Comedy: Laughing Matters
“I was wondering why stand-up is good,” said Shane Gillis, a stand-up comedian who has been performing for about six years. “It’s just because you get to pay money to sit in a room and hear a guy tell the truth and you don’t see that anywhere else.” When people go to a comedy show […]
Politics: Philadelphia Protestant Home Residents Helping Encourage Statewide Change
Since 1890, the Philadelphia Protestant Home has been welcoming residents into its doors as a non-profit senior living community tucked in Northeast Philadelphia. The facility currently holds more than 600 residents ranging from different levels of care including independent living, personal care, skilled nursing, and rehabilitation. According to AARP, 65 percent of all residents living […]
Politics: Union Workers Celebrate Labor Amid Potential Crisis
To commemorate Dr. Martin Luther King’s sanitation worker’s protest, union members across Pennsylvania gathered recently near City Hall to participate in Working People’s Day of Action. But while organizers celebrated, U.S. Supreme Court is deliberating on a case that could substantially impact those very unions. In February, the court heard arguments for Janus v. American Federation of […]
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 […]
Politics: Advocacy Lawyer Fights For Those In And Exiting Foster Care
Jean Strout always wanted to work with children. A Maine native, Strout became a communications fellow for the Community Partnership School through Philly Fellows after graduating from Swarthmore College. After returning to Philadelphia from Harvard Law School, she then became a Zubrow Fellow for the Juvenile Law Center. Strout now is the Equal Justice Works […]
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 […]
Grays Ferry: Vare Recreation Center Reopens But Still Needs Work
“Originally, we had no idea of when we were going to reopen,” said Gina Batavick, the recreational leader at Vare Recreation Center. “We had a community meeting the last week of October and they told us four to six weeks, so they’re basically on target for six weeks.” After being forced to close down due to […]
Immigration: Five Ways To Support Immigrant Communities
Given America’s current political climate regarding immigration, many immigrant communities may feel at risk or even targeted. In a so-called sanctuary city like Philadelphia, immigrants can become active and engaged in community organizing to educate themselves and others about their rights in America. Here are five active organizations that offer educational programs and events for immigrant communities. Asian Arts Initiative […]
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 […]