Civic and Community Engagement

Civic and Community Engagement

In MLK’s honor, 15 little libraries will pop up in the spring, thanks to carpentry apprentices

January 21, 2022

A shop full of carpentry apprentices and experts came together Saturday morning in Northeast Philadelphia for the General Building Contractors Association’s annual MLK Day of Service project. The apprentices are part of the group’s free Carpenters’ Apprentice Ready Program, or CARP, a collaboration with the Carpenters Joint Apprentice Training Center of Philadelphia. | From: WHYY (Read more.)

Civic and Community Engagement

Pizza with a mission: Inside the hot Philly restaurant fighting recidivism

October 26, 2021

In mid-September, Philadelphia’s Down North Pizza won praise for being one of the best restaurants in the country from Bon Appétit Magazine and Good Morning America. Executive chef Michael Carter was featured prominently, dishing up Detroit-style pizza and talking about the restaurant’s mission to staff the operation with only formerly incarcerated people. | From: WHYY (Read more.)

Civic and Community Engagement

Kenney administration hired no high-level Hispanic staff and fewer Black executives last year, city controller analysis finds

October 25, 2021

“The Kenney administration will continue efforts to increase diverse recruitment and hiring, and implement new strategies to ensure equitable processes,” Lessard told Billy Penn. “Going forward, attention will be more focused on diverse recruitment efforts, particularly with respect to Black employees and Hispanic employees.” | From: Billy Penn (Read more.)

Civic and Community Engagement

Philly nonprofits to host major tree-planting project this weekend

October 21, 2021

Earlier this month, the start of a major tree-planting project coordinated by Riverfront North Partnership (RNP) and Tookany/Tacony-Frankford (TTF) Watershed Partnership supported by the Arbor Day Foundation kicked off. As the world’s largest nonprofit tree-planting organization, Arbor Day linked up with the two nonprofits to plant 200 trees along the Pennypack Creek. The project was in full swing last weekend and will continue into this Saturday, Oct. 23. | From: Metro Philly (Read more.)

Civic and Community Engagement

The woman in charge of leading DE&I efforts for the City of Philadelphia

August 27, 2021

Over the past five years, Nefertiri Sickout has been an integral part of the City of Philadelphia’s approach towards diversity, equity and inclusion. In May 2021, she was officially named chief diversity, equity and inclusion officer, where she leads the Mayor’s Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. She had been in an acting role since May 2020, following the retirement of Nolan Atkinson. | From: AL DÍA (Read more.)