The PhillyRising Collaborative, which was started under the administration of Mayor Michael Nutter, has launched a new program called Citizens’ Engagement Academy.
In March, the academy started its second session for the citizens of two neighborhoods–Strawberry Mansion and Swampoodle. The program was launched under the supervision of two managing directors, Daniel O’Brien of the Central Division and Jim Sanders of the Northwest Division.
The program was an eight-week course that aimed to bring awareness to different city departments and agencies. It was directed to the leaders and residents of Philadelphia neighborhoods. The program was held every Thursday at the Widener… Read the full story »
For Jose P. Miranda, a North Philadelphia native and a senior majoring in political science at West Chester University, tomorrow marks the end of a long, hard-fought campaign.
Miranda is running for Pennsylvania state representative in the 197th district, which includes parts of Strawberry Mansion. Jewell Williams, who became sheriff of Philadelphia last year, formerly held that legislative seat. The 26 year-old Miranda, with the endorsement of State Sen. Shirley Kitchen, said he believes he’s the best person for the job.
“My governmental experience speaks for itself. I’ve been able to learn from some of the most successful politicians… Read the full story »
In Friday’s celebration of Jazz Appreciation Day, Philadelphia was “putting some swing into its spring,” which is the city’s theme for jazz appreciation month that takes place in April.
The celebration took place outside the John Coltrane House, a National Historic Landmark, which is located at 1511 N. 33rd St. in Strawberry Mansion.
It is the place where jazz artist Coltrane lived and developed his music. There are only three National Historic Landmarks in the United States dedicated to individual jazz artists, and the Coltrane House is one of them.
“John Coltrane loved the Strawberry Mansion neighborhood…and he was always… Read the full story »
On the first Saturday of every month, the Mahogany Philly Fitness Club hosts a run/walk event on Kelly Drive.
Mahogany Philly was founded by Jamaica Yancy, who started the organization at the beginning of this year.
Mahogany Philly consists of three different clubs, social, book and fitness. The social club’s objective is to help African-American women explore Philadelphia.
The group holds events that include dance classes, casual lunches, weekend trips, parties and more. The book club discovers books and other forms of literature that pertain to women of color. The club meets monthly to discuss each others’ opinions and different… Read the full story »
Job seekers stood today outside of Strawberry Mansion Community Development Corp. holding resumes and cover letters.
Their ages varied, but they all had one goal and that was to get a job. Some were dressed business casual while others wore jeans and a hooded sweatshirt as they waited for the next 10 people to be let into the building to possible get a job. The people were patient and conversations were mostly about job hunting or people who’d recently gotten employed.
The corporation and Strawberry Mansion Neighborhood Action Center, Inc. sponsored the one-day-only event where residents could fill out applications… Read the full story »
As we walked to the neighborhood corner store last week, my eldest daughter, who is 6, expressed her fear of being shot. This was in response to the recent shooting of a young man at 23rd and Edgley streets. We live at the cross streets of 22nd and Diamond, less than one block away from the crime scene. The young man was killed after a quarrel over an All Terrain Vehicle; his blood is still on the sidewalk.
While I try my best to protect my daughters from the horrors of society, I recognize that I cannot protect them from… Read the full story »
Philadelphia Neighborhoods has launched three new websites to focus on specific communities. Following are the new online editions, which will have news and information from these neighborhoods:
These include:
The Fairhill Times at www.fairhilltimes.com
The Germantown News at www.germantownnews.org
The West Philadelphia Times at www.westphillytimes.com
Readers can select the websites under Special Projects and Partnerships or under the specific community in the Neighborhoods section.
Philadelphia Neighborhoods earlier launched four other editions:
The Brewerytown Times at www.brewerytowntimes.com
The Hunting Park Times at www.huntingparktimes.com
The Kensington Journal at www.kensingtonjournal.com
The Strawberry Mansion Times at www.strawberrymansiontimes.com
Please let us know what you think… Read the full story »
Shouts of “Stop the violence, increase the peace” echoed through the streets of Strawberry Mansion as community activists led an anti-violence march Wednesday, demanding their voices be heard. The “Take the City Back” march was coordinated by Strawberry Mansion High School program coordinator Matthew Johnson.
Beginning at Mander playground, located at the intersection of 33rd and Diamond streets, participants marched to Strawberry Mansion High School where they filed into the auditorium for the youth restoration rally. The initiative of the day’s events described the march as combating “the mass misery of our communities in the City of Philadelphia.”
During the… Read the full story »
Classical music played from a small boom box on Anna Pratt Elementary’s auditorium stage as young girls stared at their instructor’s feet. The instructor stood in a turnout, a fundamental ballet step, where the dancer’s feet are pointed in opposite directions in a straight line. The girls broke out in random giggling and teasing, but they all smiles in pride as they mimicked the step.
For the past six years, Pratt has taught select female students ballet at the non-performing-arts school. Most of the students do not have a dance background, but many are excited to be in the class.… Read the full story »
Once a week, a group of William D. Kelley students gather in a small instruction room at the close of their school day.
Though they are familiar with one another because of the classroom setting, some do not interact personally. Once a week, however, they engage in an intimate discussion facilitated by the Northwest Community Coalition Youth organization about topics of their choice.
The topics include cyber-bullying, media and their influence on society, peer interactions and higher education. At the end of each session, they submit a response paper that is then edited for grammar and spelling, and published in… Read the full story »
Orissa Adams, the dean of students at the William D. Kelley School, is working to provide her students with as many resources as possible while on a limited budget. She was recently awarded a $500 grant toward start-up funds from the Philadelphia Writing Project to launch The William D. Kelley Career Exploration Program. The program was created to help students gain awareness of their future career choices and to aid in setting realistic, achievable goals.
“The children are asked to complete a personality assessment, choose a maximum of five careers, research the careers and educational requirements needed for the career and complete a fictional… Read the full story »
Mayor Nutter held a press conference at Strawberry Mansion High School and announced some new initiatives for fighting crime in Philadelphia.
Some of the initiatives revealed at last week’s conference include increasing the amount of award money for anyone who offers information in a homicide case and increasing the budget for witness protection. In addition, he also plans to implement an anonymous text tip line, as well as a crack down on gun legislation.
The neighborhood of Strawberry Mansion, which belongs to the 22nd Police District, is one of the most crime-plagued neighborhoods in North Philadelphia. The 22nd Police District… Read the full story »
A program of the Department of Journalism at the School of Communications and Theater at Temple University. Copyright 2012.
