I was saddened to learn the news that Dana W. Tobin, a Grid subscriber, recently passed away. I knew him only through a few email exchanges and one phone conversation, but even with that limited interaction, it was easy to see that he was a kind, thoughtful and modest person who possessed a curious mind
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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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Philadelphia’s quiet heroes include block captains, volunteers who, under the sponsorship of the Philadelphia More Beautiful Committee (PMBC)—a division of the Streets Department—rally their neighbors to keep their blocks attractive. Now, in addition to beauty, some block captains help ensure food and a sense of security for their neighbors in the face of the COVID-19
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The young american robin squeaked like a rewinding cassette tape as Margaret Rohde took the bird out of a cloth bag. Rohde, conservation manager with Wissahickon Trails, had untangled the robin a few minutes earlier from one of six mist nets she and Kristy Morley, senior naturalist, had set up before dawn at the Crossways
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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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When folks go to the polls or fill out their mail-in ballots next month, they will likely have key issues on their minds—be it the environment, foreign policy, corruption, the economy, fighting against white supremacy or saving American democracy as we know it. You know, basic voting stuff. What will be on fewer peoples’ minds
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