The sound of percussion rang out at the Center City headquarters of the School District of Philadelphia as the youth drumline Mad Beatz Philly opened a celebratory press conference in early March. The Black-led, parent-driven organization Lift Every Voice Philly (LEV) was celebrating a major victory: after 18 months of advocacy by parents across the
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Something special happens at the corner of Germantown Avenue and Church Lane every Wednesday and Saturday afternoon. A collective of neighbors and volunteers gather in The People’s Lot, with cardboard box cutouts that read “Free Food,” but that’s not all that brings people in. If you travel to The People’s Lot, you will see an
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Lynn Washington has spent most of her life encouraging people to read. As a graphic designer, she worked for the Free Library of Philadelphia, creating graphics and exhibits that would attract new audiences. As a mother, she read books to her children to excite in them a passion for learning. And now, as the owner
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On Tuesday night, it was announced that an agreement was reached between the City of Philadelphia and the residents of Camp JTD, which formed at 22nd street and the Benjamin Franklin Parkway in early June. The City has promised residents of the encampment 50 houses in a land trust.The move-in process will take place after
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On Tuesday night, it was announced that an agreement was reached between the City of Philadelphia, and the residents of Camp JTD. The City has promised residents of the encampment, which formed at 22nd street and the Benjamin Franklin Parkway in early June, 50 houses in a land trust. The move-in process will take place
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Last week, it was announced that a tentative agreement was made between the City of Philadelphia, Philadelphia Housing Action, and the residents of Camp JTD. The encampment, which formed at 22nd street and the Benjamin Franklin Parkway in early June, agreed to reopen the stretch of 22nd that had been barricaded. In return, the city
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This is a big year for Leah’s Dream — a Philly-based nonprofit that works to mentor and financially support young women in Ghana. The nonprofit is celebrating its 10-year anniversary. Like so many other events, the celebratory fundraising gala had to be postponed. However, the 10-year anniversary marks a significant milestone for this organization, and
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Politics are personal to Malcolm Kenyatta, a third-generation community activist born and raised in North Philadelphia. Kenyatta began his career in civic activism as a block captain at 11 years old, and he worked his way up the political ladder over the next few decades, studying political science at Temple and Drexel universities and serving
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Following the October 5th clearing of the homeless encampment known as Camp Teddy, the future of the James Talib Dean Homeless Encampment along the Parkway remains unknown. On September 26th the JTD Camp moved a long standing blockade they had formed on 22nd Street as a part of a deal with the City of Philadelphia
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From the moment childhood friends Julius Aldrich, Brian Bonner, and Derrick Skipper met, laughter has been a central piece of their relationship. At nine years old, Queen Village residents Bonner and Skipper were introduced by their mutual friend Nicholas Herrera and began “running on each other” with teasing arguments and biting humor. In high school,
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Camp Teddy, a protest encampment established in June by the city’s homeless population outside of the Philadelphia Housing Authority (PHA) building, has been cleared thanks to an agreement made on October 5 by the PHA and Occupy PHA. Per the PHA: “The agreement, completed after nearly four months of negotiations, resulted in the residents of
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