It’s Memorial Day, neighbors.

Here’s a list of events in Philadelphia and beyond to attend today to honor the soldiers who’ve lost their lives in service of the U.S. Army, including a Memorial Day parade in Doylestown, PA.

Anyway, here’s your weekly roundup.

Recent News 

Eddie Irizarry supporters call for harsher consequences following verdict for Philly PD officer who killed him

Philadelphia Police Department officer Mark Dial, who shot and killed 27-year-old Eddie Irizarry during a traffic stop in Kensington in 2023, has been convicted of manslaughter.

On Thursday, a Philadelphia jury found Dial guilty of manslaughter, possession of an instrument of a crime and recklessly endangering another person. They found him not guilty of the more severe charge of third-degree murder. 

Philadelphia activists are calling the conviction a “win,” while also decrying the city and legal system’s failure to adequately address police killings.

Read more here

Creating Sanctuary: Kensington cooking and leadership program lowers stress, opens doors for teens

In 2023, Bryan Belknap had to make a change. 

The grant that had funded his youth mentorship work at Kensington’s McPherson Square Library for eight years was expiring. He worried that his departure would leave teens without the stability and encouragement he’d tried so hard to provide. 

“I got to know a bunch of young people who faced lots of challenges and saw how the current system often fails them,” Belknap said. “It gave me time to think about what a program would  look like that didn't let these young people fall through the cracks.”

Read more here.

Photos of Kensington: Peacemakers Win Cure Violence Basketball Championship

The free basketball league, organized by NKCDC’s Cure Violence team and Esperanza Health Center, is part of a larger effort to prevent violence and create safe spaces for young men in Kensington through mentorship, connection, and sport.

On March 31, community members gathered at Esperanza’s CORE Fitness Center for the final tournament game and postseason celebration of the Free Kensington Community Winter Basketball League.

After weeks of playoffs, the two remaining teams — Peacemakers and Cure Temple — faced off for the championship title. The Peacemakers won, earning the league’s first championship trophy. The event also featured food, music, and a celebration honoring the players' hard work and growth on and off the court.

View the full event recap here.

News Tips

Do you have a story idea or free activity we should share with our readers? Email editors@kensingtonvoice.com. 

Free Activities & Events 

May 27

• Dungeons & Dragons Club at Lillian Marrero Library (601 W. Lehigh Ave.) from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Players gather together at a table using dice, miniature figurines, maps, and more.

May 28

• Public health giveaway and info table hosted by the Philadelphia Department of Public Health at Kensington Library (104 W. Dauphin St.) at 2 p.m. There will be giveaways, free COVID-19 test kits, and more.

May 30

• Video games at McPherson Square Library (601 E. Indiana Ave.) at 3 p.m. Join Mr. Bob, McPherson’s LEAP leader, and play some video games after school.
• Artist meetup at AUTOMAT (1400 N. American St., Suite 105) from 6 to 9 p.m. This event is celebrating “Refracted Viscera,” an immersive, cross-disciplinary exhibition exploring queer and femme embodiment through the intersection of materiality and digital experimentation. Artists can come together, mingle and discuss installation and multimedia practices. Visit this link to register and learn more.

May 31

• Super Mario Bros party at Sunday Love Project (3206 Kensington Ave.) from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. There will be Super Mario themed activities, food and more.
• “Save + Sort” volunteer day at The Resource Exchange (1800 N. American St.) from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Attendees will help collect and repurpose items and materials for creative projects. Visit this link to register and learn more.
• “Mommy’s Khimar” play hosted by the Enchantment Theatre Company at Lillian Marrero Library (601 W. Lehigh Ave.) at 1 p.m. “Mommy’s Khimar,” by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow, is about a Black, Muslim girl who imagines all the things she can be in her mother’s yellow khimar, or headscarf. The play will last approximately 30 minutes and will be followed by an audience Q&A session.

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.

Wednesdays

• Plant Power Hour hosted by New Kensington Community Development Corporation at Kensington Engagement Center (3000 Kensington Avenue) from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. Seeds, gardening tips and snacks are provided.

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.

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