Neighborhood residents (especially homeowners) may find this workshop very useful. A free Will and Estate Planning workshop, hosted by Cedar Park Neighbors and the Drexel University Thomas R. Kline School of Law, will take place on Thursday, Oct. 4, at 6:30 p.m. at Calvary Center for Culture and Community (48th and Baltimore).

The workshop will cover simple wills, living wills and powers of attorney and will answer questions related to home ownership in case of the owner’s death or a serious illness when you can’t speak for yourself. Attendees are also welcome to sign up for a free one-on-one follow-up meeting at Drexel University to write their actual documents.

More information about the workshop is available here. You can also RSVP on Facebook.

The Mantua Greenway rendering.

Here’s an opportunity for local artists to help create public art in West Philadelphia’s Mantua neighborhood. Mt. Vernon Manor CDC and the Friends of the Mantua Greenway are seeking a qualified team of artists to work on public art installations along the future Mantua Greenway site, a new bike and walking trail. The project includes the design, creation, and installation of three community-supported, semi-permanent elements that “will inspire curiosity and foster engagement with the Mantua Greenway project during its construction phases,” according to the project description.  Continue Reading

Drexel University has recently purchased the West Philadelphia Community Center (WPCC) at 35th and Haverford and is planning to use it for expansion of their Dornsife Center for Neighborhood Partnerships, the neighborhood resource center serving Powelton and Mantua residents. The newly acquired facility will allow Drexel to bring more programming to local communities.

WPCC is a two-story 37,000 sq. foot facility located at 3512 Haverford Avenue. Prior to the purchase of the building by Drexel, it was owned and operated by Caring People Alliance (CPA). CPA will be moving to another location, according to reports.  Continue Reading

Redesigned Garden Court community garden rendering provided by the Community Design Collaborative.

Community members are invited this Friday (Sept. 21) to learn more about a major fundraising effort in West Philly’s Garden Court neighborhood – the Corner Park Renovation project – which includes renovation of the community tennis courts and redesign of the community garden at 47th and Spruce.

Garden Court Community Association is partnering with the Community Design Collaborative on this project. The Collaborative prepared a plan and diagram for the redesign of the garden after conducting a community input process last spring. They will be presented at Friday’s event. The plan for the garden includes reconfiguring garden plots to allow more residents to garden, creating a new pedestrian-only entrance and gathering space with picnic tables and chairs, and more.  Continue Reading

Click to enlarge

Neighborhood-to-Neighborhood (N2N) festival, which has brought stars like Macey Gray, Common, Morris Day and more to West Philadelphia, will return this Saturday (Sept. 8) with a free tribute concert to Aretha Franklin.

The annual outdoor community event will be held from noon until 8 p.m. at 50th and Baltimore and will feature recording artists Kathy Sledge, Monica, Kelly Price, Keke Wyatt, Jean Carne (one of Aretha’s “great girlfriends”) and Kindred the Family Soul. They will each perform hits of their own and cover some of Aretha’s to celebrate and honor the Queen of Soul.

Radio personality Patty Jackson and comedian Skeet will cohost the festival, and TV’s latest “Survivor” winner, Wendell Holland II, will make a guest appearance.  Continue Reading

A pocket park for culture and community is coming to this empty lot on 40th street between Chestnut and Ludlow.

West Philly-based non-profit Al-Bustan Seeds of Culture has been exploring the idea of creating a pocket park for culture and community on a vacant lot nestled between Chestnut and Ludlow streets on 40th street. Local developer UC West has dedicated this lot to be a publicly accessible pocket park, and Al-Bustan has been selected as the lead community partner. Since May, the organization has hosted a few public forums to gather input from community members – business owners, homeowners, renters, elderly, students, and more.

The next meeting to discuss the future of the pocket park will take place on Tuesday, Aug. 21 at the Rotunda (4014 Walnut St) from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. This meeting will be a first look into design possibilities for the park.  Continue Reading