Bella Vista: An Immigrant Himself, Eugene Desyatnik Now Serves As The Bella Vista Neighbors Association President
Eugene Desyatnik is the president of the Bella Vista Neighbors Association. Desyatnik, a naturalized citizen hailing from the former Soviet Union, has lived in Center City for more than 12 years, recently moving to Bella Vista with his wife and children. The BVNA, a nonprofit organization, helps facilitate various city services to a very diverse […]
Latinx: A Look Inside The Dominican Hair Salon Experience
From an early age, Rosaura Reynoso understood how hair has the power to frame a woman’s face. She developed a passion for the art of hair styling, and in 1983 decided to start her journey as a hair stylist. Reynoso was born and raised in the Dominican Republic, where she opened her own salon 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 […]
Brewerytown: Residents Adapting Alongside New Developments, Businesses
Brewerytown is an attractive neighborhood to people looking for the cool, new hot spot to live. Its accessibility by public transportation and its proximity to Center City and Fairmount Park have made it an enticing area for developers and new residents. It’s no question that Brewerytown has seen changes in recent years. New apartment buildings […]
Brewerytown: The Yoga Studio Opens Arms to Everyone
Emile Sorger, owner and founder of The Yoga and Movement Sanctuary at 26th Street and Girard Avenue, moved to Brewerytown in 2012. After witnessing the booming growth of his old neighborhood in Fishtown, he found similar circumstances in his new “up-and-coming” neighborhood. As a freelance yoga instructor, Sorger noticed the influence of his teachings in the city, […]
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 […]
PhiladelphiaNeighborhoods.com Magazine
In the summer of 2017, through a generous donation from Lew and Janet Klein, PhiladelphiaNeighborhoods.com invited five former students (Jonathan Ginsburg, Jared Phillips, Ramona Roberts, Brianna Spause and Bob Stewart) to participate in a fellowship program to continue reporting throughout the summer. Each week we posted stories online about the happenings of particular neighborhoods from […]
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 […]
Kingsessing: Returning Home To Bring The Block Together
On a Saturday afternoon in mid-September, a block in Kingsessing thrived. Music blasted from speakers as neighbors danced, played cards and delved into home-cooked food. It’s not the first time that Gregory Benjamin— the block captain who organized the celebration— has brought his community together. Benjamin grew up on the 5000 block of Springfield Avenue […]