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Image provided by Resource Generation Philly chapter.

The local chapter of Resource Generation, a group of 18- to 35-year-olds who have pledged to leverage their wealth or class privilege for social justice, is holding an open house on Thursday, Oct. 15.

Over the past year the group has committed to providing more than $27,000 in funding to promote racial justice, splitting the money between the Organization for Black Struggle in Ferguson and the Bread and Roses Racial and Economic Justice Fund in Philadelphia. Its members have also hosted meetings on radical investing and regenerative finance, transferring capital and resources to communities impacted by economic inequality.  Continue Reading

This is a follow up to some of the crime reports we published in the last two weeks and a report of a recent arrest in connection with multiple robberies in Powelton.

Shootings on 5200 block of Irving

So far no arrests have been made in connection with the shooting incidents on the 5200 block of Irving St. that left two men seriously wounded. Police said that they have persons of interest but can’t arrest them because there are no witnesses, and the victims are not cooperating.

Gunpoint robberies on S. 50th Street

Police arrested two young men, both West Philly residents, in South Philadelphia on Thursday for a robbery similar to the robberies on S. 50th Street on Sept. 23. Another arrest was made earlier, and all the detained suspects are being looked at in relation to the robberies. In addition, the 18 Police District has assigned plainclothes and uniform cops to the area, which should “help slow things down” and already has, according to police.  Continue Reading

More changes are in store for several Philadelphia public schools, including the conversion of the Samuel B. Huey School (5200 Pine St.) to a charter and the opening of a middle school in cooperation with Drexel University aimed in part at Samuel Powel Elementary (301 N. 36th St.) and students from the nearby Mantua neighborhood.

Superintendent William Hite announced the plan yesterday. It will impact about 5,000 students and cost the district $15 million to $20 million, he said.

Huey, a K-8 school which has struggled academically, would be converted to a charter school as part of the district’s Renaissance Schools Initiative in the 2016-2017 school year. Jay Cooke in Logan in North Philadelphia and John Wister in East Mount Airy would also be converted to charter schools. The plan includes a charter operator selection process that includes school parent representatives on search committees. The School Reform Commission will vote on the charters on Jan. 21, according to reports.  Continue Reading

More information is available on the recent shootings near 52nd and Spruce where two young men were shot and hospitalized.

On Thursday, Sept. 24, a 24-year-old man was shot in the upper left thigh in a shootout on the 5200 block of Irving Street, according to police. The shooting was reported shortly after 9 p.m. Multiple shots were fired in what police believe was an exchange of gunfire between two suspects, black males in early 20’s, who opened fire on the block and another unidentified person, who was shooting back at them. Twenty-two various caliber shell casings were found on the block, and two vehicles parked on the block were struck by stray bullets, according to a police report. The victim was taken to Presbyterian Hospital where he was listed in critical but stable condition.  Continue Reading

Newly updated Market Street Bridge (Photos by Ben Tran)

The Market Street Bridge, which is used by more than 6,000 pedestrians every day, has just received some nice updates. University City District (UCD) once again teamed up with Groundswell Design, the landscape architecture firm behind the revamped Porch at 30th St. Station, to create enhancements to the pedestrian experience on the iconic bridge connecting West Philadelphia and Center City.

These new pedestrian-friendly elements include 120 custom, lightweight planters with lush greenery; bleacher seating that offers great views of the Schuylkill River; and four large gateway pergolas positioned at the main points of entry. The new features also help soften noise from vehicular traffic on the bridge.  Continue Reading