Hunting Park and Fairhill: Community Leaders Combat Opioid Epidemic With Their Own Hands
Community members in Hunting Park and Fairhill are no longer waiting for the city to resolve the dire opioid epidemic and its residual effects that impact the health and safety of their neighborhoods. Leaders are learning how to reverse opioid and heroin overdoses, picking up needles and drug containers from playgrounds and schoolyards, and having […]
Hunting Park: First Haunted Hayride Brings Together Community And Police
The 25th Philadelphia Police District and Hunting Park United (HPU) partnered to host the first Haunted Hayride event on Oct. 30 in Hunting Park. The Halloween event, created by Ryan Barksdale and Albert Cruz, the 25th District community relations officers, Captain Javier Rodriguez and HPU President Leroy Fisher, featured an inflatable corn maze, trailer hayrides, […]
Latinx: Seven Places You Can Find Dominican Chimis
Not to be confused with the Argentinian sauce Chimichurri, the Dominican Chimichurris is an after-party must. Originating in the Dominican Republic, the Chimi is a burger-like specialty sold out of panel trucks in corners of concentrated areas generally surrounded by nightlife and businesses. The Chimi is a tropical twist on the conventional American hamburger. It […]
Hunting Park: Kensington Pastor Unifies Church Communities Through Charity And Outreach
In August 2009, Stephen Thompson was ordained as a pastor. Now a senior pastor at House of Triumph, located in Kensington, Thompson helps run community-oriented programs at the church. These programs include food outreach dinners twice a week and group addiction counseling twice a month. The church also holds a free market outreach once a month […]
Juniata/Hunting Park: Teaching Islam And Serving The Community
Shireen Hammoudeh has been preaching about Islam since she became a teacher at the Muslim American Society Center in 2003 (MAS). Her mission has been to empower the youth and pass along the teaching of the last prophet in Islam, Muhammed. What is MAS? MAS, the Muslim American Society is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, that […]
Hunting Park: Esperanza Aims to Improve Neighborhood Conditions
Esperanza is a faith-based community development corporation and nonprofit organization. It was founded in 1986 by the Hispanic clergy of Philadelphia. At the time, the Hispanic clergy wanted to address some of the larger problems that the community faced – access to affordable housing, access to jobs, safe communities and an education. Philip Dawson, 29, […]
Hunting Park: Black Diamond Dance Troupe Prepares Girls For Healthy Futures Through Dance and Mentoring
Hip-Hop music played loudly at the Hunting Park Recreation Center, where a group of young girls smiled with joy as they began preparation for their next performance. The Black Diamond Dance Troupe was founded two years ago by Camisha Moyer, Shana Bowman and Kishna Jeantine, who serve as the dance coaches for the troupe. The […]
Hunting Park: Family Fit Program Helps Reduce Obesity Through Education and Fitness
Young children and their guardians watched as a big blue, red and white volleyball went back and forth over a volleyball net which signified the beginning of another family fit class at the Esperanza Center on 4417 N. 6th St. in Hunting Park. The children and their parents smiled as they began the 90 minute session that […]
Education: English Teacher Aims To Improve Opportunities Inside And Outside The Classroom
Kayla Conklin currently serves as the department head of the English department at Esperanza Academy Charter High School in West Hunting Park. That title is just one of many she holds at the school, mainly comprised of minority students in the surrounding neighborhoods. Between the hours of 8:50 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Conklin is either […]
Hunting Park: Chess Instructor Inspires Kids To Reach Their Full Potential
Young children played and screamed happily at the Lenfest Center on N. 10th St in Hunting Park as Gil Motley arrived for his chess club. His infectious smile and personality captivated the space as he walked through the door to Classroom A, where his club will soon commence. As Motley entered the room, he reached […]