It can be easy to get discouraged these days. Everywhere we look, there are signs of a struggling planet and, often, it’s difficult to see a clear path to an effectual response. 2022 may well eclipse recent years as the hottest on record. Rainfall has alternated between being absent or violent in Pennsylvania, one of
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by Claire Marie Porter(full story can be found here)Ethan Feinstein, a drummer of 17 years, wanted a very specific size and sound from his drums—something he couldn’t find in stores. He collaborated with a friend on his first project, a single drum, using resources from NextFab’s North Philadelphia location. After that, a friend asked him
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By Claire Marie PorterTinkering away in community workspaces throughout the city, a renaissance of artists are making both music and the instruments that create it.
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by Bernard BrownImagine you’re a pipevine swallowtail butterfly flying around the rowhouses of southwest Philadelphia. You look like a swatch of velvet. On top, your wings are black toward the front and an iridescent electric blue towards the back; underneath, they flash an array of bright orange spots as a warning to predators. You hatched at
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by Constance Garcia-BarrioSouth Philly homegirl Marian Anderson (1897–1993) put on a concert at Washington D.C.’s Lincoln Memorial that called the world’s attention to black talent and domestic racism. That 1939 performance led some historians to call Anderson the mother of the civil rights movement.
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by Alexandra W. JonesVisible from the sidewalk, 12 shiny black solar panels accessorize the roof of Marion Storey Biddle’s purple home in Mount Airy. She smiles at the sight—her own independent power source.
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by Claire Marie PorterWhile former Philadelphia Union forward C.J. Sapong was recovering from a herniated disc and cervical nerve injuries sustained in a 2014 game, he began researching alternative forms of healing.
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by Alexandra JonesIf things had gone the way she wanted, Carla J. Fisher probably wouldn’t have become an artist. Instead of working away in her bright, colorful studio on Cherry Street Pier, starting new pieces in between boxing up art destined for buyers in South Korea and exhibitions in Luxembourg, the 60-something woman might still be
MorePlayworks designed an online toolkit, Recess Labs, for educators to use to improve their classroom and playground climate. Here are a few Recess Labs tips for better play:1 Get adults in the gameOftentimes adults see recess as a time for them to check out. But research shows that adult participation can strengthen rapport with the
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by Alexandra W. JonesWhen Facundo Lucci walks into the Reading Terminal Market, he smiles and waves at his fellow vendors. Like a few people there, he runs a deli. But unlike the others, he’s managing an entirely plant-based stall.He runs Luhv Vegan.
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by Kim PostProgram Manager Alon Abramson calls his workplace “basically a startup.” In many respects it looks like a typical government office, but the youthful employees, generous space and handsome street view adds a certain vitality. The Philadelphia Energy Authority promotes clean energy in the city, helping city departments, businesses and homeowners through a variety of
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