The Philly Block Project has collected over 1,300 old family photos from South Kensington neighbors

South Kensington is neighborhood marked by a changing population and changing perspectives. Philadelphia Photo Arts Center hopes it can be united through photography.

Philly Block Project is a yearlong initiative facilitated by the organization to create a “visual narrative of South Kensington,” where the center is located, according to founder and Executive Director Sarah Stolfa.

The project, which features artmaking workshops, community events and photo exhibits, has been working closely with local residents to develop its programming and scope — all to “build a stronger community by having opportunities to engage through the arts,” Stolfa said. One of the project’s specific goals is to collect neighbors’ old family photographs for an exhibition.

“You can’t help but see scenes and similarities between other people’s families and your own experiences” when looking through the 1,300 photos already collected, Stolfa said. “It’s really showing us the commonality and the strength is in all of us.”

Check out Stolfa’s Around the Corner interview with Generocity Editor Julie Zeglen, in which she discusses how the project is coming along, eight months in.

PhillyCAM is Comcast channel 66/966HD/967 and Verizon FIOS channel 29/30 in Philadelphia.