Black History Month: Celebrating our Partners
Black History Month is a time to celebrate the contributions and honor the historical achievements of the Black community throughout American history. As we recognize Black history, we also have the opportunity to educate ourselves about the impacts of systemic racism and the need for racial justice.
For many organizations, working toward racial equality and making positive impacts on the Black community is a fundamental part of their mission. By supporting Black-led organizations, we can take action and make contributions that will last beyond February.
Below are some Black-led nonprofits and VUPHL partners that serve the Black community year-round.
Mill Creek Urban Farm
Our volunteers at Mill Creek Urban Farm in July 2018 after a day of tending to crops, weeding, picking fruit and vegetables, preparing for the market, washing and inventorying the harvest, and manning the sales table.
Located in West Philadelphia, Mill Creek Urban Farm is a people of color-led educational farm and environmental center in service of communities of color in Mill Creek and the surrounding neighborhoods. They are dedicated to improving local access to fresh, chemical-free produce at low cost, providing farm-based learning programs for people of all ages and demonstrating ecological technologies to provide for basic needs. Through their programs, they strive to cultivate a healthy environment, grow strong communities and promote a just and sustainable food system.
To get involved, you can pitch in to help in a variety of ways as a volunteer, provide financial support or donate an item on their wish list, or visit their site at 49th and Brown Street in West Philadelphia on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.
Friends of Malcolm X Park
Our volunteers at Malcolm X Park in July 2018 after a day of beautification, picking up trash, sweeping sidewalks, trimming hedges, and more.
Malcolm X Park is a six-acre site in West Philadelphia that is home to more than 100 towering oaks, two elaborate children’s play areas, and dozens of comfortable benches and tables for relaxing and meeting to build community within the neighborhood.
The park is supported in part by the Friends of Malcolm X Park, which is a group of volunteers committed to bringing entertaining programming and family-friendly events to the site. The president of the Friends’ Group for 32 years, Mr. Greg, has always prioritized maintaining the park’s aesthetic and keeping it clean and safe for the community to use year-round.
Though the park’s event calendar might look a little different this year due to Covid restrictions, they are still serving as the community hub for food distribution, socially-distanced community celebrations and cleanups, and more. Visit the park (with a mask) and check the Malcolm X Park Neighbors Facebook group for opportunities to get involved!
Stephen Girard Elementary School
Our volunteers at Stephen Girard Elementary in February 2020 spending their day assembling Valentine bags for students, painting the library, and beautifying the school!
Stephen Girard Elementary serves students K-4 and is committed to providing their diverse community of learners with appropriate academic challenges in a safe and supportive environment. Located in South Philadelphia, the school serves 397 African American, Latino, Asian, and White students. Their population qualifies as 100% economically disadvantaged.
Throughout the pandemic, the school has continued to serve their students by holding food, winter clothing, and backpack drives.
Learn more about Stephen Girard Elementary and discover ways to support the School District of Philadelphia.
North Broad Renaissance
Our volunteers cleaning up North Broad in July 2017.
With a focus on revitalization, North Broad Renaissance (NBR) creates opportunities and improves the economic power and overall quality of life along North Broad, from City Hall to Germantown Avenue. In partnership with community stakeholders, they keep North Broad clean and safe, maintain and improve greenspace, and retain and develop businesses.
The North Broad corridor has an African American majority and is home to more than 50,000 residents and 13,000 businesses. NBR’s Reopened with Care Campaign launched in May 2020 to help these businesses follow safety guidelines as they navigated reopening during the pandemic. NBR was able to connect small businesses with loan and grant programs, residents with meal services and mental health support, and used their marketing program to get information and resources out to their community.
Learn more about North Broad Renaissance or sign up to volunteer.
Everybody Eats Philly
Our volunteers playing virtual bingo to raise funds for Everybody Eats Philly in August 2020.
Everybody Eats Philly is an initiative created by Cooking for the Culture, a community for African American culinary professionals in Philadelphia. The organization was founded amid the COVID-19 pandemic and protests to support and feed underserved communities across the city. Their mission is to increase food security, build community and lead others in the fight against hunger.
This chef-led team believes that access to healthy food is a basic human right, not a privilege. With a commitment to embrace diversity and inclusion, they strive to empower communities where no one has to go hungry. Through cookouts, food drives, grocery giveaways, and other hunger relief events, Everybody Eats has been able to make a powerful impact on communities across the city.
You can join the fight to end hunger by volunteering your time or making a donation.
Thomas Holme Elementary School
Our volunteers at Thomas Holme Elementary School in October 2019 after a day of building outdoor spaces for teachers, painting the playground, constructing raised garden beds, designing “buddy benches” and more.
Thomas Holme is a Philadelphia public school, serving students from Pre-K through 6th grade in Northeast Philly. The school operates in an area that suffers from poverty, so 100% of the diverse student population qualifies from free/reduced lunch. Additionally, the school has a higher than average concentration of students with emotional, social, and Autistic support needs.
The leaders of Thomas Holme believe that the arts are an integral part of a student’s education and they continue to integrate arts and standards curricula together to create a richer and more lasting learning experience for all 575 students. Arts therapy has proven, through experiential evidence, to benefit their population and reach challenging students.
Learn more about the Thomas Holme School and discover ways to support the School District of Philadelphia.
Francisville Recreation Center
Our volunteers at Francisville Recreation Center and Playground in January 2018 after clearing up the multipurpose rooms and the grounds.
Francisville Playground and Recreation Center is a Philadelphia Parks and Recreation Department Facility. Sitting on 3.7 acres, this facility provides the Francisville neighborhood with not only greenspace but a pool, two basketball courts, and a computer lab. They offer a wide variety of programming and events including summer camp, swim lessons, yoga, zumba classes and more to give the residents a space to stay active.
The neighborhood in North Philly sits above Fairmount Avenue and below Girard Avenue and is home to over 8,000 residents with its most notable resident being the famous rapper Lil Uzi Vert.
Follow Francisville Playground’s Facebook to keep an eye out for future events!
Lutheran Settlement House
Our volunteers in March 2018 at Lutheran Settlement Home helping to clean their homeless shelter and beautify the grounds.
Located in lower Kensington, Lutheran Settlement House (LSH) has served vulnerable children, adults, and families living in Philadelphia, regardless of race or creed, since its founding in 1902. Offering a wide variety of programs, LSH provides community education, senior services, homeless services, and medical advocacy for the community.
Volunteers are vital to LSH’s work and help grow their services. Support is needed in a number of ways: cleaning their homeless shelter, providing at-home domestic violence advocacy, tutoring, organizing a food drive.
Read more about Lutheran Settlement House or contact Email Erica Zaveloff at ezaveloff@lshphilly.org to volunteer.
East Poplar Playground
Our volunteers at East Poplar Playground in August 2019 after a day of cleaning and greening the park.
Like many parks, playgrounds and recreation centers, East Poplar Playground is the heartbeat of the neighborhood. With play equipment, a spray ground and pool, sports fields and courts, and a multipurpose building, the site serves as a space for mentorship, community development, and programming for young people.
The Lower North Philly neighborhood sits between Spring Garden Street and Girard Avenue and is home to over 4,200 residents. The area is known for the iconic Divine Lorraine Hotel, a former home of Edgar Allan Poe, and several other historical landmarks.
Learn more about the playground and its Rebuild project renovation.
