South Philadelphia: Historian Explores Her Sicilian Roots
Celeste Morello is known throughout Philadelphia as an authority on the history of the mafia in the area and has earned advanced degrees in criminology and history from St. Joseph’s University and Villanova University, respectively. She currently resides in South Philadelphia. Are you from the Philadelphia area? I’m from Montgomery County, Norristown. That’s where […]
South Philadelphia: Nonprofit Executive Strives To End Hunger In Philadelphia
Since 1984, Philabundance has been operating out of South Philadelphia with one goal in mind: ending hunger in the region. Today, the nonprofit organization serves approximately 90,000 people per week. Glenn Bergman, a former health care professional, has served as executive director of Philabundance for almost two years. Bergman came to the nonprofit after spending […]
Passyunk Square: KYL/D Director Uses Dance as a Means of Self-Discovery
“One, two, three, two, two, three and go!” Kun-Yang Lin said as he stood in front of his ensemble of professional dancers at CHI Movement Arts Center (CHI MAC) and gave notes during rehearsal of a restaged piece, “ONE/Immortal Game.” The dancers portrayed human sized chess pieces and moved in a grid-like pattern to emulate a chess […]
South Philadelphia: The Electric Street Mural Brings Community Together
In an alley on Percy Street, just a few blocks away from Pat’s King of Steaks and Geno’s Steaks, a mural attracts events such as music video tapings, parties and even church revivals. The Electric Street Mural, combining lighting and paint, is a street art piece created by street artist David Guinn and lighting designer Drew Billiau. The […]
Point Breeze: Redevelopment Brings Residents To The Table
In August, the group formally known as Newbold Neighbors Association took a leap in creating inclusivity in the Point Breeze community. The civic association that serves the area between 18th and Broad Streets and Washington and Passyunk Avenues chose to rename their organization to the East Point Breeze Neighbors (EPBN), to acknowledge the history of […]
South Philadelphia: Osagame’s Athletes Fall For Judo And Self-Defense Classes
According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, domestic violence accounts for 15 percent of all violent crime in the United States. Incidents can be found in most, if not all, communities across the country. People have looked to different methods to combat domestic violence and physical assaults. Most methods have included weapons such as […]
South Philadelphia: Refugee Resettlement Contributes To Diverse History
The Philadelphia non-profit Southeast Asian Mutual Assistance Association Coalition (SEAMAAC) was bustling with activity in the afternoon hours of Nov. 7. Men and women with origins spanning from Vietnam and Laos, to Indonesia and Burma, cold-called potential voters with advice on where to find their polling location, tactics on how to identify voter intimidation and […]
South Philadelphia: Bocce League Preserves Italian Tradition
Growing up in South Philadelphia, Larry Del Spechio spent a lot of time around bocce courts. He hardly played, though. “When we were young, we couldn’t play because the old guys didn’t want you to,” said Del Spechio, who now lives in South Jersey. “They used to say, ‘Watch it and listen to what we […]
South Philadelphia: South Philly Struggles to Keep Its Streets Clean
On the 1900 block of South Broad Street, outside Pizzeria Pesto restaurant, lies a messy pile of trash splayed on the sidewalk. Cardboard boxes, empty plastic bottles, a child’s potty and other items have been on the concrete for about a week and a half. The city’s Streets Department has yet to touch it. According to […]
South Philadelphia: Neighborhood Museums Cater to Community
As Philadelphia continues to evolve as a prime tourist destination, with a record 41 million visitors in 2015, many neighborhoods of the city have undergone revitalization efforts intended to boost the number of residents and tourists. Many flock to the city for the history, arts and culture here. While each neighborhood has something to offer, other parts […]