Art: Three Female Muslim Artists Using Work to Express Identity
These three Muslim women are using art in order to express personal and collective identity, and explore issues of location, displacement and personal connection to social contexts in the city. You can find their art featured in galleries, on buildings and throughout the city. Yasmin Nezhad Born and raised in Iran, Yasmin Nezhad has lived […]
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 […]
Kingsessing: Seniors Find Creative Outlet At Open Mic
Poems about New York and chapters from a romance novel echoed through the Kingsessing Library’s sunlit basement. On Sept. 28, the library hosted an open mic poetry night for older adults— the first of many, Rachel Hayes hopes. “I think it’s important for the community,” Kingsessing Library Supervisor Hayes said. “Anything positive, anything that builds […]
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 […]
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 […]
Education: “I don’t want to say having literacy is a panacea. It gives you access.”
Diane Inverso has been serving as the executive director of the Office of Adult Education (OAE) since 2016, after working for the recently renamed Mayor’s Commission on Literacy for more than 25 years. Though the OAE is not a direct services organization, the city government office develops partnerships and public policy, oversees the Philadelphia Adult […]
Education: Councilwoman Helen Gym, “I need a big vision for the school district that people believe in.”
Helen Gym (D) is an at-large Philadelphia City Council member and vocal education advocate. Her goal in public office has been to to tackle widespread poverty through creating a quality public education system – the same system she taught in and put her children through. Philadelphia Neighborhoods spoke with Councilwoman Gym on the phone to discuss the […]
Olney: This Week In The News — Scholarships, Remembering The Clock Man And More
In case you missed it, we found a few places where people were talking about things happening in Olney: Rowan R.A.I.S.E. Takes High Schools to Med School – The Rudman Foundation not only sponsors Discovery Days for high school students, but also has provided more than $500,000 in college scholarships to Olney Charter High School students who […]
How To: Apply For High School
Finding the right fit for a student entering high school can be a complex task in Philadelphia. Here’s a guide to applying for public high schools. Get Acquainted Philadelphia has several options for high school students, that range in proximity to home and programming offered. See a full list of high schools and their category […]