While scientists agree that many common assumptions about race are wrong the consequences of racism are very real. This fall, the Penn Museum (3260 South St) on the University of Pennsylvania campus, will bring together more than two dozen internationally recognized experts from diverse backgrounds for an in-depth and powerful exploration about race, science, and justice in a free series of five evening classes geared to adults and young adults (14 and above).

The Public Classroom @ Penn Museum: Science and Race: History, Use, and Abuse will run non-consecutive Wednesdays, 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., beginning September 21 (September 28; October 26; November 9; November 16). Individuals can sign up for one, several, or all sessions. Seating is limited and advance registration is recommended. Interested individuals can sign up at: penn.museum/pmclassroom.

For those who can’t attend the program at the museum, there will be live streaming of the program on the website.  Continue Reading

                Shooting victim Sara Salih

While the man whose shooting rampage had parts of West Philly in fear on Friday night expressed a hatred for police, the bullets he fired did far more damage to innocent people in the neighborhood.

Stories have emerged about other victims, including 25-year-old Sara Salih. She was killed when shooter Nicholas Glenn began firing shots at random bystanders as he fled after firing 18 shots at a police officer at 52nd and Sansom. Police later killed Glenn in a shootout near 48th and Sansom.

Salih’s father, an Ethiopian immigrant who heard the shots that killed his daughter, talked to Philadelphia Inquirer Sam Wood about the tragedy.

UPDATE: Sara’s friends have created a GoFundMe page to help her family.

The Inquirer‘s Stephanie Farr reported the story of Martice Washington, a bouncer at Maximum Level Lounge near 52nd and Sansom (one of his three jobs) who was shot in both legs. Washington has two children and is married to a Philadelphia police officer, according to reports. Continue Reading

Here’s a chance to visit a few beautiful homes of Garden Court, get to know your neighbors, and dine on gourmet meals prepared by talented neighborhood chefs. The Progressive Dinner, the annual fundraising event for Garden Court Community Association (GCCA) will be held on Saturday (Sept. 24) and will supporting the Cheryl Roebuck Scholarship fund, neighborhood projects, and a summer camp

The Progressive Dinner starts at a home near 46th and Cedar for check-in and appetizers, then moves on to another for the main course, and ends with dessert and dancing at Take The Lead Studios at 47th and Pine.

After purchasing a ticket ($45/$40 for GCCA members) choose one style of cuisine from a selection that includes:

• Italian
• Mexican
• Tunisian
• Caribbean
• Fish/ Vegetarian
• Belgian

Note: Children under the age of 12 are not permitted to attend this event.  Continue Reading

The 4700 block of Sansom Street, pictured here, and several other blocks remained closed Saturday morning (Photo by West Philly Local).

UPDATE (Sept. 17, 2016, 6:40 p.m.): Two police officers were shot and two civilians were killed, including the suspect, near 51st and Sansom Friday night in what started as an ambush of a police sergeant at about 11:20 p.m., police said.

Others shot included two people outside a bar near 51st and Sansom and two people inside a car nearby, according to police commissioner Richard Ross in an early morning press conference. A 25-year-old woman in the car was also killed, according to police, and the driver was in critical condition.

Police have identified the shooter as Nicholas Glenn, 25, of West Philly.

What Ross called a “completely bizarre situation” began when Glenn fired 18 shots at police Sgt. Sylvia Young as she sat inside her police cruiser at 52nd and Sansom. Young suffered a gunshot wound to the arm. Bullets also hit her protective vest. The suspect then shot four civilians and a University of Pennsylvania Police Department officer. Both police officers were in stable condition, according to police.

Police shot and killed Glenn after a foot pursuit that lasted a couple of blocks. The Penn police officer and other confronted the suspect along 48th Street between Sansom and Walnut and opened fire. The Penn officer was shot in the leg and the suspect was killed, Ross said.

Several blocks around 51st and Sansom were still closed to traffic and pedestrians on Saturday morning as the police investigation continued.

Police flooded into the area after a citywide alert went out requesting assistance. All public transportation was also shut down. Police reopened the search area, from 47th to 53rd Street and Market to Pine at about midnight.

Glenn had a long criminal record and police said they found a note on him in which he expresses animosity toward police.

#BREAKING – Police shut down West Phila – 47th to 53rd, Pine to Market after shooting of Sgt. No one in or out. pic.twitter.com/2yp1aOGhwE

— Action News on 6abc (@6abc) September 17, 2016

There was also shooting along 48th Street between Walnut and Sansom, where police continued the investigation Saturday morning (Photo by West Philly Local).

Photo via Drexel.edu

A new public middle school has opened in West Philly, in an area that definitely needs one. On Tuesday, Sept. 20, the School District of Philadelphia, Drexel University and Inquiry School will celebrate the opening of the new Science Leadership Academy Middle School (SLA-MS) at Drexel’s Dana and David Dornsife Center for Neighborhood Partnerships in the Powelton neighborhood.

Drexel University and Philadelphia School District officials, including Superintendent Dr. William R. Hite, will join SLA-MS students, staff and families at a ribbon-cutting ceremony, which will begin at 10:30 a.m.

Dornsife Center (3509 Spring Garden) is just a temporary location for the new school while plans are underway to build the school’s permanent home on the site of the now demolished former University City High School and Drew Elementary School near 38th and Filbert. Most of the fifth grade students who enrolled in SLA-MS came from nearby Samuel Powel Elementary, a highly rated K-4 school.

Drexel’s School of Education supports the middle school with help in planning and executing the curriculum, similar to the arrangement Penn has with the Penn Alexander School.

Park(ing) Day is coming to Philadelphia on Friday, Sept. 16 and local activists, designers and citizens will transform street or metered parking spots into temporary public parks (aka “parklets”). So far here’s what’s happening in West Philly, and everyone is welcome to stop by and enjoy the following parks:

• Repair the World Philadelphia will create a parklet on the 200 block of S. 40th St.
• People’s Emergency Center (PEC) will create parks at 3750 and 4116 Lancaster Ave. There will be a seating area open to the public and activities throughout the day.

Many more parklets will be created throughout the city this Friday, so check out this interactive map.

The event will be held from approximately 9 a.m. until 5 p.m.

Park(ing) Day is a worldwide event held on the third Friday in September.

And just a reminder that there are several more permanent parklets in University City that pop us every spring, so we hope you’re enjoying them while the weather is still warm. If you need a reminder where they are, check out this post.