West Philadelphia: A Slice of Japan in Fairmount Park
Shofuso Japanese House and Garden is getting ready for a partial roof replacement later this summer. While most might find this subject to be of no interest, there is actually a unique story behind it. The roof on the home is made out of hinoki bark. “Hinoki roofs are a pretty rare thing to find […]
South Philadelphia: Local Tree Planters Breathe Life Into Community
Finding the time and energy to maintain one’s property can be a daunting task in a city like Philadelphia. In certain neighborhoods, having “curb appeal” can be as simple as not having a pileup of trash on your sidewalk. For the many local groups involved with the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society’s Tree Tenders program, beautification takes […]
Chestnut Hill: Safety, Community Enhancement are Top Priorities for Business District Executive Director
Martha Sharkey is the executive director for the Chestnut Hill Business Association and is one of the primary people leading the way in bringing new businesses, programs and community safety projects to the local community. Sharkey, who has held her current position for three years, believes that helping bring new people to the neighborhood will ultimately […]
Mayfair: CDC Executive Director Aims to Keep Neighborhood Current
Luka Lakuriqi has made it his mission to make the Mayfair community the place to be in the Northeast. He leads the Mayfair Community Development Corporation, located on the second floor of the Mayfair Community Center at 2990 St. Vincent St. Lakuriqi and his team serve everyone from business owners to residents to make sure that Mayfair’s […]
Northern Liberties: The Nuance Behind The Neighborhood
Someone walking down American Street through Northern Liberties would see many sleek, modern homes mixed with niche places to shop and eat. They might hear echoes of thumping and clanking from new construction and definitely a few barking dogs. The neighborhood wasn’t always a hub of expansion. Similar to small towns along the Rust Belt, […]
South Philadelphia: Community Organizations Combat Graffiti
In Philadelphia, large-scale murals, art installations from internationally renowned creatives and pop-up art pieces have become standard, with South Philadelphia being no exception. South Philadelphia is known for mosaics from Isaiah Zagar and murals of local greats. Despite this, an illegal artform also finds a home in this part of the city. The scribbling and […]
Queen Village: Community Finds Alternative Ways to Recycle
Queen Village is doing its best to transform into Clean Village, an environmentally conscientious neighborhood. In hopes of living in a greener city, residents are doing what they can to make changes in their everyday lives to benefit Mother Earth. The Queen Village Neighborhood Association is helping by informing individuals about the city’s rules and restrictions on […]
Queen Village: Tree Tenders Put Down Roots In The Community
A group of volunteers in Queen Village known as the Tree Tenders came together on Nov. 19 for their bi-annual tree planting. They devoted their Saturday morning to improving the quality of life in the neighborhood. Volunteers were dispersed in groups of four throughout the community, as well as across other sections of the city. […]
Juniata Park: Carribbean Native Connects Local Community To Philly Creek
As litter from the sea washed upon the white sand beaches of Puerto Rico, Doryán De Angel discovered her zeal. Fueling her fervor for the recovery of Earth’s waterways, the environmentalist is now the community watershed leader of the Tookany/Tacony-Frankford Watershed Partnership (TTF), a Philadelphia-based initiative established in 2000 to promote community engagement with the body […]
Mill Creek: Farm Provides for Community in More Ways Than You May Know
Alkebu-Lan Marcus, a 23-year-old assistant farm manager at Mill Creek Farm, got his start by growing food in his own backyard. He is interested in being able to control his own resources and becoming more sustainable. Living within the Mill Creek community, he finds pleasure in giving back to his neighbors through working at the farm […]