West Philadelphia: Libraries “Plant A Seed” That Brings Success And Literacy For West Philly Children
Out of the 339 schools within the Philadelphia School District, only eight have full-time paid certified librarians. Louis Lozzi, a Philadelphia native and teacher said that the lack of library funding in the school system has been an issue since he began his teaching career 15 years ago. “I’m used to being in schools without […]
Spruce Hill: Greensgrow Urban Farm Talks Food Insecurity And Community
Greensgrow Farm was created to bring fresh, locally-grown produce to Philadelphia. Today, two locations and mobile markets (in Fishtown and West Philadelphia) provide fruits, vegetables, flowers and a sense of community across the city. The urban farm located at 5123 Baltimore Ave. seeks to raise awareness of the necessity of wholesome agricultural practices, as well […]
Spruce Hill: Neighbors in Little Osage Come Together for Disaster Relief
Carlos Pérez Sámano wasn’t sure why his phone kept losing service on Sept. 19, but when he returned home from Center City and connected to the wifi, he was bombarded with text messages. “Everyone was saying, ‘I’m OK. I’m OK. I’m OK,’” Pérez Sámano said. “And I was like, what happened?” There had been a […]
Spruce Hill: Uhuru’s Flea Market Coordinator Inspires Young Africans To Make Change
Tiffany Murphy, a native of West Philadelphia, fell in love with community organization and civic engagement during her childhood. Years later, she is now the coordinator for the Uhuru Flea Market and the upcoming One Africa, One Nation Uhuru Book Fair Market that institutionalizes and develops programs to defend the human and civil rights of people […]
Spruce Hill: Musician Gets Personal At West Philly Porchfest
Spenser Colmbs has a bachelor’s degree in advertising and a certificate in neuroscience from Temple University. He has a friendly, honest demeanor that helps make his day job as an insurance agent a little bit easier. Colmbs is also an active musician, performing solo as well as in two Philadelphia-based bands, Three Man Cannon and […]
Squirrel Hill: Paradise In Progress Contributes To The Urban Farming Movement
Peggy Nowak has a house in West Philadelphia that sits next to the lot her old home used to be situated on. Since being torn down, Nowak reclaimed that land to create her idea of a lavish garden filled with everything from milkweed to fig trees. The garden is called Paradise in Progress and is one of […]
Spruce Hill: Renovations Underway For Homeless Veteran Shelter
Many organizations in Philadelphia serve a very specific niche. With more than 22 years of service, the Philadelphia Veterans Comfort House hopes to give homeless veterans a chance to start over and become productive members of society. The PVCH offered program 365 days per year. All programs are designed specifically for veterans, including addiction and […]
Spruce Hill: Five Local Ethnic And Minority-Owned Businesses
The Spruce Hill neighborhood of West Philadelphia is known for its cultural diversity and variety of great food. These five ethnic and minority-owned businesses in Spruce Hill are providing the local community with affordable food ingredients and goods. Produce Truck Spruce Hill residents do not have to travel far to get a wide variety […]
Amateur Sports: Nonprofits Help Homeless Beyond Athletics
Street Soccer USA On any given night in the United States, there are approximately 564,708 people who are counted as homeless. On any given night in this country, there are also 39,907 unaccompanied youth between the ages of 18-24. As of 2014, at a local level, between 30 and 40 percent of Philadelphia’s youth live […]
Spruce Hill and Cedar Park: Five Local Businesses to Visit
In the Spruce Hill and Cedar Park sections of Philadelphia there are many companies tucked away within pockets of Baltimore Avenue. Whether you are looking for jewelry, clothing, books, games or food, there is a place for anyone’s needs or interests. Take a stroll along along the streets of these neighborhoods and make a stop at one […]