First introduced in New York City in the 1800s, a housing co-op (cooperative) is a building where residents receive a proprietary lease for a unit by purchasing shares in the corporation that owns the building. While a corporation owns the building, an elected board of residents maintains the property, approves new owners, and manages the governing […]

A problem my community faces is housing. Not everyone has a safe and stable place to live, and many people struggle daily to find a home they can afford. I believe everyone should have a fair chance to own a home. Housing should not be treated as something only for people with high incomes. It […]

Image above used under license from robert at stock.adobe.com. The definition of insanity is trying the same thing over and over, expecting different results. The introduction of Philadelphia’s new rideshare tax exemplifies this definition almost exactly. In an effort to bolster support for the School District of Philadelphia’s teachers and staff, Philadelphia’s mayor, Cherelle Parker, […]

In 2021, on the first day of school for my kindergartner, I entered the schoolyard excited to meet his teachers and introduce myself and my son. Instead, I found myself waiting with other anxious parents and their children. Not a single adult was in the schoolyard to welcome us into our new school community. Eventually, […]

Nearly one in five student loan borrowers in Pennsylvania is now in default, according to data from the U.S. Department of Education and the Education Data Initiative. At the same time, new federal laws and policies have reduced student loan relief for the lowest-income borrowers, making it even more difficult for people to manage their […]

Savage Sisters mobile outreach van, photo courtesy of  Georgiana Constantinescu   “Do you wish you worked in an office or something?” a rookie volunteer asked me as we were picking up wet garbage and syringes off Somerset Ave.  It was 11:45 pm on a Tuesday evening. We had a line of 50 people to serve, […]

The author, Jackie Saez, talks with residents during the Cure Violence summer basketball league in Kensington. Photo above courtesy of NKCDC As a Kensington native, I have lived the reality of food insecurity and have relied on food stamps at multiple stages of my life, including as a child, a college student, and a mother. […]

Ever since DEI has re-entered the chat (this time as a political lightning rod), I keep returning to one question: What hills are organizations willing to die on? As a marketing and communications strategist who has spent the last several years helping nonprofits build and refine their brands, it’s gut-wrenching to see organizations scramble to […]

I am a longtime community organizer who made my home in Brewerytown Sharswood nearly 20 years ago. It’s the richness in history, the proximity to Fairmount Park and Kelly Drive, and the cohesion of resident-led community organizations that made me stay. Our community is a resilient one whose progress is entirely grounded in robust partnership, […]

In the areas where libraries are most needed, our youth are underserved and ill-considered. Communities across Philadelphia lack librarians and, consequently, the relevant programs to truly educate, encourage, and engage those who would benefit the most. Schools are closed for summer, at a time when these resources are crucial, and branches across the city remain […]