Hi there, neighbors.

We may have a few more rainy days this week, but that won’t stop the fun. Check out what’s happening in the neighborhood this week below.

Recent News

Photos of Kensington: CAICU Mural Dedication at Front & Susquehanna

On April 19, community members, artists, and organizers gathered at the corner of Front and Susquehanna streets (2200 N. Front St.), formerly known as the Fine Fare Supermarket, to celebrate the unveiling of a new mural honoring the Norris Square community and its Caribbean roots. Hosted by Mural Arts Philadelphia (MAP) and CAICU, a public art initiative that connects Norris Square with Loíza, Puerto Rico through murals and cultural exchange, the event featured performances by Grupo Alegría and Mad Beatz Philly, music by DJ Bobby Flowers, food by Amy Pastelillos, and reflections from guest speakers on the neighborhood’s cultural legacy.

The mural was created by a collaborative artist team including Celso González, Omar García “Angurria”, Dan One, Calo Rosa, and Vanessa Vega of the Taína Sisters. Together, they reimagined the wall to reflect the energy of the community and preserve its layered history.

View the full event recap here.

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Free Activities & Events

May 19

Adult Claymobile hosted by Free Library of Philadelphia at McPherson Square Library (601 E. Indiana Ave.) at 11 a.m. Adults of all experience levels are welcome to join the pop-up workshop. All supplies will be provided.

May 20

Goats and stories hosted by Free Library of Philadelphia and Philly Goat Project at McPherson Square Library (601 E. Indiana Ave.) from 2 to 4 p.m. Community members of all ages are invited to join in an interactive afternoon of live goats, storytelling and more.

May 21

Hub4Health resource fair hosted by Esperanza Health Center at the CORE (3222 H St.) from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. There will be free food, clothes, housing resources and more.

May 22

Community embroidery workshop at Taller Puertorriqueno (2600 N. 5th St.) from 4 to 6 p.m. Artist Richie Wilde Lopez will teach attendees basic embroidery skills and will lead an exercise where they will stitch a single word onto cloth that represents their personal interpretation of legacy. Everyone’s stitchings will be collected at the end of the session and included in a larger textile installation. Visit this link to register and learn more.

May 24

Virtual Discord meetup hosted by the Kensington Library at 5:30 p.m. This meetup is for adults and older teens and will include a watch party of different series and some discussions. To join the Kensington Library’s Discord, contact Sara Palmer at 215-685-9996 or ask her at the branch.

May 25

Morning storytime with Ms. AJ hosted by H&H Books from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. Child educator Adrienne Barnett (Ms. AJ) will read stories and sing songs with infants and families. Visit this link to register and learn more.

Weekly Events

Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays

Free Afterschool Program hosted by CADEkids at Mother of Mercy House (720 E Allegheny Ave.) from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. The program is for youth ages eight to 14, and includes games, snacks and other activities. Go here to register and learn more.

Tuesdays

Harrowgate Run Club at Harrowgate Park (3455 Kensington Ave.) from 6:45 to 7:30 a.m. The run club begins April 15 and is open to runners and walkers of all levels.

Fridays and Saturdays

Play Captains games and activities hosted by Fab Youth Philly at McPherson Square Park (601 E. Indiana Ave.) on Fridays from 3:30 to 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. There will be games, outdoor activities and more.

Monthly Community Meetings

Friends of McPherson meets every first Tuesday from 6 to 7 p.m. at McPherson Square Library at 601 E. Indiana Ave. Contact chalmerst@freelibrary.org for more information.
Harrowgate Civic Association meets every first Thursday at 6:30 p.m. at Heitzman Recreation Center at 3631 Amber St. Contact harrowgatecivicassociation@gmail.com for more information.
Kensington Independent Civic Association (KICA) meets every third Thursday at 6:30 p.m. at Harrowgate PAL Center at 851 E. Tioga St.
Port Richmond Neighborhood Action (PRNA) meets every third Thursday from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Block Church, 2537 E. Monmouth St. For more information, email portrichmondna@gmail.com. *There are no monthly PRNA meetings in January, November or December
Somerset Neighbors For Better Living meets every first Monday of the month (except holidays, when it meets the following Monday) online via Zoom. Contact phillysnbl@gmail.com.
South Port Richmond Civic Association meets every second Wednesday from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at Veteran Boxers Association Ring at 2733 E. Clearfield Street. Click here for more information.

Free Trainings

Concilio Philly is offering its Summer Career Exploration Camp for students in grades 6 to 12. Participants can earn $445 bi-weekly, with a total of $1,320 over 6 weeks, while learning about various career options through workshops, free field trips and guest speakers. Free breakfast and lunch are included. Visit this link to register your child and learn more.
Career Connected Learning PHL is recruiting youth ages 12 to 24 to connect them to internships, service learning projects and professional development. Participants will be given a stipend for participating. All youth in the age range is welcome to apply, but priority is given to in-school youth. Visit this link to apply and learn more.

Funding Opportunities

The Philadelphia Department of Commerce is offering its Small Business Catalyst Fund to qualifying small businesses. The grant for each business could go up to $50,000 and includes business education and technical support. To qualify, your business must be located in Philadelphia, be up to date on city taxes or have been approved for a tax payment agreement, and be registered and licensed with the City of Philadelphia. Visit this link to apply and learn more.
The city’s Business Security Camera Program is open for applications. Businesses who use the program must register their cameras with the Philadelphia Police Department, which allows the police to contact the business to view footage in case of a crime.

Jobs

Lutheran Settlement House is hiring for several positions, including Administrative Assistant, Education and Youth Coordinator and Shelter Case Manager. Visit this link to apply and learn more.
The School District of Philadelphia is hiring School Safety Officers for the 2025-2026 school year. The full-time position will last 10 months and have a starting salary of $34,526. Visit this link to apply and learn more.

Services

The Philadelphia Community Action Network (PhillyCAN)’s We CAN Cook program provides weekly produce boxes to pregnant people living in zip codes (19120, 19121, 19122, 19126, 19132, 19134, 19138, 19140, 19141, 19144, 19150). Participants in the program will also receive a free Instant Pot and access to recipes. To be eligible, you must be 18 years old or older and be within the first 20 weeks of pregnancy. Visit this link to apply and learn more.