Germantown

Germantown Pride Persists a Decade After School Closures Wounded the Community

Kristen Clark said that the school closures of 2012 and 2013 were traumatic.

Ten years after the School District of Philadelphia closed 24 public schools, the impact looms large.

The fundamental comfortability and taboo nature of talking about women’s health, and access to knowledge period products, and even care has never served women or menstruating people.

Michelle Simmons founded Why Not Prosper 21 years ago after returning home from prison. The group operates three residential facilities in Philadelphia. In the past year, they started holding peace walks every two weeks with the goal of drawing people into their Germantown command center. 

The Germantown Kitchen Garden, established in 2008, was inspired by Amanda Staples’ desire for easy access to fresh and organically grown vegetables. Now, shoppers at the garden find a plant nursery, vegetables grown in a humid greenhouse, and a sense of community.

Germantown native Kambel Smith is showing his second solo exhibition at Fleisher/Ollman, on display now until May 26th.

With a background in theater and art, Douglas Rucker is the writer and director of a play called “YO, PUT THE GUN DOWN!” to raise awareness of gun violence in the community that is affecting the youth.