This holiday season, some West Philly-based community organizations and churches make sure that children from low-income communities have a chance to celebrate and receive gifts.

The Walnut Hill Community Association (WHCA), in partnership with The Enterprise Center Community Development Corporation (TEC-CDC) and other organizations and businesses will host the 4th annual Walnut Hill Holiday Extravaganza on Tuesday afternoon, 3-5 p.m.. This holiday event is held at the Max Paul Park (4610 Market St.), and this year, over 300 neighborhood children are expected to attend.

Walnut Hill families, neighbors and friends have also been invited. A beautifully decorated 10ft Christmas tree will stand tall amidst the festivity. There will be carolers, music, lights, photos, life-size gingerbread house, Santa and gifts for everyone.  Continue Reading

The 9th annual “Big Push” Holiday Concert will take place at the Calvary United Methodist Church at 48th and Baltimore on Sunday, Dec. 17.

The concert will feature a cameo performance by Philly Funk band Breakwater, and all proceeds will be donated to hurricane relief efforts in Puerto Rico.

Other musical guests include: Calvary UMC Choir, Salsa singer Anthony Colon, Latin percussionists Raul & Asaf Berrios, and more. Suggested donation is $20, and there is free admission for children.  Continue Reading

On Sunday, Dec. 17, Kol Tzedek, West Philly’s reconstructionist synagogue, is hosting their annual Hanukkah Party. This year, the party is titled “Rejoice and Resist” and will benefit Kol Tzedek’s Jewish-Muslim solidarity work.

Kol Tzedek, which means Voice for Justice, has been actively participating in many social justice causes and projects in the area. The synagogue is a member of POWER (Philadelphians Organized to Witness, Empower and Rebuild), a consortium of faith communities from across the city. Kol Tzedek members participate in several social justice projects and movements, including the Jewish-Muslim Solidarity Project, whose goal is “to create relationships with local Muslim communities, and to work with them against Islamophobia and discrimination.”  Continue Reading

A community forum at the Kingsessing Recreation Center (4901 Kingsessing Ave.) on Friday, Dec. 8 will focus on life-without-parole sentences and include speakers ranging from legislators and family members of victims to recently released “juvenile lifers.”

The Community Educational Forum on Life Without Parole, which will run from 6:15 p.m. to 8:15 p.m., will include discussion of state legislation that would provide parole eligibility for men and women serving life sentences. Under current law, anyone convicted of first- or second-degree murder in Pennsylvania receives a mandatory sentence of life without parole.

Forum organizer Gregory Benjamin said that he used to be skeptical of providing parole eligibility to lifers, but changed his mind after meeting with prisoners at Graterford, the maximum security prison 25 miles outside of Philadelphia.  Continue Reading

This holiday season, we’ll be sharing information on how community members can give back and help those in need.

University City District has just launched a new holiday pop-up at The Porch at 30th Street Station, which will run through Dec. 22. The pop-up is a collaboration between UCD, Project HOME and Schmear It and contributes to the fight against homelessness in Philadelphia.

From noon to 6 p.m. on weekdays, Project HOME will run a holiday shop selling items made by Project HOME residents. The HOME shop offers homemade candles, homemade soaps, and holiday cards with artwork created by Project HOME residents. The shop is a part of a social enterprise where the residents earn income from the sale of their unique items. This pop-up is an ongoing partnership between UCD and Project HOME.  Continue Reading

After Black Friday and Cyber Monday comes Giving Tuesday when people are encouraged to support not-for-profit organizations. There are so many great nonprofit organizations with many great causes in our area. We don’t want to point out any specific ones, but you can check out our Civic Life page and choose one or more organizations with a cause you’re most passionate about. Here are also Twitter messages from some local non-profits:  Continue Reading