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Quarterly Newsletter • June 2021 • Volume 2, Issue 2 In this Issue Spring has sprung and it has been over a year since the onset of COVID-19. The last year has been challenging for our community, but Page 2: in true West Philadelphian fashion we have remained resilient and can see the light at the end of the tunnel. COVID-19 vaccinations are • NAC Highlight available to all Philadelphians 16 and older. Philadelphians 12+ are also eligible to receive the Pfizer vaccine. Check out page 3 for • Employment Corner vaccine resources!

• Community Spotlight ACHIEVEability team members have been so happy to reconnect with you over the last several months through distribution days and in-person services at our new office, New Market West (5901 Market Street, Suite 410)! Look out for the reopening of our free, • Shephard Rebuild community computer lab in June! Project We are also looking forward to celebrating Juneteenth safely this summer! Philly will be hosting several events such as the Philadelphia Juneteenth Freedom Day Float House Page 3: Competition, Juneteenth Freedom Day March along 52nd Street, and Philadelphia’s first Juneteenth Freedom Day Exhibit in Malcolm X Park. Follow @juneteenthphila on • Business Highlight Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to learn more about upcoming events.

• Repair. Restore. The last year has given us so much to be thankful for and celebrate! Please join Renew. ACHIEVEability as we acknowledge our collective strength and look forward to the year ahead through West Philly Strong: Rising and Thriving! This free event will be held • Vaccine Resources virtually on Wednesday, June 16 at 4 pm. To register and for more information, check out www.achieveability.org or our social media pages. • Are you facing foreclosure? Continue to stay strong and safe!

• Food Resources Sincerely, Jamila Harris-Morrison Executive Director of ACHIEVEability Page 4: We’re here to help with the following services! • Stay Safe - Summer Stop by our offices at 5901 Market Street, Suite 410 or call us at 215-748-8838. • Apartments at New Market West • Rental/ Mortgage/ Utility (PECO, PGW, Water) Assistance • Property & Rent Rebates • Connection to Benefits (TANF, SSI, Unemployment, SNAP, etc.) • Need Help with Your • Employment Support Rent, Utilities and • Savings Program for First-Time Homebuyers and Students Mortgage? • Internet Access • Volunteer opportunities and donations Follow ACHIEVEability on Social Media

@ACHaPhilly @ACHIEVEability @ACHIEVEability Resources and Information NAC Highlight Are you looking to drive and make change in our neighborhood? Serve as a community leader on our Neighborhood Advisory Committee! This advisory committee partners with ACHIEVEability to: • Help inform and develop programs and activities • Identify needed resources for the community and residents • Advocate to secure these resources and build a thriving community for all • Plan community and volunteer events like Summer Jam and block clean ups Employment Corner: Same Day Pay This group meets monthly. Want to keep your community clean and be paid the same day for your work? Then our Same Day Pay Interested? Reach out to Kate Summers, Neighborhood Program with the Horticultural Society Advisory Committee Coordinator, at 215-748-8819 or is the perfect program for you! [email protected] to learn more about this leadership opportunity! Kate has extensive experience in We are looking for 4 residents to perform cleaning community development, youth work, and communications. and outreach once a week along 60th Street. You Kate leads our Neighborhood Advisory Committee and is can earn $100 dollars for each work day (tax free) working with this committee to build a more equitable City for and receive additional employment services from our all. WorkSmart West Philly job development program!

We will also be holding elections for this committee in the If you are interested in joining this program and summer so make sure to follow our social media pages to stay finding employment! Contact Matt La Fonz at 267- informed! 443-6496 or [email protected]. Community Spotlight: Lamar Tisdale 2020 has been a difficult and challenging time for us all. ACHIEVEability and our staff have been working tirelessly to meet increased need in the Haddington and Cobbs Creek neighborhoods! We were able to serve residents during this challenging year due to the support of organizational interns. We were fortunate enough to have three interns with one being a Cobbs Creek resident!

Lamar Tisdale knows that his purpose in life is to help people. This purpose fuels his dedication and drive to volunteer with organizations like ACHIEVEability and help others. Lamar, originally from , has been a Cobbs Creek resident for the past four years. He is currently studying Human Services and Behavioral Health at the Community College of Philadelphia and joined our staff in the summer of 2020 as part of his involvement in a career skills development program.

Working with others and helping them succeed brings Lamar a sense of joy. Even during the turbulent year of 2020, Lamar was excited to give back to his community by being an intern with us. Lamar was critical during his first several months by helping distribute free food and resources at the onset of COVID. As he continued to work with us, he partnered individuals interested in our housing and tax services by answering questions, reviewing applications, and working with them to obtain needed documents. In his time away from ACHIEVEability, Lamar also volunteers at different non-for-profit organizations and foodbank programs during his leisure time.

We are so happy to have partnered with Lamar over the last year! His passion for and his future career goals to support at-risk youth is inspiring. We know the future of West Philadelphia is bright because of dedicated residents like Lamar. We wish Lamar the best of luck and thank him for working with ACHIEVEability and giving back to his community. Shepard Rebuild Project ACHIEVEability is honored to support the renovation and redesign of Shepard Recreation Center, which serves as a vital resource. The goal of this renovation project is to make this center more accessible and safe and encourage more residents to use it!

Follow ACHIEVEability (ACHaPhilly) and Nicetown CDC (@nicetowncdc) on Facebook to learn more about this exciting project. Resources and Information Business Highlight: A.G. 1 Stop Shop Talia Cunningham calls herself the Abaya Guru, and with one look in her incredible store, you will be well poised to agree!

From abayas to hijabs to gloves, A.G. 1 Stop Shop sells traditional Islamic garb enjoyed by all! Many of their pieces are hand crafted with elaborate beading and embellishments that make them both memorable and culturally appropriate. Although she disliked her sewing classes at age 7 by the age of 15, Mrs. Cunningham had fallen in love with fashion and began creating cool, modest pieces to fit her style needs as a young Muslim girl living in Philadelphia.

In the beginning, Mrs. Cunningham utilized her sewing skills to make ends meet for her family. In 2017, she took the plunge and decided to open her own shop. As a new entrepreneur, Mrs. Cunningham spent her first year overcoming her shyness and learning how to engage customers and sell her wears. With the support of ACHIEVEability and The Enterprise Center, she was recently awarded a $5,000 grant to help her remain afloat during COVID and create plans to grow her business. We are proud of A.G. 1 Stop Shop’s journey especially over the last year. Make sure to stop by A.G. 1 Stop Shop at 108 S. 60th St. to see her creations in real life!

10-year, 3% fixed interest loans of $2,500-$24,999 for home updates

Restore. Repair. Renew. loans can fund a WHAT SERVICES ARE PROVIDED? range of home repairs that focus on health, • Assistance determining if you are eligible safety, weatherization, accessibility and for the program quality of life. The goal of the program is to • Receive financial counseling help Philadelphians improve their homes • Get help identifying necessary repairs and strengthen their communities. • Connect you to a participating lender INTERESTED IN THE PROGRAM? (215) 567-7803 • www.RRRwithPCCA.org Vaccine Resources Food Resources As of April 19, all Philadelphians 16+ are eligible for FREE The City of Philadelphia continues to provide free COVID-19 Vaccinations. Philadelphians 12+ are also eligible food resources at www.phila.gov/food or find to receive the Pfizer vaccine. To learn more about how to additional providers here: access the COVID-19 vaccine, check out the Philadelphia www.nokidhungry.org/find-free-meals. Department of Public Health’s Facebook page @phillyhealth and Twitter @PHLPublicHealth. Local sites:

You can also follow @alastanford, the Founder of the Black Place Information Doctors COVID19 Consortium, on Twitter for regular updates. Boys Latin of Philadelphia Students can pick up Charter School Middle meals Wednesday Uber and Lyft are also offering free rides to individuals to School - 344 N. Felton 8AM - 12PM access the COVID-19 vaccine. You can use this opportunity Street for your loved ones or donate to the Vaccine Access Fund Firehouse Active Adult Adults 60+, call through their apps. Center – 5331 Haverford ahead to reserve Avenue meals (215-472- 6188) John Barry Elementary Students can pick up School – 5900 Race Street meals Friday 9AM - & William Sayre High 2PM School - 5800 Walnut Street On A Mission - 433 N 64 All residents can pick Street up Saturdays 12 - 2PM Quarterly Newsletter • June 2021 • Volume 2, Issue 2

Just off Market Street, between 59th & 60th Streets