What do you think defines a great neighborhood? We think this. This yard sign was spotted on S. 46th Street.

If you’re looking for ways to cope with the upcoming presidential inauguration (we’re in West Philly, right?), check out these local events on Friday, Jan. 20. There will be an opportunity to have a conversation with other community members, to relax with some free acupuncture treatments, and dine at a local restaurant in support of refugees.

West Philly Community Solidarity Gathering

Calvary Center for Culture and Community (48th and Baltimore)

5:30 – 8 p.m.

Join your West Philly neighbors for an evening of solidarity, connection, conversation, song and food. Everyone is welcome, including young people accompanied by parents or caregivers. The schedule includes: Gathering and Interfaith Service at 5:30 p.m; Dinner and discussion groups at 6:30 p.m.; Singing and more conversation at 7:30 p.m.

Free-will donations at the door will be collected to cover expenses and to benefit the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR). Suggested donation range is $5-25, and no one will be turned away due to financial restrictions.  Continue Reading

The University of the Sciences (USciences) is honoring the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by hosting two community events, one for adults and the other one for children, on Monday, Jan. 16. Both are free and open to everyone.

From 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., USciences faculty, staff, and students will conduct health screenings at a free Adult Health Clinic at Mt. Zion Baptist Church (5015 Woodland Ave.) and will be available to discuss relevant health issues.

From 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., young neighbors and their parents or guardians are invited to a Youth Health and Science Fair at USciences’ Athletic Recreation Center (600 South 43rd St., Multipurpose Room). This event is offering many free activities for children, including dance and yoga classes, sports clinics, hands-on science experiments, games and a performance from the Kingsessing Singers Chamber Choir.  Continue Reading

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The holiday season is almost over, and the City and some local organizations are again offering opportunities to get rid of your Christmas tree in an environmentally-friendly way.

The University City District and UC Green will again be accepting Christmas trees for recycling at Clark Park. Bring your tree to the park on Saturday, Jan. 7, from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., along with a $10-$20 donation, and watch it turned into wood chip mulch (it will be used around neighborhood trees during the upcoming MLK Day of Service). Your donation will go to support UC Green programs.

Residents who will bring their trees are welcome to enjoy free roasted marshmallows and hot chocolate. Note: this year, there will be no electronics recycling at this event. Instead, you can bring your used or unwanted electronics to the nearest sanitation convenience center located at 5100 Grays Avenue, open Monday – Saturday, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.  Continue Reading

Seven schools and many families living in the federally-designated Promise Zone will benefit from a $30 million, multi-year grant to a consortium led by Drexel University. Drexel President John Fry, Mayor Jim Kenney, Superintendent Dr. William Hite, community members and area elected officials gathered at Morton McMichael Elementary School on Wednesday to announce that the community has won the 2016 Promise Neighborhoods Program Implementation Grant Competition.

The grant provides up to $30 million over five years. The $6 million award that was announced yesterday provides the first year of funding. Some $76 million in matching funds have also been secured from the City and area non-profits, including the William Penn and Lenfest Foundations.

The grant will provide “enrichment” for families living in the Promise Neighborhood, which mirrors the boundaries of the Promise Zone and stretches from the Schuylkill River to 48th Street, and from Girard Avenue to Sansom Street (see map). The grant will also support the following schools: Belmont Charter (K-4); Locke Elementary (K-8); Morton McMichael Elementary (K-8); Martha Washington Elementary (K-8); Samuel Powel Elementary (K-4); SLA Middle School (5-8) and West Philadelphia High School (9-12), according to a Drexel statement.  Continue Reading

Photo courtesy of Kol Tzedek.

West Philly’s reconstructionist synagogue, Kol Tzedek, located at the Calvary Center for Culture and Community (48th and Baltimore), is hosting holiday services on Saturday, Dec. 24 and inviting community members to join them. Two holiday events will be held – a sufganiyot (fried doughnut) party and a Joint Service of Light with the Calvary Methodist Church and West Philadelphia Mennonite Fellowship, both on the first night of Hannukah/Christmas Eve.

The Sufganiyot Party to celebrate the first night of Hannukah will take place from 4:30 to 6 p.m. This event will be followed by a potluck from 6-7 p.m. for those who are staying for the Joint Service of Light. Please bring a dish to share and reusable plates.

The Joint Service of Light will be held from 7 – 8 p.m.

For more information, visit the Kol Tzedek website.