Thriving: A Special Project From Technical.ly

Economic Storytelling through Lived Experience

What 500 Philadelphians told Technical.ly stands in their way to economically thrive

Christa Barfield of FarmerJawn on growing an urban farming business

It takes a village to thrive — thank you to our partners

Between 2021 and 2023, news organization Technical.ly embarked on an ambitious project with a simple goal: To learn about the current obstacles and opportunities to economically thrive from listening to 500 Philadelphians. We did this with focus groups, community events, individual interviews and an audio documentary that featured 10 residents we followed for a year — plus reporting from a dozen other cities to compare it all. This print magazine is meant to be shared with the hundreds of residents who contributed to this project, and the thousands more who can benefit from hearing their stories.

One of the big recurring themes of Thriving was the importance of community support and networks in overcoming challenges and pursuing economic well-being. Hundreds of people we spoke with cited these connections as key, whether via individuals like friends, family and mentors, or established groups like nonprofits and government agencies.

Getting ahead is more feasible with others behind you — and that’s true for this project. Technical.ly couldn’t have done it without our partners.

FINANCIAL SUPPORT

Thank you first and foremost to our funders: the Pew Charitable Trusts, William Penn Foundation and the Knight Foundation. Unusual for a project like this, its origins come from stakeholders inside these foundations that sought to supplement their own research with lived experience from residents. We are honored to have brought their vision to fruition, and hope these stories will be used to inform smarter policy, more humane priorities and happier communities.

COMMUNITY PARTNERS

A big round of applause and gratitude for all the organizations and businesses that partnered with us on information gathering and synthesis. From co-hosting focus groups to participating in meetings and feedback sessions that helped steer our reporting, these groups and people helped make Thriving possible.

• Asian American Chamber of Commerce

• Asian Bank

• Fishtown Neighbors Association

• Humanature

• The Lactation Therapist

• Monkey & Elephant

• REC Philly

• Philadelphia Office of Immigrant Affairs

• Seer

• The Welcoming Center

• WURD Radio

Contributors

TECHNICAL.LY STAFF

Christopher Wink

Danya Henninger

Sarah Huffman

Aileen Connolly McNulty

McKenzie Morgan

Holly Quinn

Sameer Rao

TECHNICAL.LY ALUMNI

Michaela Althouse

Vincent Better

Christina Kristofic

Paige Gross

Sabrina Vourvoulias

Julie Zeglen

STRATEGY & PROJECT MANAGEMENT

Sophie Bryan

Jabina Coleman

Elinor Haider

Octavia Howell

Ellen Hwang

Jen Kinney

Alex Lewis

Hanae Mason

John Myers

Michael O’Bryan

Jessica Richard

Sandra Shea

EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORS

Sorrina Beecher

Lisa Bryant

Ellen Chamberlain

Nichole Currie

Grace DeWitt

Emma Diehl

Amanda Hoover

Karuga Koinange

Shanti Lerner

Dominique Nichole

Lian Parsons-Thomason

Anne To

The journey to financial freedom, and what stands in the way

UNDERSTAND WHERE

WE’RE ALL GOING BY BETTER UNDERSTANDING HOW A FEW OF US ARE DOING.

● That’s the concept behind Thriving, the yearlong reporting project that news org Technical.ly led with support from the Pew Charitable Trusts, William Penn Foundation and the Knight Foundation.

Across hundreds of interviews, conversations and events, we explored the economic mobility of people in Philadelphia and other US cities, showcasing personal stories while surfacing systemic issues.

What did we learn? Plenty, and we found several recurring themes, across a wide range of demographics:

• Many people feel their stories are regularly oversimplified

• We all rely on community help

• Our economic self-image begins in childhood.

• Ineffective programs can be more frustrating than no programming at all

It all stemmed from this question: What are the obstacles and opportunities for you to thrive? Of course, everyone has their own

definition of thriving — and these interpretations are part of what made this project so informative.

The mother who paid off a credit card while pregnant so she could start a savings account for her newborn daughter. The state agriculture director who stretched his final Ph.D. year over several semesters because he’d already maxed out student loans. The Afghan refugee who traded a money-making food service job for a lower-paying post that let him spend weekends with family. The gig worker who walked away from a full-time office situation to prioritize making art.

We focused our reporting on 10 key demographic groups, based on exhaustive data analysis. After building a model of what a statistically representative 100 residents might look like in several US cities, including Philadelphia, we searched for themes and spoke to analysts, demographers and statisticians to pick up indicative trends. In the end we selected those that we felt will most inform our collective economic future.

Here are the persona groups we followed most closely and why. ➜

1. Recent Immigrants

A significant component of our future workforce

Despite declines in recent years, the US remains the world’s most desired destination for hopeful immigrants. In 2021, nearly 900 million people wanted to migrate here, and nearly 1 in 5 named the US as their top pick — more than double second-place Canada, according to Gallup.

Immigrants comprised 19% of Philadelphia’s workforce in 2018, and the city is currently home to the largest immigrant population it’s seen since the 1940s, with about 15% of residents reporting they were born in another country, according to Pew Research.

A big part of the American growth story for the future will be shaped by immigrants.

2. Older Immigrants

Demonstrating how our changing population grows older

Across the nation, nearly 14% of residents are foreign-born, the highest share in more than a century, and higher concentrations of immigrants overall are predictive of growing cities.

Immigrants are, on average, younger than their native-born peers. As generations of past immigrants get older, however, they offer insight into how Americans age in place. Roughly three-quarters of older immigrants earn less than $35,000, per a Technical.ly analysis, as they live on fixed incomes or rely on family and friends.

3. Immigrant Entrepreneurs

Outsized economic and cultural contributors

Immigrants to the United States are 80% more likely to start companies than their native-born peers, per a recent analysis by

an MIT economist, and their firms tend to employ more people. Immigrants made up nearly 22% of all U.S. business owners in 2019, despite comprising less than 14% of the population and 17% of the workforce overall, according to the New American Economy. Their businesses range from commercial corridor storefronts like restaurants and laundromats to high-tech software and gene therapy companies. And they’re often wealth builders: Between 20% and 35% of immigrant entrepreneurs in a given city earn at least $100,000, according to a Technical.ly analysis

4. Black Working Mothers

Crucial leaders in the effort to break generational poverty

More than half of Black mothers are raising children on their own, according to the US Department of Labor, and half with kids under 18 years of age report income of less than $35,000, per a Technical.ly analysis of 20 US cities.

Black working mothers are a vulnerable demographic with a considerable influence on how the next generation of Black families will grow.

5. Young Black Men

A key demographic for economic and social change

Disinvestment and racism leave young Black men one of the most vulnerable — and most important — categories of Americans.

Around three-quarters of young Black men in big US cities live in households reporting income of $35,000 or less, per a Technical.ly analysis. Rates of joblessness, violence, poverty, imprisonment and other social indicators make clear the system has fallen short.

Young Black men are also major sources of culture and creativity, yet remain heavily underrepresented in complex narratives of the country’s economic future.

We have to make it work. Regardless of how many hours you have to work.”

MICHAEL TAN

6. Middle-Income Black Residents

For insights on how to retain and share prosperity with more people

Median household income in Philadelphia is shy of $50,000, more than $20,000 off the national average. Median income for Black households is far lower, just $39,000 in Philadelphia and $46,400 nationally.

In Philadelphia, declines in both the Black population and the Black poverty rate suggest that it is following a path already trod by Boston and New York, cities that pushed out poorer residents without sharing prosperity. That means middle-income Black households have especially important insight.

7. Black Professionals

Proof of ways to combat racebased income inequity and create opportunity

The net wealth of the average white family is 10 times larger than that of the average Black family. Even when controlling for those who started from the same place in their 30s, older white Americans outearn their Black counterparts, according to Brookings.

One way to make up ground is for a higher share of Black workers to earn more and faster. Black professionals who earn more than $100,000 can reflect where racial income and wealth gaps are most readily confronted.

8. Older White Working Residents

Representing a major economic shift

A huge part of our working population is older, thanks to the Boomer generation’s size. Since it’s so relatively large, what this generation does economically matters for everybody else.

The reality is people do want to work. It’s just that we want to work livable wages.”

ERICA IRVING

About 36% of white Americans are over the age of 54, according to Pew Research, significantly more than any other racial group. Some are choosing to work well past retirement age — both by choice and out of financial necessity.

9. Disabled Residents

A growing, diverse and often overlooked part of the workforce

When taking together a range of experiences, disabled residents comprise between 5% and 10% of residents in nearly 20 US cities Technical.ly evaluated for this project.

People who use wheelchairs, people who are deaf or hard of hearing, and people who have low vision use physical space in a different way than designers typically consider and perform tasks in a different way than managers typically consider. Advocates argue those perspectives are often overlooked in understanding our future.

10. Gig-Working Creatives

Demonstrating the vitality, flexibility and economic shortcomings of an emerging part of urban work

Beat poet Jack Kerouac is credited with popularizing our modern sense of the term “gig work” — a temporary job in which you’re not emotionally invested but supports your creative pursuits. These days, a third of Americans contribute to the $1.3 trillion “gig economy” or “freelancer economy.”

Gig-working creatives, whose earnings are split between industries including at least one in an artistic field like music, dance or writing, contribute to the creative makeup of a city — and point to what kind of living is possible. ◆

LyVette Byrd on navigating life as a ‘suddenly blind person’

On the morning of her son’s 29th birthday, LyVette Byrd woke up to a life-altering reality. “I realized my eyes were open, but I saw nothing,” she recalled. “Then I realized ‘LyVette, girl, you blind.’”

This sudden change, when she was 48, marked the beginning of a challenging journey. Even after two surgeries, LyVette’s vision only ever partially returned to her right eye, allowing her to see shadows and large figures.

Before losing her sight, she worked as a liaison between the Community College of Philadelphia and a teen workforce nonprofit called YouthBuild, and was passionate about her job. But it required extensive computer use, and vision loss made this nearly impossible.

“What would take me minutes, took days,” LyVette said.

She moved into an apartment where the landlord accepted vouchers from the Philadelphia Housing Authority, and began relying on issued food stamps. Her Social Security payments were $1,193 a month. All told, it was just enough to keep her sheltered and alive.

To get back to work, she sought assistance from the Pennsylvania Bureau of Blindness and Visual Services, applying to a program that provided a computer screen reader and training on how to use it — and got caught in a bureaucratic cycle. After she was accepted, it turned out the program had run out of money, so LyVette was waitlist-

Gisselle Poveda on the challenges of expanding her small, immigrantowned business

ed. When her turn came up again, there were more interviews to complete, and then more waiting.

Instead of succumbing to frustration, LyVette started concentrating on how she could make the situation better for

others. She revived a consulting business she’d registered in 2003, aiming to help people organize community events and assist entrepreneurs in setting goals.

“From a very humble place, I know that I’m a leader,” LyVette said. “I know I’m a teacher. I am a world changer.”

The day her father decided to launch a business in his new country is etched in Gisselle Poveda’s mind.

“There’s an opportunity for us to have a bakery, but it’s gonna be a lot of work,” the Colombian immigrant told his loved ones. “We’re gonna do this as a family, otherwise it can’t be done.”

Just 16 at the time, Gisselle was all in. She began working alongside her parents at Cafe Tinto, learning how to run the North Philadelphia shop and absorbing recipes passed down from her grandfather. Six years later, when her parents were ready to retire, Gisselle took the helm. Under her stewardship, the bakery sustained its traditional charm while expanding its reach and becoming a neighborhood staple.

Now Gisselle has aspirations to go further. She dreams of opening a second location and launching a coffee brand that carries forth her country’s legacy. “I want people to know Colombia for its coffee,” she said.

Immigrants to the United States start businesses at nearly double the

rate of US-born founders, often tapping into the resilience and ambition that brought them to a new country. On the flip side are the challenges of navigating an unknown cultural and business landscape, where things may happen in a different language and be based on different rules.

So Gisselle is taking it slow. Instead of rushing into expansion for Cafe Tinto, she’s emphasizing the importance of financial stability.

“I don’t wanna have to be stressing and going crazy because I have a loan that I have to pay off,” she said. “I’m motivated by growth, but I want to do it in a healthy manner.”

Gisselle’s story isn’t just about running a successful bakery; it’s about preserving cultural heritage, adapting to a new environment, and the pursuit of the American dream. ◆

What does it mean to thrive as a Black working mother in Philly?

► BY SARAH HUFFMAN

Quiet time is a rare treasure for West Oak Lane resident Dominique Peden, a 33-yearold mother of two whose daily routine consists of daycare dropoff and pickup, cooking, errands, bedtime routines — and of course, work. Peden has always had to maintain two or three jobs to make ends meet. She’s been a dance teacher, a childcare provider, and a trainer with the national Children’s Defense Fund. She never expected to get rich — but becoming a mother brought the precarity of her situation to the fore.

“I think I had accepted a while back that working in childcare, I wasn’t going to be a millionaire,” Peden told Technical.ly, “but when I had kids … I started to realize financially, the burden.”

Philadelphia is home to more than 61,000 Black working mothers aged 20 to 34. About half of them head households earning less than $35,000 per year, mirroring trends in cities like Baltimore and Chicago and ex-

emplifying the national wealth gap between Black and white households. In some cities, including Austin, Boston, and Los Angeles, the outlook for Black working mothers is better than in Philly, and in some it’s worse; two-thirds in Pittsburgh live below the $35k threshold.

Despite these economic hurdles, these mothers are determined to provide for their children and create a better future.

Roxborough resident Shaynise Hill dreams of being a successful businesswoman. She taught herself nail art to support herself and her young son during the pandemic, then got certified and to officially run the business out of her home.

The Philly native dropped out of college six years ago after having her child — it was difficult balancing motherhood with classes and a job. Now, at 26, she’s heading back to cosmetology school with hopes of opening her own storefront.

“I’m big on leaving something behind for my son,” Hill said. “He may not want to do nails, but to say that he has an investment in the nail business stands for itself.”

For Mahalia Sealy, who moved to Philadelphia from Brooklyn for a lower cost of living, greater flexibility is a big reason she’s thinking of starting her own business. Her job as a training coordinator for the Maternity Care Coalition allows her to support her three children, and she gets to spend time with them because she’s mostly allowed to to work from home.

But with the return-to-office trend picking up, she’s aware that that perk might end. “If we go back to full-time in-person,” Sealy said, “I don’t know how I’m going to manage.”

At 30, Grays Ferry resident Celeana Robertson just wants a job that’s steady without being stressful. She returned to work in security after being an Amazon delivery driver (high stress) and a medical assistant (low pay). Her number one goal is making sure she can provide for her mother and her 9-year-old son. She and her mom both work, so their total household income is enough that they don’t qualify for certain benefits.

“I want financial freedom and I don’t want to have to worry about, ‘Hey, well, next week when I get paid, that’s when I’ll have the bills for you,’” Robertson said. “If an emergency happened, I want to be able to tap into my account and take care of what I need to do.” ◆

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Afghan refugee Ghulam Danish on his journey toward thriving

► BY NICHOLE CURRIE

Ghulam anish is sitting in his used hybrid. He recently immigrated from Afghanistan. And like millions of Americans, he drives for rideshare companies like Uber and Lyft.

Ghulam Danish: The expenses are high here and one job is not enough for, like, low-income families who work entry-level jobs, one job is not enough, I guess.

Ghulam is 31. He has a wife and kids, and he’s always thinking about how to provide for them. They live in Northeast Philadelphia. He doesn’t make very much from driving for rideshare companies, and it’s not what he wants to do forever.

GD: As a refugee, as a newcomer here, I need. I need to do a lot. I have to stand on my own feet, like the way I want … And like right now, me and people like me, we are just trying to survive, which is different from living.

A defining quality of the United States is just how many people in the world would choose

As a refugee, as a newcomer here, people like me, we are just trying to survive, which is different from living.“

GHULAM DANISH

to come here if they could — double the rate of the next country. And in a nation that’s getting older, immigrants bolster our workforce. They create vibrant communities and bring fresh ideas.

Foreign-born residents make up the highest share of Philadelphia’s population since the 1940s. That’s where Ghulam landed after he and his family left Afghanistan. In late August of 2021, Ghulam was living in Kabul when the Taliban invaded. US troops were withdrawing. Ghulam feared he could become a target.

GD: I was working with the US security company. And some of my neighbors knew that I was working there.

On the sixth day of the invasion, Ghulam, his wife Naija, and their 4-year-old daughter Angela got tickets for a flight out of the country. A family friend in the US helped arrange their evacuation.

At 4 a.m., they called a taxi and headed to the Kabul International Airport.

GD: And at that time, airport was a mess. The people of Kabul and surrounding areas, they were trying to get out through the airport. Kilometers away, there was millions of people. The taxi driver said he cannot move forward. We had to walk.

They couldn’t miss this flight.

GD: Because my wife was nine months pregnant. We were expecting another baby. And I was really afraid that if I could not get out at that moment it would become very problematic for us.

They managed to make it into the airport, onto the plane, and out of the country. In less than 24 hours, they left behind their house, family, friends, and their jobs.

GD: I had a good life, good job in Afghanistan before the collapse. Which is of course, not easy, but it’s also not difficult for us except that we have left, uh, our family members back there. We are worried about them.

About a year after they arrived, Ghulam got a job at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, or CHOP. It’s in the cafeteria — cleaning dishes.

GD: It is a hard job. At least for me, it’s a hard job. I haven’t done a physical job before in my country. I was always in office. Now, I’m just doing a survival job. In the beginning, it was actually very hard for me. I was getting exhausted, too much.

He stands for most of his 8-hour shift, working up to 6 days a week, usually on the weekends, and always at night.

GD: It’s not a normal life that I’m living now. A normal life would be having family time, having friends time, having a fun time. I’m looking for a better job, an office job where I could work during the day and be home during the evening and during the weekend. And a job with normal pay. Not too high, not too low.

He says he makes about $20 an hour. That’s about $41,000 a year to support a family of four. When he’s not working, Ghulam is in his bedroom-turned office. A nearly empty room where he sits at the computer, glued to the screen. Looking for resources to help him find a job.

He’s perfecting his LinkedIn, prepping for interviews with career coaches, and taking classes in project management and data analysis. Despite that, job applications haven’t been fruitful.

GD: They are insistent that I’m overqualified. So they say I may not stay there for a long time. Although I am telling them that I will be working with you guys for a long time. But they don’t believe.

From other employers, he’s heard the opposite.

GD: They somehow emailed that I’m not suitable for those jobs, but, uh, I am. Although it was also kind of entry-level job, I think I have also some limitations. Basically considering my accent or something,

they might thought that I’m not suitable for those jobs.

While it’s illegal to judge applicants on their accents, it can still happen. The Pew Research Center estimates almost 47% of immigrants in the US do not speak English proficiently. Ghulam speaks English — and four other languages — which is more than most Americans. Regardless, he worries about how employers will feel about his accented English.

He’s trying to thread a needle.

Three months later, Ghulam and his family welcome their third child — a baby girl named Sarah. And then, one week after Sarah’s birth, Ghulam gets the news he’s been waiting for.

GD: I got another job.

It’s an office job, as a career coach for refugees at the Nationalities Service Center in Philadelphia.

Four months later, the family is at Pennypack Park, where they come almost every weekend now that Ghulam only works weekdays. It reminds him of the village where he grew up, a few miles outside Kabul.

GD: My birthplace, we have the valley and water like this. … Because of the river and this nature, it gives the same, the same beauty, the same sense of within, the same feeling.

The family begins unpacking their picnic basket. They unfold lawn chairs, blankets, and set up a small portable swing for Sarah. Naija takes out homemade Afghan treats, chocolate chip cookies, and a thermal mug filled with hot tea.

Ghulam takes his shoes off, walks into the stream. He gathers a few rocks, and shows Angela the right angle to skip them. When he’s not in the water, he sits in his lawn chair, gazing at the stream and his family, absorbing what can seem like a mundane moment.

GD: It feels good to sit and watch the river stream. I mean, for me, it’s always enjoyable and peaceful to sit by the riverside and have some silence for myself.

He has peace, a job he loves, and a beautiful family in Philadelphia, making use of the skills he and his wife have, raising kids who have so much promise.

Ghulam is no longer in survival mode. He’s finally living. ◆

Quan Fields (aka Quany the Clown) on making it as a circus performer

► BY NICHOLE CURRIE

When quan fields was 12 years old, he was set on auditioning to perform with the Ringling Brothers Circus. The closest one he found was in New York, but he was living with his grandparents in North Philadelphia, and they didn’t feel comfortable taking him. Plus, the audition was on a school day. ¶ But Quan was determined.

QUAN FIELDS: I was up all night Googling how to get to New York from Philadelphia. The cheapest way was to go on the 11th and Market, and go on the Chinatown buses. And it’ll connect you from Chinatown, Philadelphia, to Chinatown, New York.

So that day, he went to school, wrote his name on the attendance sheet, then left. Using saved up allowance money to buy a bus ticket, he made it to New York City. While waiting to audition, Quan accidentally photobombed a picture the Ringling Brothers staff uploaded to their Facebook page — just in time for his grandfather to casually scroll through his facebook feed and see it. Grandpa was not happy. He found a number to call staff at the Ringling Brothers audition. They pulled Quan out of line. But the 12-year-old had found his life inspiration.

QF: And from there on, I knew it. I couldn’t work for anybody. I found my way into the circus. I gotta get there.

Due to disinvestment, racism and cultural factors, young Black men continue to be one the most economically vulnerable groups in America. This cloud of disadvantages makes it difficult for many to reach financial security and pursue their dreams. And yet like any integral group, they still find ways to generate culture and experience joy.

When 12-year-old Quan got back from New York, he launched his own business.

QF: The whole business started based upon a lie. It’s the best lie I ever told in my life. I did my little cousin DJ’s first birthday party. And they originally tried to hire Jazzy the Clown. She’s one of the hottest clowns here in Philadelphia.

Jazzy was and still is a very popular hip-hop clown in the Philadelphia area.

QF: They couldn’t afford her. So I’m like, listen, I just seen Bello two years ago. I just went to the Ringling auditions. Let’s go to Party City. We’re going to get me a costume. We’re going to get some makeup. I’m going to be the clown.

He agreed to do the show for free. He got a simple costume and called himself Quany the Clown. He learned beginner-friendly tricks on YouTube, like juggling and pulling a coin from behind a child’s ear.

QF: And it was the worst show I ever did in my life. But for some odd reason, from the outside looking in, people liked it. And that’s how it started.

Sixteen years later, Quan’s business has grown. He still performs at birthday parties, but is also booked for block parties and weddings. He started a clown troupe called Quany and Friends. When he can afford to, he runs a summer program for kids. He even performed in a music video for Tierra Whack. He has multiple streams of income to pay the bills, including a small dog grooming and dog training business, but he’s been trying to double down on the circus stuff. Three years ago, he started talking about it with friend and colleague Zohar Yakov, also known as Zabo.

Zabo is a third-generation circus performer who’s traveled the world. His and Quan’s first thought was to audition togeth-

Some people, they don’t like the smell of elephant dung and sawdust and peanuts and popcorn, candy, all in the same room. But to me, it smells like magic.“

QUAN FIELDS

er for touring acts like the Ringling Brothers, Universoul Circus, and the Big Apple Circus.

QF: And we noticed it doesn’t matter how skilled you are, being a man of color. It’s hard to get on shows. … It was like, OK, so we can’t. We can’t make these people hire us. How about we create the opportunity for us?

At first, both Quan and Zabo wanted to launch their own circuses. But Zabo registered his business first, and invited Quan to become a co-owner.

The duo started off performing at smallscale events, sometimes for free. If Zabo could get a gig in New York, Quan would travel to perform with him. And vice versa when Quan booked Philly events. But it wasn’t enough to sustain them both fulltime. So they embarked on a campaign to get more visibility.

At first, they didn’t have much success. They sent a press kit to more than 500 organizations across the East Coast, places like chambers of commerce, YMCAs, and trade shows. But they still weren’t getting booked. Then one day,the algorithm smiled upon them.

Months before the full Thriving podcast was released, short audio profiles were published about each participant. Quan shared his audio story on Instagram, and to his sur-

prise, a distant supporter of his reshared it. A supporter who happens to be a famous actor.

QF: Mr. David Arquette. He reposted it.

Little known fact: Arquette is not just an actor known for his role in the “Scream” franchise. He recently started studying to be a clown, and bought the rights to TV character Bozo the Clown. Quan became acquainted with him over social media, over their shared love for the circus.

The post went viral.

QF: I swear like instantly, 30 minutes. Ding, ding, ding, ding, ding. My phone is going off. People just commenting, commenting, commenting. People call me. “Hey, I didn’t know you were starting a circus. I thought you was a one-man show. I thought you were just doing birthday parties.” I’m like, wow.

Friends and strangers began donating money to help make his bigger circus dreams a reality. Some booked Zabo’s Circus for performances. All thanks to the power of networking — and a celeb who turned out to be a kindred spirit.

QF: David is a clown. David is a comedian. David is an actor. The only difference we have is, David is rich — and Quany’s trying to get rich. ◆

Doriana Diaz on trying to make a living through gig work

Doriana Diaz, a 23-year-old artist from Germantown, faced a pivotal moment when she realized her full-time job at an art museum was hindering her creative spirit. Despite delivering consistent income and benefits, it left her overworked, underpaid, and without the energy to pursue her own work. She was at a crossroads.

“I really don’t wanna do this anymore,” she recalled telling her therapist. “I don’t have any money saved. I graduated college a year ago, like, what am I supposed to do?”

Despite her trepidation, Doriana took the plunge. She quit the full-time muse-

um job to be a gig-worker. About a third of Americans contribute to what’s been called the $1.3 trillion freelance economy. And more than 6,000 Philadelphians earn full-time wages by piecing together money from their creative endeavors with earnings in other industries.

Doriana started with a part-time position at a t-shirt printing outfit, to give her something steady as she figured out how to use her collages to make money. Her art celebrates her Black and Puerto Rican heritage, and she draws inspiration from legendary Philadelphia poet Sonia Sanchez, striving to create works that are exciting and chaotic.

She began traveling to street fairs around the region, seeking out markets that didn’t have a table fee. She reached out to the Free Library, and hosted dozens of collage workshops at various branches. She also led workshops at the Bok Building, and even got a commission for an exhibition at the African American Museum.

“The freelance life can be seen as a

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very reckless way of life,” Doriana said. “But I think that for me, it’s just been the most worthwhile thing that I’ve ever done. And the decision to bet on myself has been the best choice that I’ve ever made.” ◆

Stephon Fitzpatrick on pursuing a Ph.D. and being a role model

When University City resident Stephon Fitzpatrick was 16, he made a bold declaration to his father. “Dad,” he said, “I’m gonna get my Ph.D. by the time I’m 32.”

That ambition led Stephon to his current position as the first ever executive director for the Pa. Commission for Agriculture Education Excellence. His journey started back in middle school, when he chose Future Farmers of America as his favorite extracurricular activity.

“I was a Black kid getting into agriculture,” Stephon recalled. “There were none of my friends, nobody was getting into this space. And the next thing you know, here we are 18 years later, still advocating it.”

The climb hasn’t been easy. He began doctoral studies at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, where he had free education credits, then was offered the job in Pennsylvania. He took it, but

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the move to a different state forced him to rely on student loans — he didn’t want additional debt — but even that ran out when he reached his aggregate FAFSA limit. Ever resourceful, Stephon reached out to a former contact, who reviewed his good record and was able to find university money to pay for a few more semesters.

Now he’s on track to finally get that PhD this spring. Stephon’s determination, his willingness to make changes, and the importance of building and utilizing relationships have gotten him to the finish line for his degree. He says it’s wonderful to see it all pay off.

“When you’re a minority in agriculture and you look like me — I’m 6’4”, I’m 315. I’m dark skinned. I have tattoos,” Stephon said. “When you’re in an industry that hasn’t catered to minorities, there’s a level of confidence that you have to have. … I think over the past 20 years of being in this industry up till now, I’ve learned that the key to my specific industry is relationship building. ◆

What helps Philadelphia’s older immigrants thrive?

► BY PAIGE GROSS

Married couple Kalpana Venkat and Ramesh Venkatakrishnan consider the Philly region to be home. Now 64 and 70, respectively they’re grandparents, and have a solid network of friends and business contacts. But when they immigrated from India in the late 20th century, that community was not easy to come by.

“I came here with two suitcases, some clothes and Indian pots and pans I needed,” Venkat said. “Everything I have today is through our hard work, determination.”

The duo considers themselves to have lived the American dream — “owning a home, paying it off and sustaining yourself in retirement.” But the immigrant experience has changed since they arrived, they said, and that over the last several years, hostility toward foreign-born people has risen.

Philadelphia’s immigrant population is at its largest since the 1940s, comprising about 15% of its residents and close to 20% of the city’s workforce. But the demographic also includes a significant number of older people — and of the 66,700 immigrants aged 65 and

older, three-quarters earn $35,000 or less.

South Philly resident Cecilia Johnson wants to work. She’s been living in the city since 2017, after fleeing war trauma in her native Liberia to join family already here. But despite over $1,000 in fees paid so far toward paperwork and legal processing, she hasn’t yet been able to obtain the green card that would let her apply for jobs.

She’s unhappy about continuing to depend on her cousin, who’s been helping her with essentials like food and shelter. “It’s just been worrying, thinking. Worrying, thinking,” Johnson said. “I’m a strong woman. I can work.”

Because older immigrants often face economic strain, there can be pressure to contin-

ue working beyond the typical retirement age.

Colombia native Alvaro Chicue, now 75, moved to Philly six years ago when he retired from his job as a jeweler at Tiffany & Co. in New York. He feels blessed to have had that opportunity, but being out of work has forced him to rely more on his family. He’s been living with his son, daughter-inlaw and their two children. He said his financial situation isn’t exactly ideal, but it’s enough to get by.

Postponing retirement isn’t always a financial calculus. Man Wong, a 65-year-old Philly-area restaurateur who immigrated from Hong Kong in his early 20s, said he continues working for the mental challenge and the connection to others.

Trained as a fine artist in his native city, Wong did not love working in his family’s Northeast Philadelphia restaurant. He eventually moved to New York to pursue a performing arts career. He performed internationally and booked a variety of shows, but “with my age, immigrant background and language accent, I don’t think I can reach the top levels of Hollywood,” he said.

An injury brought him back to Philadelphia, and he dove wholeheartedly into the restaurant industry. He now runs four food establishments and advocates for more recognition for the cuisine of his heritage. He’ll never forget the early training he received, and credits that with his drive to continue.

“I have to thank my mentors,” Wong said. “That gave me the foundation of the values, good values for my lifetime.” ◆

Erica Irving on building a better financial future for her family

Erica Irving, a 28-year-old mother from Northwest Philadelphia, had a mini financial epiphany when she discovered she was pregnant. Coming from a family with a troubled relationship with credit, Erica was determined to rewrite her financial narrative for the sake of her child.

“As soon as I found out I was having Shiloh, [I was like], ‘Oh, I have to get myself together,’” Erica said. “So I made a list of all the things I had to kind of put in place, the things I had to think about — what I wanted for myself, what I wanted for her.”

Working full-time in dispatch at a food delivery company, Erica was earn-

ing $20 an hour, which she figured was enough to start a savings account for Shiloh. She also signed up for her first credit cards after learning that would increase her credit rating.

The plan was working, and Erica was excited for her daughter’s financial future. But eight months after Shilhloh was born, her well-laid plans were disrupted when her entire department was laid off.

Unemployment challenges were compounded by delays in receiving her checks and the fact that Shiloh’s non-verbal, hyposensitive autism required special toys and foods. Erica missed a few credit card payments and

even had to dip into Shiloh’s savings to buy groceries. She watched her credit score plummet — but didn’t give up.

In fall 2022, Erica secured a new job as a 9-1-1 dispatcher. The late shifts allowed her to be with Shiloh during the day, and the $25 hourly rate provided the financial stability she needed. She resumed saving for Shiloh’s future and rebuilding her credit.

Erica’s story is a testament to the resilience and determination of Black working mothers in Philadelphia, striving to build a better future for their children despite systemic obstacles and personal challenges. ◆

Michael Tan on the challenges of expanding his small business

On a quiet street in Old City Philadelphia, husband and wife Michael and Ici Tan run a bakery named ICI. Before it opened in 2015, the couple were essentially home bakers making fantastic croissants and macarons. Over time, they built a dedicated customer base, with some flocking to the shop for traditional pastries, and others for those carefully made gluten-free.

Michael credits his entrepreneurial drive to succeed to the environment in which he grew up, after his family immigrated to New York from China when he was 9 years old.

“You want a quality of life,” Michael said about immigrants like his parents. “You want an education for your children. You want to give them more possibilities of what they want to do.”

After graduating from college, Michael launched and ran his own soft-

ware business, and supported his family that way for 13 years. Then he and Ici decided to try something new, so they opened the bakery. Then the pandemic hit.

By the time the couple reopened after lockdowns, they’d lost most of their employees, leaving them to work 18hour days. Plans to move the bakery to a more central location, closer to tourist attractions, also stalled — and they’d already purchased the space. The entire building needed to be renovated, but construction expenses skyrocketed, and for over a year, the move was delayed.

Despite these setbacks, Michael remains optimistic about the future of ICI. He hopes to maintain his old customer base while attracting new customers who are visiting Philadelphia.

“Many people think that running a business, you could see it from the beginning to end really quick,” Michael said. “[But] progress does not move as fast as you might think. Success does not come as fast as we might think. It takes time.” ◆

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Linda Hines on learning new skills as a grandma who works

South Philly resident Linda Hines has dedicated her life to caring for children. Now a 63-year-old grandmother, she raised her own kids plus several others in the neighborhood. When they grew up, she got a job at a daycare center, where she’s been for the past 23 years.

“I love doing my job. I love working with children,” Linda said. “Making the kids happy. Seeing smiles on their face, like when they first come through the door and they trust you. They come right up to you and they hug you.”

A few years back, the daycare center encouraged Linda’s to pursue a Child Development Associate (CDA) certification. Considered crucial for early educators, the certificate can lead to better pay

and more parental trust. Linda was excited to go for it, since she’s not ready to retire.

“I want to still stay with work,” she said, “and working with children, and try to get them better education by me having a better education.”

The journey to obtaining the CDA, however, left Linda filled with anxiety. It’s been 40 years since shewas in school, and tests were never her strong point. “Sometimes I’m not good like that,” she said. “I could talk and tell you about things, but I can’t write it down. I get nervous.”

Still, Linda remains committed to the goal. She completed the required preparation course and is studying her work-

Christa Barfield on growing an urban farming business

books. When the test comes around, she’ll be ready. Plus, she’s already put her new knowledge into practice.

“I feel very good because I’m teaching different stuff and seeing the kids, how they’re learning,” Linda said, “I get all excited when they start asking questions. So I’m proud of myself.” ◆

Germantown native Christa Barfield is on a mission to make fresh food more accessible in her community. At 30, she started organic tea company Viva Leaf Tea, and at 32, she launched FarmerJawn, taking over hundreds of acres of arable land near the city. Last year, she opened FarmerJawn Greenery, a storefront selling indoor plants and holistic items.

“I am a person that understands that taking on a lot of things can either cause turmoil or it can be bliss,” Christa said. “Usually it’s a mixture of the two. And that has definitely been my experience. But it always ends up great. Which is what it’s supposed to be.”

Her latest project, CornerJawn, aims to redefine the corner store by providing local produce alongside staple items. The idea emerged when Christa and a friend visited several shops in urban food deserts — and realized most of the options were not healthy or fresh.

“It comes down to how do we change the psychology of where people find their produce or get their produce from,

and how do we also shift the dynamic of what people use corner stores for,” Christa said.

In January 2022, she was selected to receive a $50,000 grant from the Pa. Department of Agriculture for the CornerJawn concept. But it came with strings attached — it’s a reimbursement grant, requiring Christa to spend her own money first and then get paid back. This put a strain on her budget and investments, especially because her first chosen store location fell through at the last minute.

Despite the setbacks, she’s feeling good about where the project is heading.”In my belief … everything happens for a reason,” Christa said. “I’m fully grounded in my faith knowing that there is no issue. Like, we are going to be fine.” ◆

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