Immigration: The Polish Provide Philadelphia With History
Poland’s presence may have even preceded Christopher Columbus’ arrival in the Newfoundland with the navigation of the mysterious John Scolvus, sometimes referred to as John of Kolno. While a lack of records make this a disputable claim, it is clear that the Polish have aided America since its very beginning. “The bond between Poland and […]
Latinx: Hispanic-Owned Businesses Continue To Grow in the Greater Philadelphia Region
On a national level, the Latinx baby boom is expected to increase the population by 167% in the next thirty years. With an ever growing population of about 1.6 million residents, the Latinx community in Philadelphia brings vitality not only culturally but economically. Concentrated in Hispanic-populated areas, these businesses are multiplying just as fast as […]
Allegheny West: Bu Bu’s Beer Deli Livelihood Threatened by Restaurant Licensing Bill
A tall, plexiglass wall barricades customers from a metropolis of beer, snacks and lottery tickets at Bu Bu Deli. The same wall functions as a locked door to owner Steve Taing’s home and family upstairs. He lives there with his 18 and 22-year old sons and wife, Lisa. Taing and his parents moved to Philadelphia […]
Roxborough: Inspired Community Leader Continuing a Lifetime of Activism
Every morning, activist the Rev. Richard Fernandez picks up the phone to call politicians’ offices. Fernandez began his activism in the 1960s while he was attending Penn University. He became involved in the civil rights movement and worked with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. “When I was in college I hitchhiked down to Montgomery (Alabama),” […]
Roxborough: Older Residents Stay Active with Protest Organization
The phrase “staying active” has taken on a new meaning for residents of the Cathedral Village Retirement Community in Roxborough and it’s political. The retirees formed the activists group Indivisible Village in January 2017 for residents there who wanted to engage in politics and fight for change. Indivisible Village is a local chapter of the national Indivisible […]
Nonprofits: Women Dominate Sector, But Lag Behind in Leadership Roles
Women dominate the nonprofit field, making up nearly three quarters of all employees in the sector, yet they still face barriers when trying to obtain leadership positions. While the struggles women face in the nonprofit world, such as the wage gap, are not unique to the sector alone, they are, perhaps, surprising for a field […]
Politics: Cindy Bass Gives The Community A Voice
Logan residents feel they have been kept in the shadows for decades by their council people, but City Councilwoman Cindy Bass is finally giving them a voice. “We’ve been promised that our issues are going to be addressed by the politicians over and over again,” said Cecil Hankins, a neighborhood resident. “Logan is the least of […]
Germantown: Club LaRose Has Turned Into A Home And Hub For All
Chenet LaRose’s dream was to open a community hub in Philadelphia where he could teach people about his Haitian heritage, but his Club LaRose quickly turned into a popular jazz club. LaRose, a retired dentist, never played music himself but he still calls the jazz club a second home, as do many of his regular […]
Manayunk: Five Places to Go Out and See Live Music
Live music can transform a quiet bar or restaurant into an exciting and happening place. From full bands playing original music, to acoustic covers, to disc jockeys, here is is a list of five places in Manayunk where it can be seen. Dawson Street Pub Dawson Street Pub (above) has hosted nationally known acts like Selwyn […]
Germantown: Barber Mark Lightfoot Keeps It All In the Family
Mark Lightfoot arrives at his barbershop as early as 6 a.m. to make sure everything is in place for his morning appointments. From the placement of each tool at each work station to the cleanliness of the floor, appearance is just as important as the quality of the haircut. This is one of many reasons […]