May 14th 2014
Issue 92
News
Enter To Win A Block Party in a Box!
PEC is looking for community members of all ages interested in throwing a block party with their neighbors. "Block Party in a Box" provides you with everything you need to throw a great party! Gift cards for food and supplies, balloons, activities for kids, gift certificates for equipment rentals, and community resources. All for free! 
 
Eligibility:
* Must reside between 37th and 48th Streets, from Market St north to Mantua Ave / Girard Ave
* Must send a brief letter (no more than 3 paragraphs) to PEC explaining what makes your block special
* Must be able to host a party between June 1st and October 31st, 2014
* If selected, must obtain a Block Party Permit from Philadelphia Streets Department (PEC will reimburse your application fee)
 
Email your letter and any further questions to blockparty@pec-cares.org
WHAT: Next Steps Community Meeting
WHERE: Jannie's Place (611 N 40th St)
WHEN: Thursday, May 29th 6-8pm 
Combat Litter and Vacant Buildings in your community! 
* 311 will train you to be a 311 Neighborhood Liaison. 
* The Streets Department will present on trash pick-up, city policy for cleaning alleys and more! 
Find out how to become a block captain!
* Philadelphia More Beautiful Committee will provide information on the Block Captain Program. 
For more info, contact Ariel Diliberto at 267-777-5820 or adiliberto@pec-cares.org
All Hands in at Love Your Park Day of Service

Love Your Park Day of Service was a great success. We met at Saunders Park to clean up and plant trees. Not only did we have 12 dedicated volunteers but we also had a tree dedication during the day of service to memorialize a UPenn student who recently passed away. To have community members from 9 years old all the way to adulthood working side by side showed how diverse our community is and how we can all work together to make our community great. 

Crime Prevention Boosted in the Neighborhood
PEC has been selected by LISC Philadelphia to participate in a SafeGrowth Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) training course. The SafeGrowth program is designed for professionals in community development, design, planning, law enforcement and crime prevention.  PEC staff and resident leaders will work with 16th Police District officers on a project to help deter crime at specific hot spots in the neighborhood. The project idea will be eligible to receive seed money toward implementation. More information about the Safegrowth program can be found here 
Be A Vendor on Lancaster Avenue during Second Fridays!
Do you want to sell your goods on Lancaster Avenue during Second Fridays? Food, Clothing, Art, Music, and more are all welcome. This past Second Friday was a perfect example of hundreds of people enjoying Lancaster Avenue. What a great opportunity to get your stuff out there! For more details, contact James at 267-777-5853 or JamesWright@pec-cares.org
Renovate & Repair Loan Program for Homeowners
The Renovate & Repair Loan Program offers guidance and financing to help improve and maintain your home. The program is provided through a collaboration between PHFA and local housing organizations across Pennsylvania. For additional information visit PHFA's website at www.phfa.org or call 1-800-822-1174.
The Venture Acceleration Center
ELevate is currently accepting applications for the inaugural class, "Team 2015" that will be an innovative combination of co-working space, facilitated learning opportunities and business coaching. If you have an early stage business with 6 months+ of operations/sales and are interested in hands-on help to help you grow your business and increase revenue, this could be for you! Application Deadline: May 28th. For details, email krosso@theenterprisecenter.com
Turn Passion Into Profit! 
Do you have a great idea for a business? Are you ready to make money doing what you love? No need to quit your full-time job tomorrow.  Attend Side Hustle Bootcamp and learn how you can turn your passion into profit while maintaining your full-time job. For more info, call 215-895-4010
WHEN: Saturday, May 31st, 10am-2pm
WHERE: The Enterprise Center (4548 Market St)

 Events

WHAT: Healthy Cooking Workshops with Chef Lamech
WHERE: 325 N 39th St
WHERE: Saturday, May 17th 11am-2pm
Come to PEC's food cupboard on every third Satuday of the month to learn cheap, healthy recipes! Enjoy live cooking demos and tastings, courtesy of Chef LaMech James. All food and cooking workshops are FREE to the community.  No RSVP required. For more information email Brittany Siciliano at bsiciliano@pec-cares.org.
WHAT: Healthy Environments Committee Meeting
WHERE: 325 N 39th St
WHEN: Wednesday, May 14th 6:30pm 

We will be discussing upcoming events, neighborhood issues, and future sustainability events that the community would like to see. Learn from others in your community and let PEC help connect you to resources. For more information contact Brittany bsiciliano@pec-cares.org or 267-777-5897

WHAT: uGO Fitness Challenge
WHERE: Miles Mack Playground (36th & Aspen)
WHEN: Last Chance! May 17th, 10am-12pm 
Get your sneakers ready! The uGO 2014 Fitness Challenge is starting now! The uGO Fitness Challenge, in partnership with WAM! We Are Mantua, provides free weekly exercise activities in an outdoor family-friendly environment. This Challenge has been eight weeks of walking/running, group training, group fitness, nutrition workshops, and health screenings. Families of all ages and fitness levels exercise together on Saturday mornings in order to jump start healthy lifestyles. For more information please contact Brittany at 267.777.5897.
WHAT: Healthy Cooking Demo with UNI
WHERE: 325 N 39th St
WHEN: Saturday, May 17th 11am-2pm 

Come over to PEC during our food cupboard (11-2) on Saturday, May 24th for a healthy cooking demonstration from UNI. You will learn how to cook healthy meals on a budget using items you probably already have in your pantry. UNI youth will be there to answer your healthy eating questions. For more information please contact Brittany at 267.777.5897.

WHAT: 1st Annual Health Fair and Anti-Drug/Violence Rally
WHERE: Clara Muhammad Park (47th & Lancaster)
WHEN: Saturday, May 24th, 10am-5pm 
GBlindFaith4U2 & Twisters Mother Chapter MC/SC/DIVAS presents this Health fair with guest performance by the Conestoga Drill Team. Come for health screenings, blood pressure screenings, diabetes testing, HIV/AIDS testing and counseling, eye testing, and spectrum health care. For more info, contact Blindfaith4u2@yahoo.com
WHAT: GRAY AREA Preservation Meeting
WHERE: Catalyst for Change Church, 3727 Baring St
WHEN: Wednesday, May 28th 6pm 
GRAY AREA is opening conversation about additional challenging sites near Hawthorne Hall at 3849 Lancaster Ave. They are: Lombard Central Presbyterian Churchat 4201 Powelton Ave, the proposed Mantua Greenway from 31st and Spring Garden to 40th and Parrish, Gosnell Clinic at 3801 Lancaster Ave, and Drew School at 3724 Warren St. Registration requested. Please visit http://bit.ly/1jQIibG
WHAT: Rain Barrel Workshop 
WHERE: 325 N. 39th St.
WHEN: Thursday, June 5th 7-8pm 
The Energy Coordinating Agency (ECA) and the PHiladelphia Water Department are providing FREE rain barrels to city residents in order to promote the reduction of stormwater flows to our sewer system. ECA will also install barrels at your home free of charge. All you have to do it attend the workshop! RSVP required - click here!
GET INVOLVED IN YOUR LOCAL CIVIC ASSOCIATION!
Mill Creek Advisory Council 4th Monday @ 7pm, Mill Creek Playground 4700 Brown
Powelton Village Civic Association 3rd Monday @ Metropolitan Baptist Church, 3500 Baring St.
West Powelton/Saunders Park RCO 2nd Thursday's @ 7pm, 4110 Haverford Ave
West Powelton Concerned Citizens  3rd Monday @ 6pm, 4031 Baring St.
Mantua Civic Association 3rd Thurs. @ 6pm - Grace Lutheran Church (35th & Haverford)

To support our programs, please click here.  
To view a PDF of our new Make Your Mark! Lower Lancaster Revitalization Plan, please click here.