development at a neighborhood meeting last week. More than 30 people gathered at Saint Paul’s Baptist Church for the 14th Ward Democratic Executive Committee’s community meeting to discuss the developer’s plan […]
Fairhill: Residents Discuss Street Safety Solutions
The Hispanic Association Contractor Enterprise (HACE) discussed Fairhill street safety at its monthly community meeting on Oct. 10. HACE, a neighborhood advisory committee, is a community development corporation focused on affordable housing, economic development and social services in the Latino community. Neighbors gathered at HACE’s Business & Visitor Center on North Fifth Street near West Lehigh […]
Old City: Painted Bride Arts Center Is Committed To Creating A New Mission For The Community
Although the beloved, mosaic-covered structure in Old City will not be getting a historic designation, The Painted Bride is making new plans. The art center’s executive director, Laurel Raczka, is seeking new ways to sustain the center at 230 Vine St. and broaden its existing audience. Raczka said the property will go up for sale […]