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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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
6 mins read
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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The Sly Fox Brewing Company creates a special beer to benefit the Schuylkill River Trail
Southeastern Pennsylvanians who love nothing more than enjoying a cold, local beer in the great outdoors needn’t look further than Sly Fox Brewing Company of Pottstown to satisfy their thirst. In April, the brewery will release a new craft beer inspired
1 min read
Emerald ash borer beetles target ash trees, like this one at Fairmount Park’s Smith Playground. | Photo by Christian Hunold
Tiny green beetles are coming to kill our ash trees
You might expect something as scary as the emerald ash borer to be much larger than it is. The shiny green beetles from East Asia top out
2 mins read
Illustration by NARRATOR
Wissahickon's litter problem prompts man to collect it for a year, turning it into a powerful art project
Since moving to Philadelphia from my small Central Pennsylvania hometown in 2000, the single biggest gripe I’ve had with the city is its litter problem. Many anti-litter programs have come and gone—and even exist today—and still,
2 mins read
Slow-cooked carnitas, scented with smoky cumin, cinnamon and orange, make an easy meal to share with friends. | Photo by Emily Teel
It's still winter, but let carnitas warm you up
Ah, spring. The promise of sunshine, blooming trees, crunchy new vegetables and the meals that taste the way spring can make us feel: bright, fresh and
3 mins read
Illustrations by Kathleen White
Is a proposed petrochemical hub a devil’s bargain? The CEO Council for Growth says it is an opportunity for economic revitalization, while organized opposition throughout the city says it will drag us into our past. Must we choose between prosperity and pollution?
Philadelphia’s role as a vibrant manufacturing center
11 mins read
Protesters from the Earth Quaker Action Team (EQAT) demonstrate in Sarasota, Florida—one of 31 U.S. locations—during Flood PNC Day of Action on Dec. 6. | Photo courtesy EQAT
Five ways to make your activism more strategic
Thirteen years ago, at an anti-war rally where a small group of protestors gave speeches to each other in a park,
2 mins read
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
2 mins read