Neighborhood community groups give residents a place to speak up, stay informed and have a say in what happens where they live.

Some are formal nonprofits with elected boards; others are looser groups of neighbors working on shared concerns. Some are also RCOs, or Registered Community Organizations, which means the city recognizes them as having a formal role in zoning and land use decisions within their boundaries.

Whatever their structure, they often weigh in on zoning, host city representatives, connect residents with services and put on community events.

Below is a growing list of groups across Kensington and nearby neighborhoods, organized by ZIP code. Several groups are outside Kensington proper and have their own distinct neighborhood identities. They appear here because they regularly intersect with Kensington groups on zoning, public safety and quality-of-life issues across shared blocks and corridors.

Did we miss your group? Let us know and we'll add it to the list.

Groups in the 19134 ZIP code

Harrowgate, Kensington, Port Richmond and Somerset

Harrowgate Civic Association

Type: Civic association
Neighborhood: Harrowgate
Registered community organization (RCO): Yes
Community meetings: First Thursday of every month at 6:30 p.m.
Location: Heitzman Recreation Center, 2631 Amber St., Philadelphia, PA 19134
Email: harrowgatecivicassociation@gmail.com
Facebook: facebook.com/groups/HarrowgateCivicAssociation/
Instagram: @harrowgatecivic

The Harrowgate Civic Association was founded about a decade ago by lifelong Harrowgate resident Jim Ridgway, who started the group after fighting a nightclub's bid to open next to his home, according to current president Shannon Farrell. The association has since become one of the area's most active civic platforms on quality-of-life issues.

Members have organized protests at the intersection of Kensington and Allegheny avenues, testified at City Council hearings on the opioid crisis and public safety, and partnered with the Friends of Harrowgate Park on neighborhood improvements including new arches, sidewalk repairs and lighting.

The group also hosts seasonal events such as a Winter Wonderland and a Harrowgate Summer Fest.

Kensington Independent Civic Association (KICA)

Type: Civic association
Neighborhood: Kensington
Registered community organization (RCO): No
Community meetings: Third Thursday of every month at 6:30 p.m.
Location: Harrowgate PAL Center, 851 E. Tioga St., Philadelphia, PA 19134
Facebook: KICA (Kensington Independent Civic Association)

According to current president Donna Aument, KICA was originally known as Kensington Pride and was active in the neighborhood by the time she got involved in the 1970s. Aument went on to organize a group of local youth she called Donna's Outlaws, who removed graffiti from neighborhood streets.

Port Richmond Neighborhood Action (PRNA)

Type: Neighborhood action committee
Neighborhood: Port Richmond
Registered community organization (RCO): No
Community meetings: Third Thursday of every month at 5:30 p.m.
Location: The Block Church, 2537 E. Monmouth St., Philadelphia, PA 19134
Email: portrichmondna@gmail.com
Facebook: facebook.com/p/PORT-Richmond-Neighborhood-Action-100079570976859/
Instagram: @prna_19134

President Doris Lynch said that in 2018, the community had numerous safety concerns about reckless drivers. As concern grew, 132 community members showed up at another civic organization's meeting demanding the topic be discussed. Nearly all were turned away, Lynch said. That is when the work of creating Port Richmond Neighborhood Action began.

"We were just neighbors helping neighbors, until we became a nonprofit and got a proper name," Lynch said.

In addition to its monthly in-person meetings, the group livestreams on Facebook. Lynch said livestreams have drawn up to 4,000 viewers.

Somerset Neighbors for Better Living (SNBL)

Type: Neighborhood association
Neighborhood: Somerset
Registered community organization (RCO): Yes
Community meetings: First Monday of every month at 6:30 p.m. via Zoom. If the meeting falls on a holiday, it is held the following Monday.
Location: Via Zoom, usually announced on Facebook, mass email or flyers.
Email: phillysnbl@gmail.com
Facebook: facebook.com/SNBLPhilly/

SNBL was formed about 10 years ago, according to President Roxy Rivera, when residents of the Somerset section of Kensington came together with the shared goal of improving quality of life. The association now hosts events including a senior air conditioner giveaway and a flowerpot giveaway in addition to its regular community meetings.

"Getting involved allows residents to have a voice in their community, address quality-of-life concerns, stay informed about neighborhood issues, and learn about resources and opportunities available to them," Rivera said.

South Port Richmond Civic Association (SOPO)

Type: Civic association
Neighborhood: South Port Richmond
Registered community organization (RCO): Yes
Community meetings: Second Wednesday of every month at 7 p.m.
Location: The Block Church, 2537 E. Monmouth St., Philadelphia, PA 19134
Website: sopocivic.org
Email: info@sopocivic.org
Facebook: facebook.com/Southportrichmond
Instagram: @sopocivicassn

SOPO was founded in 2018. Five zoning questions were raised at its first meeting, which drew about 150 people. President John Kalicki said the group was created because North and South Kensington needed separate civic associations.

"The more people involved with the neighborhood, the greater the neighborhood will get," Kalicki said.

Like the other groups, SOPO discusses community matters and usually has city representatives at its meetings. The group also occasionally hosts a "Know Your City Council" event to connect elected officials and other city workers to the community.

Groups in the 19125 ZIP code

East Kensington, Olde Richmond and Fishtown

East Kensington Neighbors Association (EKNA)

Type: Civic association
Neighborhood: East Kensington
Registered community organization (RCO): Yes
Community meetings: Third Monday of every month at 7 p.m.
Location: Philadelphia Brewing Co., 2440 Frankford Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19125
Zoning meetings: Second Wednesday of every month at 7 p.m.
Location: Fireball Printing, 2644 Coral St., Philadelphia, PA 19125
Website: ekna.org
Email: info@ekna.org
Facebook: facebook.com/eastkensingtonneighbors/
Instagram: @eastkensingtonneighbors

EKNA grew out of the work of the New Kensington Community Development Corporation as part of NKCDC's community engagement efforts to create civic organizations in the Kensington area, EKNA President John Theobald said.

NKCDC worked with the community to form a civic organization for an area that had long been somewhat undefined, according to Theobald. East Kensington was not a widely recognized name even a few years ago, he added.

EKNA also highlights local businesses each month, Theobald said.

Fishtown Neighbors Association (FNA)

Type: Civic association
Neighborhood: Fishtown
Registered community organization (RCO): Yes
Community meetings: Third Wednesday of every month at 7 p.m.
Location: Fishtown Recreation Center, 1202 E. Montgomery Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19125
Website: fishtown.org
Email: boardofdirectors@fishtown.org
Zoning committee: zoning@fishtown.org
Facebook: facebook.com/FishtownNeighborsAssociation/

The Fishtown Neighbors Association was founded in 2000 by Maggie O'Brien and a small group of neighbors after they realized no civic group was handling quality-of-life problems on their blocks, such as abandoned cars.

Today, FNA runs zoning, events and beautification committees, which hold roughly four or five additional meetings each month.

President John Scott, who has volunteered in community organizations for 15 years and twice served on FNA's board, stepped into the role at the end of 2025.

The group is currently rolling out a "just say hi" flyer campaign aimed at building connection between long-term and newer residents amid ongoing gentrification.

Olde Richmond Civic Association (ORCA)

Type: Civic association
Neighborhood: Olde Richmond
Registered community organization (RCO): Yes
Community meetings: Fourth Tuesday of every month at 7:30 p.m., except in August and December
Location: Cione Recreation Center, 2600 Aramingo Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19125
Website: olderichmondphilly.org
Email: olderichmondcivic@gmail.com
Facebook: facebook.com/olderichmondcivicassociation/
Instagram: @olderichmondcivic

According to its bylaws, ORCA represents the Olde Richmond area bounded by York Street, Trenton Avenue, the Conrail rail lines and the Delaware River. The association describes itself as a nonpolitical group of residents and businesses focused on public safety, neighborhood cleanliness and beautification, property value stability and participation in local development.

Groups in the 19122 ZIP code

Norris Square and West Kensington

Norris Square Community Action Network (NSCAN)

Type: Community action network
Neighborhood: Norris Square
Registered community organization (RCO): Yes
Community meetings: Meeting dates are announced in advance on social media
Location: West Kensington Ministry, 2140 N. Hancock St., Philadelphia, PA 19122
Zoning meetings: Only when variance applications are received
Location: 2140 N. Hancock St., Philadelphia, PA 19122
Website: nscanphilly.org
Email: contact@nscanphilly.org
Phone: 267-223-5369
Facebook: facebook.com/NorrisSquareCAN
Instagram: @nscanphilly

NSCAN started in 2019, when neighbors, including homeowners, renters and some small business owners, organized a protest against high-impact housing development in the neighborhood. They wanted to ensure that new development would not disrupt the lives of long-term residents and to provide a platform for people to voice opinions and concerns. That goal remains today.

Did we miss your group?

This guide is a starting point, not a complete list. To add a group, email editors@kensingtonvoice.com with:

• Group name
• Neighborhood served
• Meeting day, time and location
• Email or other contact information
• Website and social media accounts (if any)
• A sentence or two on the group's history or focus

Jay Johnson contributed reporting.