City Politics: Community Organizer And Activist Is Leading The Way For LGBT Affairs
Amber Hikes started her career in Philadelphia in social work, and became a well-known community organizer and an advocate for LGBT youth through her work at The Attic Youth Center, William Way Community Center and other youth-focused organizations. Following a move to California, she returned to serve as executive director of the Office of LGBT Affairs […]
City Hall: Eight Statues That Help Tell The History of Philadelphia
The plazas surrounding City Hall are enriched with iconic statues. From the 37-foot-tall monument of William Penn at the top of the building to the smaller statues scattered around the base of the structure, these figures are meant to memorialize the lives and accomplishments of Philadelphians of past eras. Locals and tourists hustle through their […]
Holmesburg: Does Philadelphia Need a New Prison?
Philadelphia’s City Council is attempting to pass a bill to replace the House of Correction located at 8001 State Rd., which currently houses 1,500 inmates. Plans are to replace the facility, which opened in 1927, with a building up-to-code on proper fire suppression system, an electronic cell door release for emergency evacuation situations, federally-regulated video surveillance systems […]
Politics: The Man Leading Philly’s Young Generation
Growing up in Philadelphia, Kellan White was always surrounded by politics. His father, John White, served on Philadelphia City Council, was a member of Mayor Wilson Goode’s administration and ran for mayor in the Democratic primary in 1991. “I hope I was an example for him of integrity and credibility when it comes to fighting […]
Frankford: Residents Hope New Mayor Brings SEPTA and PPD Together
Voices in Frankford have united, stating that crime is the primary concern for their neighborhood. Many believe the next mayor of Philadelphia has a responsibility to tackle the issue, even if they don’t agree on the best candidate for the position. “Hopefully the next mayor steps in and does something because it’s only gotten worse,” […]
Manayunk: Cigar Shop Owner Takes Unique Path to Success
Kosta Fotiadis moved to Philadelphia in 2002 to chase his dream job, working for Lockheed Martin. Now, just 13 years later, Fotiadis is the proud owner of award winning cigar and hookah lounge Smoke, a totally different dream job. “Owning your own business, making your own hours, being your own boss, that’s the real dream job. It’s […]
Politics: Meet Philly’s Future Leaders
Millennials are driving Philadelphia’s growth. Events like the Forbes Under 30 Summit, returning to Philadelphia this fall, highlight the accomplishments of the city’s young residents. Despite the success of this group of Philadelphians, the average age of this year’s declared mayoral candidates is 59. While this lack of representation might make young people feel excluded from […]
City Hall: Al Schmidt Says, “You Don’t Have an Excuse Not to Vote.”
Elections are the foundation of a democratic society. While it might seem as though elections just come together, in reality a tremendous amount of work is required to make them happen. City Commissioner Al Schmidt is one of the three elected officials who coordinate every aspect of elections, from voter registration to checking voting […]
Spruce Hill: Lottery Brings New Era for Penn Alexander
Penn Alexander School’s kindergarten waitlist ended this year, changing to a contested lottery. Traditionally, parents had waited in line for days to register. School District Superintendent William Hite made the change within days of becoming aware of the situation, said Fernando Gallard, chief of communications for the School District. “It was a change that was […]