Alphonso Richardson swam through his summers in the pool on 16th and Berks streets. His pastime led to a college scholarship, and he is hoping to inspire this community’s next generation to follow his tracks.
I interviewed Richardson earlier this year for an article on Temple’s outreach to the community [“Hiring from the community changes fortunes,” […]

City universities are unwelcome pariahs who gentrify and litter as they go, or economic saviors who enhance a neighborhood, depending on whom you ask.
As with most controversies, the truth lies somewhere in the middle.
Joyce Dennis, an assistant in Paley Library, occupies that uncertain middle ground. She was looking for a home with more space than […]

For some people living in North Philadelphia, it may seem like the American dream is dead.
Yet, many people have not given up on the idea that the country can redeem itself, even though they have learned through history to be cautious and often skeptical.
This mindset seems to be behind many North Philadelphians’ attitudes toward politics, […]

Two police cruisers pause side by side on a one-way street, waiting to pull into the intersection, even though they have the green light. A white car behind them waits quietly. This is one time you won’t hear impatient honking.
This scene is not an unfamiliar one, taking place only blocks from a police station. It […]

The latter building fell just a few weeks ago, on March 6. The contractors have cleaned up the debris, but the chain-link fencing is still there.