Social Issues

On the evening of Nov. 1, the silence of the Lillian Marrero library branch was broken by the laughter and conversation of Latino residents from the Fairhill neighborhood. These residents were taking part in a [continue reading…]

For the past 11 years the Department of Human Services’ (DHS) Office of Truancy Prevention has nurtured a very special group. Equal Partnership in Change (EPIC), working together to find solutions, has grown from one [continue reading…]

https://vimeo.com/31749668] A lifelong resident of Strawberry Mansion reminisced about some of the struggles he endured as a child. Rick Ford acknowledged how his own downfall began. It was in the sixth grade when Ford began [continue reading…]

Aristedez Velazquez, 8, squirmed in his seat, unable to contain his bursting energy. Although Velazquez and his fellow second-graders from Julia de Burgos Elementary wanted nothing more than to run around in Fairhill Park across [continue reading…]

With the help of a $100,000 grant from the Wells Fargo Regional Foundation, People’s Emergency Center has embarked on “Make Your Mark,” a yearlong neighborhood planning process in West Philadelphia. Throughout October, PEC hosted several [continue reading…]

West Girard Avenue is host to the commercial corridor that runs through Brewerytown. Along these stores runs the historic trolleys that helped commuters travel up and down Girard Avenue daily. Recently, SEPTA announced that it [continue reading…]

Bethany Welch called across Fairhill Square Park to a little boy running through the grass. “Jose!” she yelled. “Jose! Can I have a hug?” Without hesitation, the smiling boy ran over and welcomed her warm [continue reading…]

It’s hard to get the public’s attention in Fairhill, where music is always blasting from someone’s car and people are out of their houses talking with neighbors. Even so, the 2Infamous annual car contest does [continue reading…]