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On Saturday, April 5, we joined some inspiring community members at Sloan Street Garden for the NAC Garden Work Party, as part of the annual Philly Spring Clean-Up. Although the weather was rainy, it didn't stop us from rolling up our sleeves and working together.
In addition to tidying up, the team planted a variety of fresh produce, which will not only beautify the garden but also provide healthy food options for local residents. Thank you to everyone for your hard work on a Saturday morning! We are already looking forward to our next visit to Sloan Street Garden, where we can continue to support and nurture our community's green spaces!
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The Neighborhood Advisory Committee recently hosted a vibrant Pop-Up Resource Fair that brought our community together in a big way. The NAC created a spin on Valentines Day - to create “Show Some Love Day!” The event was a fantastic opportunity for residents to access crucial city services and connect with one another by sharing their thoughts and feelings in the "Show Some Love Photo Booth"!
The NAC pop-up featured expert legal advice from Community Legal Services -that included guidance on preventing utility shut-offs, assistance for renters and property deeds. The NAC "Show Some Love" resource pop-up highlighted the power of our neighborhood—coming together to support one another, share resources, and have a little fun along the way. The Neighborhood Advisory Committee looks forward to making the event and the Photo Booth an Annual Celebration of Neighborly Love! Join us in supporting our local Black-Owned businesses this Black History Month! Click on each slide for more information on their websites.
Check out the scene from the annual Lancaster Jazz & Arts Festival! It was a beautiful day to see some unbelievable jazz performers, shop and eat from local vendors, and honor members of the community! Stay tuned for more recaps of the day to come.
Presented by HopePHL and the 16th Police District Advisory Council, the 6th Annual Men’s Wellness Day took place over Father's Day weekend. The event celebrated fathers, promoted health, and honored Juneteenth all while fostering community and creating a perfect opportunity to spend the day outside in perfect summer weather. Valuable resources were available for attendees from our partners. The DJ played danceable hits while everyone enjoyed popcorn, cotton candy, and treats from the ice cream truck to cool down. Hot dogs and snacks were generously provided by the Police District. It was a great event that showcased the importance of prioritizing men’s wellness in the community.
May 2, 2024
Representatives of the local chapter of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) have been protesting the construction happening at 38th & Lancaster Avenue this week. HopePHL divested from the property at 3748-3750 Lancaster Avenue, Philadelphia three years ago, but does remain a minority, passive owner in the housing being developed. At our insistence via a deed restriction, 10% of the housing here will be affordable at 80% of the area median income level. All contractors were selected after a fair bidding process, and several union contractors were selected. HopePHL understands IBEW’s position as we also believe in the advantages of the development of skilled tradespeople, a diverse workforce, and the protections of workers. The Neighborhood Advisory Committee's Earth Day: Resource Fair at Saunders Park Greene set the scene for a wonderful day to celebrate the Earth and support our neighbors! Thank you to our Community Legal Service partners for providing free legal assistance regarding Utilities Shut-off Prevention and Tangled Title Property Deed Transfers. Health and Wellness resources were also provided by both Penn Medicine and Sayre Health Care Center! Additionally, we enjoyed amazing giveaways, such as, fruit trees, yard trees and bushes from UC Green, and Smoothies made with a Self-powered (pedal bike) blender from Greener Partners. Participants also engaged in guided meditation and Martial Arts activities, while enjoying a live musical performance from Kenny Sykes and books from the Reading Captains!
Check out the scene at yesterday’s Lancaster Avenue Jazz & Arts Festival Community Pop-Up!
Join us for the next event, 5/23 from 12pm-2pm at: Drexel Square 3001 Market Street For more information visit: https://www.hopephl.org/jazz-pop-ups.html Learning Black History Through Art & Literature at Baring House: Baring House Crisis Nursery celebrated Black History Month by putting together lessons and activities about Black inventors, and helping the children to identify themselves in literature and through art. To kick off the month the class read, “I Love My Hair” by Natasha Anastasia Tarpley followed by an activity where the kids were able to use baby dolls to practice putting beads in the hair. Children also did a craft related to “I Love My Hair.” The children also took time to learn about the history of the hijab by reading “The Proudest Blue” by Ibtihaj Muhammad. Explaining that some people cover their hair for a variety of reasons and those who choose to show their hair will put items of adornment in it that have a cultural connection. This lesson was wrapped up with a cut and paste craft where the children made pictures to resemble the girl on the cover of the book. The “I Love My Hair” lesson was received in an amazing way by the children, two sisters even came back in the days following the activity with beads in their own hair after telling their mother about the lesson! The next lesson focused on allowing the children to identify themselves through art, where they painted pictures and tried to mix the paint colors to match their own complexion. Lastly, the children learned about Garret Morgan, a black man who invented the traffic light. They did a craft where they painted bowls to look like traffic lights! Black History Month emphasizes the necessity of highlighting Black voices and culture, not just during February, but all year round. All children should feel represented when playing with toys, watching tv, or reading a book. At HopePHL, we strive to create programming like the examples above that allows our tenants to express themselves while learning about and connecting with their culture. 2nd Annual Community Heroes Award:
The Cato-Parks Community Hero Award was created to highlight individuals, businesses, and organizations in our community that "Live the Legacy" of Black History Heroes like Octavius Catto and Rosa Parks - who led by acts of service to make their communities better! This year, over 100 community members engaged in the nomination and voting process. Three awards were given to: Individual Hero: Serita Lewis Serita Lewis is the driving force behind UrbnSEEK and a native Philadelphian with a heart devoted to education, entrepreneurship, and community transformation. As an educator, entrepreneur, and devoted youth advocate, Serita has woven a narrative of impact throughout her journey, leaving a recognizable mark on the city she calls home. Serita became a founding organizer of March for Our Lives Philadelphia, a testament to her commitment to effecting positive change at a grassroots level. Her focus is on bringing awareness and support to the epidemic of gun violence - plaguing black and brown communities in Philadelphia and elevate the voices of the next generation of leaders. Business Hero: Silk Tent/Ultra Silk Gallery The Silk Tent/Ultra Silk Gallery is a mainstay of Lancaster Avenue. Located near 38th Street they are a leading "gateway" business. Their expansion from a small boutique to include an art gallery incorporated artistic, historic, and cultural aspects of the community. They are dedicated to the neighborhood and customers - new and returning. Their monthly event series attracts people to visit other Lancaster Avenue businesses and organizations - which broadens a great community connection. Organization Hero: "Kings Introduction to Leadership" Chris Buney launched Kings Introduction To Leadership in 2021 with a group of community members - who recognized the need for youth mentorship. Kings is dedicated to helping youth with life skills, mental health, housing, financial literacy training, Food Pantries and much more. Chris and his Team have grown into a thriving nonprofit - serving hundreds of individuals each year becoming a highly impactful nonprofit organization in Philadelphia. Thank you to all of our 2024 Hero Award winners for your passion and commitment to making our community a better place each day! HopePHL Staff Highlights Black Heritage Through Food: To wrap up Black History Month, HopePHL staff hosted an event to highlight black heritage through food. African American history has had a profound impact on American cuisine.
HR Assistant, Brittany Wilson, presented a slideshow full of interesting information that even connected Philadelphia's influence on Black history related to food! Did you know the "Father of Ice Cream", Augustus Jackson, was from Philadelphia? Thank you to all of the staff members that brought in dishes inspired by Black culture for everyone to enjoy after learning with each other and creating community to celebrate Black History Month together!
The NAC at HopePHL presented the "Getting Your House in Order" brunch at the Enterprise Center for the public and members of the United Block Captains Association. The event included presenters from various organizations and was kicked off with Alice Wright, the President and Founder of the Block Captains Association. Following Alice, speakers from Clarifi, New York Life, and Affordable Housing Centers of Pennsylvania gave general overviews of their work and how they could potentially help members of the community. Senator Hughes also made an appearance at the Enterprise Center and briefly talked about the importance of school funding after mingling and taking some pictures with those in attendance.
The presentation portion of the event was wrapped up with the main speaker, Dot Goldberger of Community Legal Services, Inc., discussing tangled titles. The remainder of the event was dedicated to the attendees checking out the different organization's tables after hearing what each organization's presentations. The representatives were then able to discuss on a more specific and personal level the help they could provide and the next steps to be taken. These free events are a great opportunity for community members to get information and access to resources that they may otherwise not know about or are difficult to obtain. |
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