Strawberry Mansion: Tyrone Williams of NAC Teaches Community To Use Its Voice
Now the head of community engagement at the Strawberry Mansion Neighborhood Action Center, Tyrone Williams has worked his whole life trying to better his community. From a young age, Williams took an active interest in reaching out to people. He estimated his history in community outreach went back to when he was 11-years old and a […]
Old City: Job Itzkowitz and Old City District are Maintaining Historic Features, While Adapting for the Future
On the surface, Old City may seem like a neighborhood free of problems. It has a booming commercial district and it sits adjacent to Independence Mall, one of the busiest tourist areas in the city. In actuality, Old City residents and business owners still face hurdles in the process of developing and redeveloping the oldest neighborhood […]
Strawberry Mansion: Residents Discuss Issues They Want Next Mayor to Address
Strawberry Mansion residents shared their concerns about the upcoming 2015 mayoral primary, and the impact a new mayor might have on the community. Many residents focused on the quality of education in the area, as well as community development, from broken sidewalks to abandoned houses. Although some residents were unsure of the current candidates and […]
Mayfair: Joe DeFelice and The City’s Premier Civic Association
Joe DeFelice is a true Mayfair man. Living in the city his entire life, DeFelice moved back to the neighborhood after graduating from La Salle University and began his role as a community leader. Even as a young child growing up in Mayfair, DeFelice took on the role as a leader by becoming president of the […]
Newbold: Mr. Longacre’s Neighborhood
Conjure up an image of the average incoming Newboldian, and you just might get a vision of someone like Jeff Goldman. Goldman, upon approach in a crowd of The Pharmacy rock-concert patrons that looks akin to a poster ad for Urban Outfitters, rolls right through his spiel: He landed at 16th and Hicks streets in […]
Overbrook: Neighborhood Rivalries Left on the Court
Neighborhood tensions between the three sub-communities of Hilltop, Wynnefield and Parkside are a part of life growing up in the Overbrook community. Where someone lives is where his or her identity is rooted. “They call it riding with their neighborhood,” Naim Bellinger, former police officer at Overbrook High School, said. “The kids hang out together […]
Overbrook: Arts Center Providing Sustainability for Neighborhood
The Overbrook Arts Center, a nonprofit organization, teaches children and adults how to create sustainable living within the city. “Our nonprofit decided to make the entire experience a community project so people can learn you can turn things around in your neighborhood,” Jerome Shabazz, executive director for the Overbrook Arts Center and founder of JASTECH […]
Nicetown: Community Center Working Towards a Better Neighborhood
Nicetown Community Development Center President Zakariyya Abdur-Rahman first saw a strong need for a center that would provide a variety of social services to the people of Nicetown in 1999. It was after owning a business and consistently receiving inquires about job openings that Abdur-Rahman said she felt it was time for a change. The […]
Overbrook Farms: A Suburb Within City Limits
[vimeo 62712343] Residents on the 6300 block of Overbrook Avenue confidently express pride as one of the few neighborhoods where one can still go next door to borrow sugar or eggs and everyone knows each other’s name. Paul and Laurel Wilson have lived on Overbrook Avenue for the past 31 years. During their time on the […]
Overbrook: Monarch Athletic Association Empowers Youth
The Overbrook Monarch Athletic Association takes competition to a deeper level. These young athletes are much more than a group of kids playing games. They are dedicated athletes who have successfully won numerous trophies and championship titles over the past 10 years. However, their successes are not measured by the amount of awards they receive […]