East Kensington: Community Center Helps Adults Strengthen Literacy Skills
In a small classroom on the second floor of Community Center at Visitation, which refers to itself as “A Beacon of Hope in Kensington,” a group of eager students sit ready for the day’s lesson. These aren’t just regular school students, however. They are adults from the United States and countries beyond set on improving […]
Immigration: Artist Mobilizes Immigrant Communities For Social Justice
Ten years ago, Michelle Angela Ortiz hoped to be where she is today – a successful visual artist, skilled muralist and community arts educator. For more than 18 years, Ortiz has been using art as a tool for communication between communities. Through painting, printmaking and community arts practices, Ortiz is able to share the narratives […]
Kingsessing: Through Teamwork, Coach Teaches More Than Football To Youth
As a sixth grade student, Dontae Privette walked by the Kingsessing Recreation Center every day to get to school. “I’ve always just been connected to Kingsessing and this neighborhood,” said Privette, who grew up nearby in West Philadelphia. Now he’s constantly at the center, where he works as the executive director of the Kingsessing Roadrunners, […]
Technology: Sarah Robbins Helps STEAM Scholars Program Move Forward
Sarah Robbins is the Roxborough High School STE(A)M (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math) Scholars Program Coordinator with District 1199C’s Training and Upgrading Fund. The union, representing health care and hospital workers in Philadelphia, looks to bring more science and technology programming into local schools. Her role allows her to work with students and stimulate […]
Immigration: Using Art to Share the Asian American Migration Experience
Through the power of art, even the most complex stories of immigration and assimilation can be expressed. Located on the 1200 block of Vine Street, the Asian Arts Initiative has linked art and communities since 1993. AAI is a multidisciplinary arts center dedicated to exploring experiences of Asian Americans and bridging dialogue with diverse communities. […]
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 […]
Northeast Philadelphia: Philadelphia’s Out-of-School Time Initiative Enters Phase One
Philadelphia’s Out-of-School Time (OST) Initiative continues to build on past programs and improve the quality of OST for children by increasing participation from non-city funded programs. Mayor Jim Kenney’s administration sees improving OST programing as a pathway to improving early literacy in children and to helping reduce food insecurity, asthma and obesity among city youths. The […]
Fox Chase: CORA Services Arrives At Loesche Elementary School
CORA Services recently expanded its out-of-school-time (OST) network in Northeast Philadelphia, bringing additional services to schools like Loesche Elementary School. Located in Fox Chase, CORA provides children with academic support, psychological services, speech and language services and school counseling. Its OST program was recently renamed YOUTHCOR, “cor” being Latin for heart and originally the intended name for […]
West Passyunk: Saint Monica’s Cares For Community At All Stages of Life
Saint Monica’s Catholic Church, located on the corner of 17th and Ritner streets in South Philadelphia, has been serving the Catholic community for decades with weekly mass and confessions, as well as community programs that provide aid to parishioners for the entirety of their lives in the neighborhood. The parish has many organizations for community […]
Immigration: Planting Seeds of Culture to Build Connections Amongst People
Elizabeth Taylor-Mead is a development consultant at Al-Bustan Seeds of Culture, a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating youth and adults on Arab culture. Through the arts, music and language, the organization hopes to raise cross-cultural awareness and debunk discrimination against Arabs as well as all immigrants living in the U.S. Al-Bustan Seeds of Culture has partnered […]