Nicetown: Empowerment Starts In The Kitchen
A youth advocate, chef and lifelong North Philadelphia resident, Ariq Barrett saw a lack of role models in his community and wanted to reach youths on a different level. His solution? Black Boyz Can Cook is a program that creates a space where young black boys could learn the principles of healthy eating, entrepreneurship, community […]
Nicetown: Adult Day Care Provides Needed Services for Seniors
Barbara Willis-Powell has dedicated the last eight years of her life to the Mercy Neighborhood Ministries’ adult day care program, serving seniors 60 years of age and older. For her, it’s all about the family atmosphere at the organization, located at 1939 W. Venango St. Each Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. until 6 p.m., seniors fill the […]
Tioga: Change Through Political Uncertainty Remains Focus of Tioga United
While the nation awaits President-elect Donald J. Trump’s inauguration, there remains an uneasy feeling among some members of the Tioga community as they wait to see what unfolds. However, community leaders like those associated with Tioga United are determined to keep the conversation moving forward within the neighborhood by encouraging people to join the discussion. Tioga United is a 20-year-old nonprofit organization led by co-founder […]
Nicetown-Tioga: Mercy Neighborhood Ministries Continues to Service The Community
Mercy Neighborhood Ministries (MNM) has been a focal point to the Nicetown community since 1997 and Sister Ann Provost, the executive director of the ministry, has been there since the beginning. MNM has a wide range of programs that cater to the improvement of the children in the neighborhood. A program was recently implemented at the ministry is […]
Nicetown: CDC Leader Majeedah Rashid Building a Better Community
Majeedah Rashid is the COO of the Nicetown Community Development Corporation (CDC), an organization dedicated to uplifting the community through education, better housing and financial stability. The Nicetown CDC has maintained that goal since its inception in 1999. Rashid continues to strive for improvement in one of the most impoverished parts of the city of […]
Infrastructure: A Look at Engineers Without Borders.
Whether it’s constructing highways, revitalizing communities or designing new methods for the treatment of water, engineers have a crucial role in the ongoing task that is the much-needed improvement of Philadelphia’s infrastructure. While most of their professional needs are met by organizations such as the National Society of Professional Engineers, many engineers devote their time to local nonprofit groups in the […]
Nicetown: Restaurant’s Roadblock Leads to One-Year Anniversary
While the one year anniversary of Sister Muhammad’s Kitchen re-opening approaches, the staff couldn’t help but appreciate how much of an impact the restaurant has had in the community. In 2011, Sister Muhammad Kitchen was forced to shut down due to eminent domain and reconstruction plans by the Nicetown Community Development Corporation. Their purpose was […]
Nicetown: Elijah Jones, Youth of the Year
Elijah Jones, a 17-year-old Simon Gratz High School student, makes a difference in the Nicetown Boys and Girls Club by using his leadership skills, athletic abilities and guidance, in order to improve the lives of the youth in his neighborhood. Running for this year’s “Youth of the Year” was just another notch on his belt, […]
Nicetown-Tioga: Community Leader is a Resourceful Librarian
The Nicetown-Tioga Library dates back to 1961 and inhibits a space which was called Linton’s Restaurant. The current adult/teen librarian, Marsha Stender, is not just your average librarian. She also gives encouragement, confidence and hope by helping adults and teens find books, use computers and navigate their lives. How long have you been working at […]
Nicetown/Tioga: Five Places that Tie the Community Together
There are a number of places that people in many communities might say matter. In the Tioga and Nicetown sections, there are five places that really give back to these communities in their own ways. These organizations strive to help decrease poverty-related issues by providing books, legal advice and economic assistance to the community, to […]