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.
As a child, I always wrote. It was a way to express myself without speaking. Because I stutter, I wrote in a broken format. Poetry’s grammatical-free structure came easily to me. I enjoyed it and it helped me balance out stressors.
I use poetry to express my love for Kensington.
I have noticed that this community is too often stereotyped, and people don’t read about the good. In newspapers, Kensington is known as, “the badland.”
But this community has so many educated residents who work hard for what they have. It is time for Kensington to shine — and shine bright.
Our neighborhood’s voices need to be heard. Why not through poetry?
What is love?
Kensington has been my neighborhood for over 50 years.
I have seen its up and downs and how the city doesn’t show it love.
This saddens me.
Does the city think we are good for gentrification alone?
Right now, Kensington is crying out loudly for love.
To be loved.
And to see love.
From so many directions.
But often, the only people that respond to this cry are residents.
Kensington community members.
Shouldn’t love encourage outsiders to unite with us and help us, no matter what?
What is love?
I see love as a feeling that is never-ending.
An emotion that is often misunderstood.
Love bewilders the mind.
In this city named brotherly love,
why can’t we all help one another and be extra kind?
What did you think about this story? Send a note to editors@kensingtonvoice.com, and we’ll consider publishing it in our Voices section. 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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