ANNUAL REPORT 2021 SPECIAL EmergenceEDITION
The year 2021 presented an opportunity for reflection on the challenges we have faced and the work ahead of us. As a result, this annual report will focus on our residents who have shown the resolve to support the community and help us overcome all of the challenges our world has been facing. The photos found in this annual report show our community members, staff, and board members hard at work in support of a recovering East Parkside. As our neighborhood continues to face food shortages, a youth population eager to see positive change, and an evolving built environment, we have spent much time reflecting and shifting our programming to support the most pressing needs in East Parkside, which we believe, are reflective of the most pressing needs in the City of Philadelphia. Through our 2021 Black Man’s Conference, and our continued efforts to provide supportive services for our youth, we have developed a model for youth leadership development and violence prevention. We do this through listening and engaging our youth in the creative arts as well as the life skills to succeed. In addition to this essential programming, we continued to provide essential services to our community like food distribution, utility assistance small grant programs, and a solar energy low-interest financing program.
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In 2021, we also started construction on our future headquarters and affordable housing unit and continued the expansion of our neighborhood cleaning and greening services; all this while creatively engaging the community around what an equitable neighborhood should look like.
OUR MISSION “ We work to preserve, promote, and revitalize East Parkside through partnerships with businessess, institutions, and programs that engage residents, increase opportunity, and help grow a diverse, thriving community.
OUR LEADERSHIP None of this work would be possible without the dedicated support of our community members highlighted in this annual report. We are eternally grateful for all the support we have received during the past years that presented so many challenges, and we are hopeful for a future that results in a diverse and thriving East Parkside. CHRISSPA RExecutive Directo ALEXANDRA MCFA N Presid e n t 2
WE LOVE OUR NEIGHBORHOOD “ We envision an equitable, revitalized, and growing EAST PARKSIDE. A premier place to live, work, and play. 3
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KENNETHWOODSON
ALEXANDR MCFADDEN Presid JOYCESMITH V i c e diserP tn 5
OUR BOARD Our Board is a governing body made up of the residents and existing organizations to progress community development goals in addition to including new initiatives around healthy living, civic engagement and the arts. As we enter our seventh year of service, we are growing and diversifying to meet the new challenges in east Parkside. RONALD COLEMANTreasu r e r
VETTEBURCH RY SCHUMANNS etary LORRANEGOMEZNANCCHRSTOPHER SCOT 6
AMINATA SA JAMAR BUT DAS DONTAESC SSPAHR ASHIA RAYON E We employ a diverse staff who all bring passion for improving East Parkside through building deep relationships with the residents and implementing initiatives that advance the vision of the community. In 2021, we added four new Cleaning Ambassadors who work tirelessly to keep our community clean, green, and safe. CHRIS SPAHR • Executive Director TASHIA RAYON • Program Director DASHAUN SMITH • Youth Coordinator AMINATA SANDRA CALHOUN • Director of Sanitation and Environmental Programming WILLIE DOE, JR. • Clean and Green Team Supervisor JAMAR BUTTS • Clean and Green Team Ambassador NICHOLAS JACOBSEN • Clean and Green Team Ambassador DONTAE SCOTT • Clean and Green Team Ambassador OUR STAFFNICHOLAS JACOBSEN
Centennial Parkside Community Development Corporation continues to salute, honor, and support our neighbors, proud founding residents, and active surrounding organizations. • EPRA • East Parkside Residence Association • RAC • AdvisoryRecreationCouncil • Parkside Journal • Mount Vernon Manor CDC • Reawakening Agency • Block Captains COMMUNITY SNAPSHOT “ The greatness of a community is most accurately measured by the compassionate actions of its members. - CORETTA SCOTT KING 8
CLEAN AND GREEN TEAM Clean streets, attractive open spaces, and well maintained buildings and roads all contribute to a high quality of life which allows East Parkside to thrive. Under the leadership of our Director of Sanitation and Environmental Programming, our Cleaning Ambassadors worked for OVER 950 HOURS CLEANING AND ENHANCING PARKSIDE RESIDENTIAL BLOCKS AND COMMERCIAL BLOCKS AND COLLECTING MORE THAN 2200 BAGS OF TRASH.
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The Centennial Parkside CDC Clean and Green team supplements city services by sweeping sidewalks, pulling weeds, removing bill postings and maintaining vacant lots. The primary areas of focus for our Clean and Green Team include the edge of Fairmount Park and our commercial corridors of 40th Street and Girard Avenue. Our Ambassadors are trained in park and rain garden maintenance, which creates new opportunities to advance their sills for a changing economy. Through our partnership with the Philadelphia Department of Commerce’s ‘Taking Care of Business’ Program, our Cleaning Ambassadors have also been undergoing OSHA 10 training.
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Continuing our Covid-19 emergency relief programs from 2020, our community worked tirelessly to meet the needs of our residents when they experienced food scarcity and were unable to pay their utility bills. With no supermarkets and no functioning food pantry, we continued our makeshift food distribution program out of our yet-to-be-renovated building on 1103 N. 40th Street. From March 2020 until December 2021, our community volunteers distributed OVER 2 MILLION POUNDS OF PRODUCE. This was possible through the dedicated support of partners at Mount Vernon Manor Community Development Corporation, Brandywine Realty Trust, Pagano’s Market and Bar, Matt and Marie’s, the Garces Group, the Archdiocese of Philadelphia’s Nutrition Development Services, Greener Partners, Farm Philly, and the Food Share Program. We were also able to help pay over $2800 in utility and rent bills for residents struggling to keep their lights on and avoid eviction through a small grant program made possible through the generous donation of Andrew Remick. To further meet the challenges of food insecurity and with the support of the Fairmount Park Conservancy, we hosted our first ever Food Trust Farmers Market during the summer of 2021 at the Case Building in Fairmount Park. DISTRIBUTION UTILITY RELIEF
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On February 27, 2020 we purchased a mixed-use building at 1103 N. 40TH STREET. Located right in the heart of our commercial corridor, this building will serve as our future headquarters on the first floor, while providing an affordable apartment rental on the upper two Throughfloors.our partnerships with companies like, Community Ventures Developers, Bright Common Architecture, Pella Windows, and New Ecology, Inc., we have designed a new office space and an affordable housing unit using high-performing, energy-efficient materials to ensure a safe, healthy, and sustainable community space. Through the hard work of local contractor, Black Hammer, we have made great progress on the renovation of this building with an expected opening at the end of 2022. CORRIDOR
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Photo Credit Posigen Solar
Our locally owned solar company provides innovative financing to help low and moderate income households throughout the City GO SOLAR WITH NO UPFRONT COST; so they can start saving on their electric bill. This social enterprise was funded with startup money from the William Penn Foundation and Spark Therapeutics, through the support of tax credits from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development.
Our locally owned solar company provides innovative financing to help low and moderate income households throughout the City of Philadelphia go solar with no up-front cost, so they can start saving on their electric bill.
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CENTENNIAL SOLAR 13“
Through our community social enterprise, Centennial Solar, launched in January of 2020, we have been able to provide 40 loans to low and medium income households in the City of Philadelphia. These loans support the Philadelphia Energy Authority ‘Solarize Philly’ program and its efforts to provide solar energy for as many households in the city as possible.
The Community Development Committee, formerly known as the Real Estate Committee was developed to be used as a tool for making sure that development that is happening in the East Parkside Community is equitable and affordable and that diversity is a goal to make sure that developers are representing the community at times when development is happening.
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COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
Schulkillstandards.Yards is a $3.5 billion mixed-use, master planned project. Developed by Brandywine Realty Trust, on 14 acres of land owned by both Brandywine and Drexel University, it is bringing to Philadelphia a next-generation innovation community, defined by thoughtful place-making, civic engagement, and quality execution. As part of Brandywine's Neighborhood Engagement Initiative and ongoing commitment to the surrounding community, Brandywine selected the Centennial Parkside CDC to provide co-development services on the new building at 3151 Market Street. The Centennial Parkside CDC has previously served in a co-developer role for Drexel Square and the Bulletin Building and will continue to work as an integral part of the team–helping to create community connections with Schuylkill Yards so that all West Philadelphia residents can share in the economic progress exemplified by this project. Credit - Brandywine Realty Trust
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3151 MARKET STREET
Centennial Parkside Community Development Corporation was selected by Brandywine Realty Trust as a co-developer for a ground-up life science building located at 3151 Market Street within Schuylkill Yards. This building will provide optionality for full floors of intensive chemical and biological lab and research use with open-air Eco Porches, lower-level parking, and ground floor retail, green space and amenities while also being designed to LEED Platnum and WELL
On Juneteenth Weekend of 2021, the Centennial Parkside Community Development Corporation held its first-ever Black Man's Conference on Friday, June 18, and Saturday, June 19, 2021. The conference was designed to offer supportive platforms of engagement and discussions around mental and physical health, spirituality, family, and community. Foul, No Fear Focus Discuccion Group for Young Black Men (pictured) United They Stand. Fearless Voices who Inspired the Centennial Parkside CDC BLACK MAN’S CONFERENCE.
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BLACK MAN’S CONFERENCE “ TO AMPLIFY the voices of Black Men candidly, without filter, and unapologetically through real talks and conversations with peers and organizations.TO FORTIFY, validate, and exactify the greatness of African American Men by assisting through action initiatives and resourcing to rediscover what lies within. TO CELEBRATE what makes our brothers of color unique and valuable. 13
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YOUTH Youth groups are a great source of pride for Centennial Parkside CDC. 2021 served as a vessel for candid conversations and vision. Poetry workshops, journalism, wellness meet ups and hours of engagement provided safe spaces for teens and parents to feel welcomed and heard. 17
WRITTEN BY SIMYR ELLIS - AGE 14 7th Grade CCA Learning Academy FROM THE THOUGHTS, RHYMES & SPEAKING FREE CENTENNIAL PARKSIDE CDC Saturday Morning Youth Poetry Workshop 18
A Better Place for All Like a tree that grows from generation to generation Nature’s way of gifting and feeding a nation with great air and good sunlight, drops of rain that helps grow many trees of life A Tree of life is like you and me We can nurture our land with love, care, and unity We can give equal rights and justice to show our hand We can work together for everlasting beautiful land Every hand is like a branch or flower that blooms Building together pieces of a puzzle that the world expects Caring for our communities, animals, and pets Stopping to take apart and doing what matters No matter the color no matter the age Being a part of the world; love, a clean world, and an equal journey to have better ways and days! Community love = World love. Love The Earth Love one Another Recycle and Take Care of Each Other. One hand at the same time Starts with you and me and with US!
EAST PARKSIDE • BY THE NUMBERS BOARD MEMBERST RESIDENTS 2,200+ BAGSOF SHCOLLECTED 19 0082,+INUTILITYANDRENTRELIEF MINI-GRANTSDIS
OVER2MI POUNDS OF PRODU ISTRIBUTED 059+HOURS ANING STREETSA PUBLICSPACES 04CEJORPYGRENERALOSTSFINANCEDFORLOW AND MODERATEINCOMEHOUSEHOLDS 20 ISTRIBUTED
INCOME 2021 ChristopherRobertaPhiladelphiaPennsylvania$1,000PhiladelphiaKnight$5,000PennsylvaniaEnterprise$10,000Fairmount$25,000+Philadelphia$50,000+ReimaginingBrandywine$75,000+Philadelphia$100,000+DepartmentofCommerceRealtyTrusttheCivicCommonsDepartmentofPublicHealthParkConservancy+CommunityPartnershipHorticulturalSociety–$9,999FoundationWaterDepartment–$4,999CouncilontheArtsZooConnorScott $50 – $999 Kimberly Andrews Lis ParryBassBenson Jr. Yvette KennethJoanneMichaelRebekahThomasParryCarolPatrickDonaldJulioGraceAndrewAlexandraJenniferJoLizzNoraRonaldBurchColemanElmarzoukyGramlingLinMaharMcFaddenMowenMuddRodSmithSherlockandWilliamSpahrandSandeeSpahrandMeganSpahrSterbinStevensWerdellWoodson 21
35% Sanitation and ProgrammingEnvironmental 21% Arts, Culture, and Youth Programming RealEquitable21%Estate Administrative12%Overhead Pandemic7%Relief Centennial5%Solar OUREXPENSESLEADERSHIP2021 22
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As a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization, we depend on the generous donations of our supporters to continue the work we are doing. We have grown significantly since our founding in 2015 but there much more work to do. As enter 2022 and continue emerge the pandemic, we have big plans an equitable impact East Parkside. this progress
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depends on your help. Remember that by making a tax-deductable donation to Centennial Parkside Community Devel opment Corporation you are making an investment in your neighborhood and to an organization that is on the cutting edge of community development innovation. It’s easy to donate. Please go to our website www.centennialparkside.org and select the “DONATE” tab or email a check to: Centennial Parkside CDC P.O. Box Philadelphia,28050PA 19131 Your tax-deductable contribution of $5, $10, $15, $20, $25, and more will be appreciated. Please support today! SUPPORT US 23
THANK YOU! Bartram’s BrandywineGardenRealty Trust Bright Common Architecture Clayborn and Lewis Recreation Center Councilwoman Jamie Gauthier Community Ventures East Parkside Residents Association Ebony Suns Enterprises, LLC Fairmount Park Conservancy Knight Foundation Lindy Institute for Urban Innovation Mt. Vernon Manor CDC National Energy Improvement Fund Parkside PennsylvaniaJournalDepartment of Community and Economic Development Pennsylvanians Organized to Witness, Empower, and Rebuild Philadelphia Department of Commerce Philadelphia Department of Parks and PhiladelphiaRecreationEnergy Authority Philadelphia Water Department Philadelphia Zoo Please Touch Museum Rebuilding Together Reimagine the Civic Commons Representative Amen Brown Representative Donna Bullock RER Energy Group Senator Vincent Hughes Share Food Program Shift StrawberrySparkCapitalTherapeuticsMansion CDC True Access Capital Ujima Developers, LLC Viola Street Residents Association William Penn Foundation 24
21 CONTACT INFO@CENTENNIALPARKSIDE.ORGWWW.CENTENNIALPARKSIDE.ORGUS267.225.83563479WESTGIRARDAVENUEP.O.BOX28050PHILADELPHIA,PA19131 Photo Credit - Tashia (unless otherwise noted)
