The White House designated part of West Philadelphia as one of five Promise Zones one year ago this January. The designation will last for another nine years, but while most organizations involved look positively on the first
The garden across from J.G. Blaine School, filled with vibrant orange mums and brightly painted blue fences, held a small class of sixth-, seventh- and eighth-grade students one crisp Friday morning. While on the surface the
Formerly known as one of the most persistently dangerous schools in the state, Strawberry Mansion High School has seen changes, some of which include the implementation of a U.S. Attorney-backed youth court. “Youth courts are
Drive up one of Philadelphia’s most historic main streets and you will see longtime residents walking amongst new and vibrant residents, flashes of a city heading for the future. Stephanie Michel’s job begins at the meeting
A group of teenagers are creating serious problems for the residents of Port Richmond, said Patty McCloskey. She said consuming alcohol, doing drugs and trashing the park are a few of the localized problems that can
Sherman stormed down the 3500 block of Ryan Avenue as dusk was falling on Mayfair’s first ever Third Thursday festival. He reached the corner of Ryan and Leon streets, his head on a swivel. Who
For many years, notary frauds have been common occurrences in South Philadelphia’s immigrant community. However, recently more initiatives to help victims of “notario” fraud are developing in Philadelphia, which would create stronger ties between law
When the publicity of a serious crime goes away, Victim/Witness Services of South Philadelphia helps people pick up the pieces. Victims of violent crimes in the community can reach them with the ring of a
South Philadelphia is historically notorious for being the home of the city’s Italian mafia. But while the mob’s presence has quelled in the recent years, crime is still a prevalent issue in the community, especially
Skip Wiener knows it sometimes takes a little dirty work to make a difference, which is why he founded the West Philadelphia-based non-profit organization, Urban Tree Connection. The Urban Tree Connection’s purpose is to revitalize
