Foot Soldier

by Mary Van Ogtrop
Illustration by Julia Tran
 Want to enjoy your commute? Try walking.
 At 7 a.m., my clock radio powers on to the sound of WXPN. “It’s a cold morning in Philadelphia,” the announcer says, a little mournfully, “with a low of 23.”
My eyes flashed open and I hopped up. Over 20 degrees: better get walking.

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2 mins read

Top of the Heap

Scott Blunk teaches Theresa Harter, a junior, how to work a loader at W.B. Saul High School in Roxborough. | Photos by Stephen Dyer
Compost expert and volunteer teacher makes educational programs possible for high school students
The compost pile at W.B. Saul High School in Roxborogh is about the size of a school bus—and that’s

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2 mins read

Meet the Mayoral Candidates – Anthony Williams

His Story:
Williams is son of a father who was both a judge and community activist. He went to The College of  William & Mary, where he earned a degree in economics, and rose through the ranks at PepsiCo to become a mid-level executive. The rise of gang violence, blighted communities, and lack of opportunity in

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3 mins read

Meet the Mayoral Candidates-Doug Oliver

His Story:
Doug Oliver was raised by a single mother in Philadelphia and has strong ties to his church. After completing an undergraduate degree from Lock Haven University, he earned a Masters in Communication from La Salle University and an Executive MBA from St. Joseph’s University. He started his career at Beech Advertising, and after a

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2 mins read

Meet the Mayoral Candidates-Nelson Diaz

 
by Heather Shayne Blakeslee 
His Story:
Diaz grew up in a public housing project in New York City, and made his way through St. Joseph’s University and then Temple Law. He was the first Puerto Rican to earn a law degree from the University and to pass the Pennsylvania Bar Exam, after which he became a Public

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3 mins read

Meet the Mayoral Candidates-Jim Kenney

by Heather Shayne Blakeslee 
 
His Story:
Kenney was born in South Philadelphia and raised by a firefighter and homemaker. He got his first union card at 17, and went on to get a degree from La Salle University, becoming the first person in his family to go to college. He’s served in City Council since 1991, and

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2 mins read

Meet the Mayoral Candidates-Lynne Abraham

by Heather Shayne Blakeslee
 
Her Story:
Abraham’s bio has a lot of firsts. She’s the daughter of first-generation Americans who lived “on the edges of poverty,” and was the first in her family to go to college; she got a degree from Temple University and went on to Temple Law School. She is the first woman to

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2 mins read

The Progress That’s at Stake

Political progress has been made, but much work remains
Eight years ago, the new crop of mayoral candidates were like sustainability seedlings, just beginning to poke their soft green heads above the soil and move toward the light.
There were some unintended moments of comedy along the way. During a candidate forum, one of the candidates purported

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6 mins read

30 Places to Volunteer in Philadelphia

Greensgrow may just have a place for you. | Photo by Bryn Ashburn Looking to do some good to help your community? By Jacqueline Klecak and Michael Iannucci Philadelphia is a city that offers many places to volunteer, all very different. You’re sure to find some that fit your schedule and align with your personal

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9 mins read

Lost and Found

When he’s not working with the Fairmount Civic Association, Sam Holloschutz picks up trash at the wooded area near his apartment. | Photo by Stephen Dyer
A popular TV show awakens an environmentalist in Fairmount
Sam Holloschutz credits an unlikely source of inspiration for his devotion to sustainability: the TV show Lost. “Just seeing how beautiful Hawaii

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2 mins read
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