East Falls: Town Watch Is Appreciated but Understaffed
Once every month, Mary Jane Fullam organizes meetings for the East Falls Town Watch, an organization that she has been a part of since its inception in 1998. Since then, she has assumed the role of president within the organization. The East Falls Town Watch consists of 12 people, with Fullam running the entire nonprofit […]
Social Issues: Councilwoman María Quiñones-Sánchez Talks Income Inequality
María Quiñones-Sánchez took office 10 years ago representing District 7 in Philadelphia City Council. Long considered a party outsider, it is not uncommon to find her battling politically with Latino leaders in her own neighborhood, as well as other council members. Her sprawling council district is comprised of a wide area, covering all or parts […]
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 […]
Education: Five Ways Budget Cuts Hurt City Schools
It’s the eighth largest district in the country and one of the two poorest. Despite tying with urban Chicago school districts for the most financially disadvantaged, The School District of Philadelphia (SDP) remains one of the most robust in terms of enrollment. Serving more than 200,000 students across 214 public and 86 charter schools, the […]
Northeast Philadelphia: Fox Chase Bus Loop Causes Headaches for Drivers
Jeanine Roach (right) doesn’t want to take 45 minutes to complete a 10 minute commute. However, in the area of the Fox Chase bus loop, located at the intersection of Oxford Avenue and Loney Street, that’s exactly what she and hundreds of other commuters face during rush hour. While the busy streets quickly become congested […]
Arts & Entertainment: Project Positive Breaks to Inspire
Project Positive is an organization that expresses its message through hip-hop dance. Incorporating workshops, performances and community partnerships, Project Positive strives to inspire the youth in Philadelphia. “Hip-hop dancing saved my life when I started at the age of 14,” said Damon Holley, who founded the organization in 2010. “It kept me out of a […]
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,” […]
Sports: Five Bars for Fans of Out-of-Town Sports Teams
Philadelphia is known for having some of the most passionate fans in sports. Sometimes that’s a compliment. Other times, Philadelphians intimidate other team’s fans. For Philadelphia residents who are fans of out-of-town teams, gameday can present a dilemma. Is their team’s game being shown on their TV? Which bar might be showing the game they […]
West Kensington: Fixing the Crack in the Foundation
Construction crews of union workers crowded the middle of the intersection at Kensington Avenue and Somerset Street. The men were all hard at work under the El trying to fix a repair job that was not executed correctly years ago. “Well, 15 years ago they redid the El, but it was a poor constructional design, […]
LGBTQIA: Experiences of the Transgender Community
Being transgender in Philadelphia is still something that incites violence and discrimination, but not nearly as much as it used to, according to Elizabeth Coffey Williams. “I lived the white-picket fence, husband, dog, swimming pool and garden club life for many, many years,” she said, ” and now I find myself in the center of […]