Organizers and community members marched from Huntingdon Station to Prevention Point Thursday in memory of those who have died from overdose. The annual event is part of International Overdose Awareness Day.
Mayor Cherelle Parker’s sweeping $2 billion housing plan—the Housing Opportunities Made Easy (H.O.M.E.) initiative aims to preserve and create 30,000 housing units over four years in response to the city’s housing crisis.
Born and raised in Kensington, Austin Wright launched Ava’s Farm — a local produce market and nonprofit that offers free meals and youth programs to residents.
This marks my third semester teaching art at Taller Puertorriqueño and working with kids ages six to 14. I’m from a small town near Buffalo, New York, and before coming to Kensington, I was advised by other people that it’s a dangerous place.
But since working at Taller as an artist, I’ve learned that Kensington is full of beautiful, creative, resilient, smart, and talented people. The neighborhood is filled with murals, sculptures, artists, music, and culture.
It’s been rewarding work, and I continue to grow and learn every day I am here. There are many things I love about my job, but here are just a few:
I love what I learn as I research people and projects to share with the kids, like the Young Lords. I found out they used to meet at Taller and many of the members were students. Sharing their message to create a better life for Puerto Rican people in America inspired the collages made by students in response.
I love sharing my passion with young, creative minds, knowing I could have a positive and lasting impact on them. I get to share my passion for creating art, and the power art has to heal us and impact those around us.
I love being in a creative environment and having the freedom to express ideas and ways of thinking to the youth. We learned that regular meditation can increase our ability to have empathy and decrease impulsiveness and anxiety. I meditate with my students every Tuesday.
I am so proud to have the opportunity to bond with the young people here, their families, and working artists, to understand more about this neighborhood. I aim to inspire this generation of young children to care about the impact they have on themselves and the world.
I believe the future of Kensington is bright, and despite its hardships, the neighborhood is filled with beauty and love. I feel that I’ve become a part of a community here, and I’ve been able to grow as a teacher and an artist. The endless love I receive from my students is something I will always cherish.
What did you think about this story? Send a note to editors@kensingtonvoice.com, and we’ll consider publishing it in our Voices section. Or, if you have a question you’d like us to explore in future issues, submit it through Curious Kensington. You can also tell us what you think in person at our neighborhood events.
Editor: Claire Wolters / Story Designer: Jillian Bauer-Reese / Translator: Kristine Aponte
La licencia de maternidad debe estar entre las prioridades de las políticas públicas. Si bien la ley actual es insuficiente, su factibilidad es menor para mujeres de comunidades vulnerabilizadas.
Maternity leave must be a public policy priority. While current law is insufficient, it’s even more inaccessible for women in vulnerable communities.
Families in Philadelphia who decide to have children have something in common. They must choose whether to support their baby or find the money to support its growth. The strategies are up to them because their situation is not a public priority.
Algo en común tienen las familias de Filadelfia que deciden tener descendencia. Deben elegir acompañar a su bebé o buscar el dinero para sostener su crecimiento. Quedan a su valoración las estrategias porque su situación no es una prioridad pública.
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