Chinatown: Navigating Change, Growth And Development
Crafted by artists from Tianjin, China and coated with tiles manufactured in Philadelphia, the Friendship Gate on 10th and Arch streets symbolizes a kinship between two cities that are nearly 7,000 miles apart. In 1984, the 40-foot arch was erected at the border of Chinatown. Since then, massive development projects — like the Vine Street […]
Immigration: With Limited Options For Employment, Many Immigrants Become Entrepreneurs
Teresa Herrera’s dream began with a shopping cart, which she pushed around North Philadelphia and sold her homemade recipes out of. Hector Hernandez’s began in the driver seat of a limousine. Xu Lin’s was an abandoned shoe store. Despite their varied experiences and industries, Herrera, Hernandez and Lin have all supported their families and themselves […]
Germantown: Church Welcomes First Generation Haitian-American Youth Ministries Director
The First United Methodist Church of Germantown (FUMCOG) has sat on the corner of East High Street and Germantown Avenue since 1796. In September, the congregation welcomed 33-year-old Jeanna Murat (pictured above). Murat is first generation Haitian-American who has dedicated her life to empowering youth and pushing them to explore their faith. “My role whenever […]
East Falls: Playspace In The Works For McMichael Park
Outside of Fairmount Park, one might be surprised to hear there is a six-acre plot of land in East Falls that remains completely natural and undeveloped. But within the neighborhood, there is a great deal of disagreement over whether or not it should stay that way. McMichael Park, bracketed by Henry and Midvale avenues on […]
Powelton Village: Park Cleanup Initiative Brings Both Community And University Students Together
Love Your Park, a citywide initiative to keep Philadelphia’s parks clean, had it’s fall cleanup Saturday morning on Nov. 11 at Saunders Park on 39th Street and Powelton Avenue. Community members and Drexel University students came together to pick up leaves, throw out trash and begin planting flowers that would bloom by spring. The initiative does […]
Bartram’s Garden: Pennsylvania Horticultural Society Plants Opportunities For People Leaving Prison
Darnell Drayton didn’t know anything about landscaping or gardening before joining the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society’s (PHS) Roots to Re-entry program. Drayton (pictured above) just wanted something to do while in prison. “I didn’t want to be in a cage all day,” he said. He completed the program and was taught how to landscape so he […]
Kensington: Local Boxer Shares Gift With Community
With years of boxing experience under his belt, 18-year-old Branden Pizarro is making a name for himself as the youngest professional boxer in Pennsylvania. He’s been featured on Showtime’s ShoBox: The New Generation and now has his own space for him and others to train, The Gift Boxing Gym. In this video, Pizarro and his family […]
Mt. Airy: Zoning Issue Puts Spotlight On Development In Community
Cresheim Road resident Ginny Barnwell had no idea she needed to be concerned after a local construction company bought two homes a few doors from her in February. Barnwell, who’s lived on the 7000 block of Cresheim for more than 20 years, was out walking her dog in May when she saw a sign on […]
Overbrook Farms: Community Members Memorialize, Demonstrate At New Wilson Goode Sign
On the 2400 block of North 59th Street, just below the newly named W. Wilson Goode Sr. Way, stands a four-foot-tall shrine that reads, “To honor former Mayor W. Wilson Goode Sr. with a street, is to dishonor the 11 MOVE ancestors and the Osage Avenue/Pine Street neighbors.” The shrine was created by Philadelphia activist […]
East Falls: Friends of Mifflin, Principal Work Together To Drive Community Involvement
Wind howled and rain pelted down on East Falls, but inside the warm gymnasium at Thomas Mifflin Elementary School, smiling children ran around in colorful costumes to the sound of popular tunes put on by DJ Mighty Flip Side at the Mifflin Fall Festival and Carnival on Saturday, Oct. 27. Principal Leslie Mason (pictured above) bravely […]