The West Philadelphia Cultural Alliance (WPCA), which promotes social change through the arts and curates the historic Paul Robeson House & Museum located at 4951 Walnut Street, is celebrating its 36th Anniversary today and has some great news to share with the community!

The organization was recently awarded a $135,000 grant by the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund. The funding will be used to hire a new executive director, who will be the first paid leader in the organization’s history. The nonprofit WPCA has always relied on volunteers.

The new executive director will be responsible for the day-to-day operation of the WPCA and the Robeson House & Museum, as well as ensure its sustainability. 

WPCA’s application for the National Trust grant was supported by Philadelphia City Council member Jamie Gauthier, the Walnut Hill Community Association and the Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia.

WPCA has received a strong support from the community over the years. At the beginning of this year, the organization shared news that it had paid off its mortgage thanks to funds contributed to an online fundraiser over the last two years. WPCA held a mortgage-burning ceremony in January!

Paul Robeson (1898-1976).

More than $100,000 has been raised through a GoFundMe campaign in conjunction with the Colored Girl Museum in Philadelphia. The funds will be used for some necessary repairs of the Robeson House, where Paul Robeson, Esq., a renowned African American singer, actor, and social activist, lived with his sister during the last 10 years of his life (until 1976).

The WPCA is still in need of funding for daily operations and maintenance expenses and urge the community to continue to support them with their contributions, more now than ever before due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which has hit small museums, like the Robeson House, very hard. To contribute, please go here.

The Robeson House & Museum offers tours to people from all over the world. The House is a go-to space for events by community groups, as well as programs sponsored by the WPCA. The organization partners with the Paul Robeson Chess Club, the University of Pennsylvania and several local high schools.

For more information about the Paul Robeson House, please visit its website: www.paulrobesonhouse.org.