West Kensington: Youth Soccer Club Impacts Players On And Off The Field
Every Saturday morning, a small clubhouse space at Bethel of Truth Pentecostal Church at Third and Dauphin streets comes alive with the busy chatter of coaches, volunteers and new parents who come in to register their children for the Kensington Soccer Club. Kensington Soccer Club was founded in 2010 by area high school teacher Jim […]
Kensington: Pastor Joshua Grace’s Impact Goes Beyond Church Walls
Joshua Grace has served as pastor at Circle of Hope Church since 2003. Grace leads efforts to unite his community through its thrift store, Circle Thrift, and events hosted by the church. He works with community organizations to mobilize resources and bring people together in a God-centered environment. Circle of Hope is associated with the […]
Kensington: First Time Home Buyer Workshop Proves Valuable Resource For Locals
For many, owning a first home is a big part of the American Dream. In Philadelphia, that dream is less of a reality than other cities in the country. According to public data sources gathered by Data USA, only 52.6 percent of homes in Philadelphia were occupied by their owner in 2015, more than 10 percent […]
Kensington: “It’s Not Just A Gurney Street Thing.”
Prevention Point Philadelphia has opened a year-round respite at its center in Kensington as a direct response to the City of Philadelphia’s decision to close down and clean up encampments along the Gurney Street Corridor. The organization has been doing winter respite for the past three years, but as of July 31 its doors are […]
Social Issues: Councilwoman María Quiñones-Sánchez Talks Income Inequality
María Quiñones-Sánchez took office 10 years ago representing District 7 in Philadelphia City Council. Long considered a party outsider, it is not uncommon to find her battling politically with Latino leaders in her own neighborhood, as well as other council members. Her sprawling council district is comprised of a wide area, covering all or parts […]
Kensington: A Free More-Than-Just-Soccer Camp
As the sun rises on Hissey Playground at C Street and Indiana Avenue there’s usually a bit of a mess. Being in the shadow of the unofficial heroin capital of the region, Department of Recreation personnel must take care of cleaning up the needles, baggies and bottles that found their way to the sports field […]
Kensington: “I see the impact on a person to person level often, just in individual stories.”
Renee Horst (left) is a staff member with the New Kensington Community Development Corporation (NKCDC) and a member of the community engagement team who oversees the Farm to Families Pick Up. That program provides fresh, organic produce and meat from the Lancaster Farm Fresh Cooperative to members of the Kensington and Fishtown community. Can you […]
Arts & Entertainment: Rock To The Future Providing More Than Music Education to Philly Youth
When Rock to the Future was started seven years ago, it had one clear goal in mind. The Kensington-based non-profit wanted to provide Philly youth an opportunity to learn instruments with after-school programs and summer camps, but the work has gone further than teaching children ins and outs of rock ‘n’ roll. “We saw the need in […]
Harrowgate: Outsiders Pitch In When Locals Don’t
Longtime community members fight for their neighborhood one block at a time in Harrowgate. Repelling drug dealers, moving addicts along and fighting opportunistic slumlords starts less with city-wide policy and more with in-person communication and leading by example. Local civic association leaders like Shannon Farrell and Jim Ridgway do it neighborhood-wide. But it’s the block captains […]
East Kensington: Uniting Community With Arts Festival
The East Kensington Neighbors Association addresses several important issues going on in its own neighborhood every third Monday of each month at Philadelphia Brewing Company. All East Kensington residents are welcomed to attend the meetings and take part in changes being made in the community. Onias Timothy Dickson, 32, was initially summoned to attend these […]