Laura Smythe is a senior journalism student at Temple University. She works as the features editor for The Temple News, the university’s student-run independent weekly newspaper. She’s also worked as a Lew Klein Reporting Fellow at Philadelphia Neighborhoods and as a reporter for Covering Addiction. Laura fell in love with journalism while traveling Europe, Africa and Latin America, but calls Philly home. She’s passionate about community journalism and writing stories about health, women’s issues and arts and culture.
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feature
Dec. 10, 2018 12:52 pm
Can free backpacks and mentorship help immigrant and refugee students adjust to South Philly?
Taggart Elementary School’s Family Welcome Center will launch soon, thanks to a major boost from Navy Yard-based ecommerce company RevZilla.
column
Dec. 6, 2018 12:50 pm
Money Moves: Benefits Data Trust, Esperanza and 8 more Philly orgs just earned $1.78M
Plus, in the second edition of the column keeping tabs on philanthropic and corporate giving: Local Lyft riders donated a quarter-mil to causes through the app’s Round Up & Donate program.
column
Nov. 15, 2018 12:53 pm
Money Moves: These Philly impact orgs received a collective $3,921,660 in grants this fall
In this first edition of a new column tracking philanthropic and corporate giving, read about local funds supporting college access programs, youth diversion advocacy, solar energy training and more. (There's a donated house in there, too.)
feature
Oct. 16, 2018 12:15 pm
MilkCrate is now building apps for nonprofits
In the past few years, the tech startup and B Corp has shifted from running a single sustainability-focused app to helping mission-driven organizations reach their digital goals.
feature
Aug. 31, 2018 12:45 pm
Leader List 2018: Meet 12 people of color strengthening Philly’s social impact sector
Nonprofit, philanthropy, local gov and biz pros working in the fields of hiring, women in leadership, social entrepreneurship, accessibility, criminal justice, LGBTQ, sustainability, leaders of color, community development, impact investing, civic tech and volunteerism.
feature
Aug. 30, 2018 12:45 pm
A group of incarcerated men funded a backpack drive for Frankford kids with their prison wages
Members of SCI Smithfield's Men of Action group, who earn about 19 cents per hour, partnered with Philadelphia FIGHT's Institute for Community Justice to orchestrate the drive benefitting students at Allen M. Stearne Elementary School.
feature
Aug. 1, 2018 12:45 pm
This Philly program helps African and Caribbean immigrant youth thrive in their new city
African Family Health Organization's youth empowerment program hopes that by offering students respect and support, they will better appreciate themselves and their culture.
feature
Jul. 18, 2018 7:45 am
Philly community orgs collected 8,000 illegal signs in June. Next stop: Trash Academy
Mural Arts is partnering with the city's Zero Waste and Litter Cabinet to repurpose the signs — many of which can't be recycled — into something useful for the communities where they were posted.
feature
Jun. 25, 2018 7:42 am
Philadelphia FIGHT is incentivizing teens to get tested for HIV with a hip hop concert
Teens and young adults make up about one-fifth of all new HIV diagnoses in the U.S. — and the rate of diagnosis in Philadelphia is five times greater than the national average.