Volume #8, Issue #1 February 2020 Introducing The Allegheny West Civic Association of Philadelphia If you’ve lived in the Allegheny AWF/NAC group, but they West neighborhood, or the Swamp expressed great interest in sticking Poodle Neighborhood, or the with Allegheny West and carrying Forgotten Blocks neighborhood, the on a lot of the same work the NAC Woodstock Civic Association, or the used to accomplish. Nicetown/Tioga neighborhood for Without hesitation, a new non- more than 20, or 30 years, all these profit has been formed and the group names ring a bell for you. The official name is the Allegheny West Allegheny West Foundation, (AWF), Civic Association of Philadelphia. a local non-profit organization has Members of Allegheny West Civic Association of Philadelphia with area residents and Philadelphia Some of the very same people who been around for just sort of 40 years Community Relations Police Officer Joseph Lukaitis at recent food give-away at Panati Town Hall Center used to operate the AWF/NAC and many in North Philadelphia know that looks to the future, Ronald E. Hinton, Jr., make up the board of the all new Allegheny name also. In more recent years, AWF president of Allegheny West Foundation saw West Civic Association of Philadelphia. They oversaw a group called the Allegheny West a need for a change. He and members of his are from the Allegheny West community and Foundation Neighborhood Action board of directors understand that they are all about supporting the community. Committee, (NAC), however about a year sometimes to be a leader in your community Ron Hinton commented, “Essentially the ago, it was dissolved. The AWF/NAC did or service area, you need to be able to be Allegheny West Civic Association of great work while in existence and met all it’s creative even beyond the vision of some of Philadelphia is our community advisory required goals from the city of Philadelphia, your funders. Some of the longtime and very council. They are our community partners. through which it was funded. However, as loyal members of the old AWF/NAC had leadership of Allegheny West Foundation been at loose ends since the closure of the Continued on Pg. 3 Update On Peirce Elementary School Temporary Closing There’s no way to sugar-coat how many differently in terms of the removal process. Cindy Bass, who represents the 8th council from the neighborhoods surrounding the There’s some other schools in the city of district and which takes in part of North Thomas M. Peirce Elementary School feel Philadelphia where asbestos was Philadelphia has been very vocal as it about the way things unfolded at the school, discovered. Those schools were closed for a relates to asbestos in our schools. When after it was revealed that Asbestos was in number of weeks. The asbestos was parents and concerned neighbors held a the school. Many from the community that removed, and then those schools were demonstration out in front of the Peirce staff of the Allegheny West Neighborhood reopened. Yes there was an inconvenience School last year, Councilwoman Bass was Newspaper spoke to, feel that it took way to for students who had to stay home long for the school district of Philadelphia to from school, but at least they were temporarily close the school and address not displaced for months and entire the asbestos issue. Compared to public school semesters. schools in predominately white communities, Ray Murphy, a longtime when they have learned of asbestos in their business owner along the North buildings, the schools were closed more 22nd Street business corridor quickly. commented,” Thank God we have There’s also those from the community a city councilperson who stays on near the Peirce school who asked to remain the case and who’s paying File photo from demonstration outside in front of Peirce Elementary School at 2300 West unnamed for this article, but who question attention and who speaks up when Cambria St. why the Peirce asbestos is being handled she sees something wrong. Councilwoman Continued on Pg. 5 Page 2 February 2020 “DREAMKEEPERS” The Allegheny West Foundation (AWF) is a community based organization that has served North Philadelphia for almost 50 years (founded 1968). We are re-opening the Panati Recreation Center at 3100 N. 22nd Street (bet. Clearfield & Lippincott). Our Our mission at AWF is to provide a safe space, where young people learn, laugh, and can realize their potential. We serve high school students motivated to be better students and ready to pursue professional passions. Simply put, we are dreamkeepers who believe in the greatest and best ambitions of our young people. The Panati Recreation Center will host a series of ASP activities including: • SAT prep • College!Tour • Homework assistance • Teen discussion lounge • Summer youth employment!opportunities • Work experience • Parent engagement activities: panel discussions Schedule: Monday - Friday 2:30PM - 6:00PM AAA LLL LLL EEE GGG HHH EEE NNN YYY WWW EEE SSS TTT FFF OOO UUU NNN DDD AAATTT III OOO NNN YYY OOO UUU TTT HHH DDD EEE VVV EEE LLL OOO PPP MMM EEE NNN TTT @@@ PPPAAANNNAAATTTIII RRR EEE CCC ... CCC EEE NNN TTT EEE RRR 333 111 000 000 NNN ... 222 222 NNN DDD SSS TTT RRR EEE EEE TTT To receive an application PPP HHH III LLL AAA DDD EEE LLL PPP HHH III AAA ,,, PPPAAA 111 999 111 333 222 Call 267-325-4626 February 2020 Page 3 Know Your Elected Officials owners, co-founded the Dominican Grocers offenders who have learned from their Association of Philadelphia, (DGAP), in mistakes and want to contribute in a positive partnership with the Eastern Pennsylvania way, to society. Organizing project, (EPOP). Since 1999, the Danilo served on the board of the organization has grown to more than 385 Eastern Pennsylvania Organizing Project, members. the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the Prior to joining the state legislature, White Dog Community Foundation, Danilo served as Director of Zoning and Proyectos Sin Fronteras and Visitation Business Development for Philadelphia City Community Center. In addition, he has Councilwoman Maria Quinones-Sanchez, collaborated with Congreso de Latinos where he oversaw the expansion of St. Unidos and the Latino Partnership on Christophers Hospital for Children and various projects and initiatives. Allegheny General Hospital as well as Representative Burgos says as a father, his developed and managed several children are his prime motivators and drive revitalization projects. He is also the former his passion to continue to improve and build Director of Constituent Services for City a better, safer and stronger city of (D) PA State Representative for the 197th Legislative District Danilo Burgos Councilman At Large Allan Domb. Philadelphia. He aims to give his constituents How many of our Allegheny West His goals as a state legislator include a light of hope, along with the tools they Neighborhood Newspaper readers actually improving public education and job training, need to succeed. He wants to break the know who their elected officials are, for this reducing unemployment and promoting stereotypes associated with North area? It can be challenging at times, small business development and economic Philadelphia by fostering mutual because names of elected officials do empowerment throughout the district. Danilo understanding between the 197th Legislative change as people win or lose elections. In also is a strong advocate for criminal justice District and other districts throughout the our newspaper, we do a listing of area reform. He is working towards reducing state. elected officials. However in the last edition recidivism and providing a pathway for ex- of our newspaper, we got one name wrong. We indicated that Emilio A. Vazquez was Introducing The Allegheny West Civic Association of Philadelphia the State Representative for the 197th Continued from Pg. 1 Smith, Dorothy Bray, Delores Cobb, Vernon legislative district. He was the state The purpose of this group is to sponsor Reynolds and Tootie Edwards. These aren’t representative, but Danilo Burgos won in the and implement quality of life programs for people who just arrived on the scene last election in November 2018 and he was the community. Much of the work they do yesterday. They’ve been committed to this sworn into office in January 2019. will come out of the Panati Town Center at area of Philadelphia for a long time and Representative Burgos represents people in 3103 North 22nd Street, formerly known as they’re no ways tired. They’ve been portions of North Philadelphia, including the Panati Recreation Center. That’s their volunteering for decades and now we’re Kensington, Hunting Park, Glenwood and job. The same group is also the RCO for this giving them the forum to spread their wings Feltonville. He is the first Dominican elected community. They’re the RCO. They’re the under less stringent requirements, to make to serve in the Pennsylvania General Civic Association. They’re the organization their visions for our pocket of North Philly a Assembly. He’s a first generation Hispanic that helps to sponsor food programs, toy reality.They’ll be more focused on a broader American and was born in New York City. drives, workshops on how to do your own approach to community stabilization, He moved to Philadelphia with his family in home improvements, workshops on financial outside of housing, free food, education 1990 when he was 10 years old. Danilo and planning and much more. The good thing is programs, at Panati. his family attended St. Veronica’s Church that everyone on our committee, they are Regina Smith, president of the Allegheny and owned and operated a Mom and Pop long term community residents and West Civic Association of Philadelphia grocery store.