Kensington: Musician Works to Help Band Earn Spot in Philadelphia Scene
In the madcap world of the Philadelphia music scene, Tom McHugh earned a spot in his band under the most unusual circumstances. “I actually auditioned via Craigslist,” the 22-year-old guitarist said. “The original guitarist, unbeknownst to me, ended up being my girlfriend’s ex-boyfriend, which was pretty awkward when we all found that out.” McHugh has […]
Kensington: Skate Shop Owner Makes A Difference Through Community Work
Pete MacKay, 31, owns and operates Shallow End Skate Shop, located at 2557 Amber St. in East Kensington. The shop and the brand he co-owns, Gnarhammered Skateboards, have become fixtures in the Philadelphia skateboarding community in a short amount of time. Through tireless hard work, MacKay is using this “clubhouse that I made reality” to […]
Kensington: Boxing Holds on to Legacy Despite Influence of MMA
Boxing in today’s Philadelphia is not what it once was. On Dec. 10, 1968, Joe Frazier defended his world heavyweight title against Oscar Bonavena inside the city’s Spectrum. The 3-1 favorite, Frazier, won by unanimous decision after 15 rounds. With 10,000 spectators watching the fight, the excitement of boxing in Philadelphia was at an all-time […]
Kensington: Timoteo League Coaches Leading Players in Positive Direction
Timoteo continues to grow. The Timoteo Flag Football League began in 2005 when three churches decided to create an outlet where the youth of Philadelphia could learn leadership skills. The three churches, Bethel Temple, Light House and Urban Hope recruited 12 men to coach six different teams. The board chose the name Timoteo because the name […]
Kensington: Handball Brings Hope
All year round and no matter the weather, Kensington echoes with the unmistakable “plop” sound of a rubber ball bouncing off concrete. Handball is being played, and the 100 block of West Berks Street is where Towey Playground is found. Here stands one of the many handball courts in North Philadelphia, a hallmark of the community where […]
Kensington: Quieting the Madness at McPherson
Walking into the McPherson Square Branch library, adult and teen librarian Chera Kowalski sees many things. The outside of the library, where the use of drugs is a daily occurrence, and the inside, where the people of Kensington are capitalizing on the resources of the library. Kowalski, 32, facilitates many of these resources as she and […]
Kensington: Christopher Mundy – From Writing To Coaching
Christopher Munden, 39, an expat from the U.K., has worn many hats in his life. He has been everything from a ski instructor to the editor-in-chief of the independent theater and arts website Phindie. Today, Munden is a soccer coach and the vice-president of the Kensington Soccer club, which he started in 2009 with high school teacher […]
Kensington: Jim Hardy Gives Back To Community Through Education and Soccer
Jim Hardy has been a social studies and world language teacher at Kensington Health Sciences Academy for almost 10 years. Hardy is a pillar in the community and one of the notable advocates for social change in Kensington. Hardy co-founded the Teachers Action Group, an organization that aims to give educators a voice during the policy-making […]
Kensington: Program Seeks To Empower Businesses In American Street Corridor
The American Street Empowerment Zone is all about facilitating job creation and economic development for Kensington – two things that aren’t easy and require diligence and patience. “It takes time. Economic development doesn’t happen overnight,” said Aiisha Herring, director of economic development zones for the city Commerce Department. “Some people moving to these places think it […]
Kensington: After-School Program Allows For A Comeback In The Arts
After the school day was over at John Moffet Elementary, eager students sat attentively in an auditorium holding a tabla (“hand drum”) in one arm while rhythmically tapping with the other. With the help of Al-Bustan Seeds of Culture, Moffet has been able to maintain an after-school program that focuses on enriching students through art […]