All stories from Kensington Voice.
Community Life
East Kensington transformed into a glowing outdoor gallery as moving projections lit up building facades along Frankford Avenue and Hagert Street. Around 30 artists participated in the free festival, which organizers hope to make annual.
Guides & Resources
Philadelphia needs poll workers for the May 19 primary, and Kensington divisions are some of the hardest to staff. The job pays $200 for one day.
Community Life
The annual festival brought together vendors, live music and neighbors, doubling as a kickoff for local America 250 celebrations.
Fixing Your Block
Abandoned vehicles are one of the most common 311 complaints in the 19134 ZIP code.
Solutions Spotlight
The nonprofit provides paid training, career support and real work to help 17- to-26-year-olds move into full-time jobs averaging $43K a year.
Community Life
The fridge will expand free food access and build a shared neighborhood resource shaped by resident input.
Accountability
After a four-day trial in federal court, a jury found the city violated Louis Jung Jr.’s constitutional right to medical care while incarcerated and awarded the family $1.67 million in damages.
Accountability
The decision to spare the two schools from proposed closures comes after nearly a month of intense community pushback against the district’s sweeping facilities plan.
Community Life
Since 2015, the nonprofit has employed 175 women, its founder says, pairing work experience with mentorship and faith-based support.
Community Life
The Kensington Tigers, representing four Kensington area high schools, opened the season with 13 straight wins while building a new team culture and boosting school morale.
Accountability
The final vote on the closure plan will come from the school board but City Council members said Tuesday they want their input to be considered.
Small Business
Tables of tamales, family recipes and new twists filled The Lighthouse as residents and visitors came together for a fourth year of tradition and community.
Public Space
The walking tour introduced preteens to the history in their own neighborhood — from abolition-era organizing to the messages still painted on today’s walls.
Accountability
A Philadelphia school district official admitted the district has neglected Stetson’s building for decades. Students and educators questioned the district’s data and scoring of the school’s capacity.
Arts & Culture
Neighbors and community organizers gathered at the Kensington Engagement Center to kick off Co-Creating a Greenprint for Kensington, a workshop series organized by NKCDC focused on expanding and improving safe public green spaces.
Community Life
Black Americans account for 40% of people living with HIV but are far less likely to be prescribed preventive medication.
Arts & Culture
Philadelphia school communities are pushing back against the district’s plan to close 20 schools. At Conwell Middle School, community leaders urged the district not to take resources away from the neighborhood.
Arts & Culture
Over 25% of West Kensington residents don’t have a high school diploma. Embedded advisers and support could help students overcome poverty and other systemic barriers, experts say.
Weekly News
Free HIV/AIDS testing event, business tax prep workshop and more.
Accountability
Concerns grow that Philadelphia’s school closure plan disadvantages some already vulnerable neighborhoods.
Government & Policy
Faith leaders and community members braved the cold outside Philadelphia’s ICE office to reflect, pray and call for justice amid heightened immigration enforcement.
Accountability
Despite declining enrollment, parents and City Council member Quetcy Lozada describe Conwell and Stetson as community anchors and resource hubs.
Weekly News
‘Right to the City’ board game play session, hat knitting workshop and more.
A key member of the Philadelphia City Council has already expressed opposition to parts of the district’s plan to close, relocate, and co-locate several schools.
