Spark, an award-winning national nonprofit that provides professional 10-week apprenticeships for at-risk 7th and 8th graders to “spark” their engagement in school, is partnering with three West Philly schools – Lea, Mastery Shoemaker, and McMichael – to serve approximately 60 7th and 8th grade students. The programming starts in late February 2013, and currently, Spark is seeking mentors – local businesses and organizations in West Philadelphia and Center City.

Jim Schroder, the Program Launch Director and a West Philly resident, is particularly hopeful to recruit mentors from the West Philly community. “One of the things I love most about Spark is the bridges it creates for professional adults to work with at-risk students in a specific and relational way. I think our neighborhood in particular has a ton of professionals who really care about the community but who often don’t have a natural way to productively support a struggling student, especially a way of doing it that’s so integrated with what someone is already good at and passionate about,” Schroder said in an email.

Here’s how mentoring works:

Over the course of an eight-week session, students meet with their mentors once a week for two hours and work on a project for a culminating Discovery Night graduation ceremony held at the end of the program. A mentor does not have to have previous experience working with youth. Training and support before and throughout the apprenticeship will be provided.

Spark Philadelphia is seeking to recruit 60 mentors by January 1. After that, mentors are expected to attend preparatory events, such as an orientation to get to know Spark and a match day to get acquainted with their student.

For more information about the program, visit www.sparkprogram.org. If you’re interested in mentoring or have questions, call: 267-519-4591 or email: philadelphia@sparkprogram.org

The 48th Street Neighbors group and the University City District are inviting all neighbors to the “Welcome to the Neighborhood – Meet the Grassroots” event this Sunday, Nov. 18, from 4 to 6 p.m., at Studio 34 (4522 Baltimore Ave).

There will be an opportunity to meet some dynamic people and get information on resources and opportunities in the neighborhood. Come to this event if you want to be a part of this living, growing, and effective community. And you’re welcome to bring a friend, especially if they are new to the neighborhood.

Here’s a list of the neighborhood groups and organizations participating in the event: 48th St. Neighbors, UCD, Garden Court Community Association, Cedar Park Neighbors, Protecting Our Waters, The Children’s Community School, West Philadelphia Coalition for Neighborhood Schools, Fred Kauffman and “Heeding God’s Call” – a group dedicated to getting illegal guns off the street, Shakespeare in Clark Park, West Philly Tool Library, Camp Sojourner, Girls’ Leadership Camp, International Student Support Group, Books through Bars, A-Space, City Kitties, Curio Theater Company and others.

Also, the event will include local activist Iris Bloom leading a safety/self-defense session from 5 to 6 p.m.

Refreshments will be served. Please contact Patty Bulack at pbulack@gmail.com with any questions.

There are two important community meetings taking place in West Philly on Tuesday, Nov. 13. If you want to help shape up the future of your neighborhood, you are encouraged to attend these meetings or at least one of them since they are scheduled within an hour from one another.

• Philadelphia City Planning Commission Meeting – 6:30 p.m., Enterprise Center (4548 Market St.)

The Philadelphia City Planning Commission is inviting residents to the first meeting about their University City/Southwest Philly District Plan. The plan will make recommendations for zoning changes, city-owned land and facilities, and public investments and, when finalized, will have some far reaching implications for West Philly’s future development. Here’s what you can expect at the meeting:

– Learn about the planning process and existing conditions

– Help shape future development and public investment

– Work with Planning Commission staff and your neighbors in small groups.

For more information about this project visit: www.phila2035.org. There is also a need for volunteers who help facilitate table exercises with community members. If you’re interested, contact Andrew Meloney at: andrew.meloney@phila.gov or 215-683-4656.

• Annual Meeting of the Spruce Hill Community Association, 7:30 p.m., Spruce Hill Christian School Chapel (42nd & Baltimore)

This is Spruce Hill Community Association‘s biggest meeting of the year, where neighbors are invited to come renew their dues and vote for officers and directors to the 2013 Board. The full slate of nominees and their bios will be available at the meeting.

In addition, Matt Bergheiser, Executive Director of University City District, will present the project on rejuvenation of the 40th Street Trolley Portal. Plans and renderings of the proposed design will be shown and residents’ input and feedback is welcome.

All neighbors are welcome. Light refreshments will be served and the first 50 people to arrive at the meeting will receive free leaf bags. Spruce Hill is bounded by Market St., Woodland Ave., S. 38th St., and S. 46th St. For more information, visit the event’s Facebook page.

The Agatston Urban Nutrition Initiative, a school-based program of the University of Pennsylvania’s Netter Center for Community Partnerships, is hosting its fourth annual Eats and Beats community dinner to showcase youth leadership and skills. AUNI encourages West Philadelphia students to grow, cook, consume and sell healthy foods. The AUNI Youth Development Program employs more than 100 teens to grow and sell organic food at high school gardens and to teach nutrition to community groups.

The dinner will be held at 5:30-8:30 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 10, at the Calvary Center for Culture and Community (48th and Baltimore). The menu will feature a locally sourced, organic five-course meal grown and prepared by the AUNI youth crews.

“At Eats and Beats, the youth plan the menu, prepare the food and give musical performances. They’re also taking care of ticket sales,” says Ty Holmberg, AUNI coordinator.

Tickets ($25) are available at the AUNI stand at the Clark Park Farmers’ Market 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on Saturdays and at the Mariposa Food Co-op during open hours. RSVPs are also being collected online at www.urbannutrition.org/eatsandbeats.

For more information visit www.urbannutrition.org or email: kristins@urbannutrition.org.

Cedar Park residents are invited to a special fall membership meeting this Thursday, Nov. 8, that will be held at the Calvary Center for Culture & Community at 48th and Baltimore, beginning at 7 p.m.

The preliminary results of the survey conducted by the Cedar Park Neighbors (CPN) community association will be released at the meeting. This fall, the Philadelphia City Planning Commission is creating a new plan for the neighborhood and over the past few months CPN has surveyed over 500 community members to find out what’s important about living in Cedar Park.

Representatives from several new shops and restaurants in the area have also been invited to talk about their businesses at the meeting.

You don’t have to be a member of Cedar Park Neighbors to attend, but there will be an opportunity to join.

For more information, email: contact@cedarparkneighbors.org or call 267-531-4147.

Here’s a couple of fun pumpkin carving and decorating events taking place in the neighborhood this weekend:

“Build it Bus” for pumpkin carving at Clark Park

Saturday Oct. 27, 1:00-2:00 pm

Woodland Presbyterian Church is hosting a Fall pumpkin carving and craft time in Clark Park. The “Build it Bus” will be there too! The bus is a place where kids can come and use woodworking tools to carve the pumpkins and make crafts. The first 50 to arrive will get pumpkins to take home with them. Look for the converted paratransit bus in the parking lot by the soccer field between 1 and 2 pm.

Pumpkin Day at Vineyard Community Church

Sunday Oct. 28, 1:00-4:00 pm

If you are looking for something fun and free to do this upcoming Sunday with your family, check out the annual Pumpkin Day event hosted by Vineyard Community Church. Due to the forecast calling for rain, it’ll be indoors, in the new church building located at 123 S. 51st Street.  If by chance the weather is gorgeous, the event will be held at Malcolm X Park (52nd & Pine). There will be plenty of fun things to do that involve all things fall, including pumpkin decorating, face-painting, fall crafts, jewelry making, games and prizes, and yummy fall treats!