April 2013
Cedar Park Neighbors Newsletter CPN Board of Directors Election and Annual Membership Meeting Monday, April 22, 2013
Agenda
6:30 - 7:30 p.m. Election 7:00 p.m. - Annual Meeting
Introduction of nominees and standing Board Members Update on the AVI Townhall meeting Update on “Future of the Neighborhood” survey Featured Speaker: Iola Harper, Enterprise Center Senior Director of the Acceleration Group Community announcements Representative from Police District Recognition of Karen Allen, Dorothy Berlind, Laurie Friedman, Victoria Iannotta and Joanne Pham for long dedication to CPN Announcements of new Board Members (polls close at 7:30 pm)
Calvary Center for Culture & Community, 48th Street and Baltimore Avenue
H
VOTE
H
Note: Those members whose memberships are current as of April 1 are eligible to vote.
In Memoriam: Sarah Collins Adams Mack edar Park Neighbors regrets to share C the news of the recent death of one of our long-time and most active members. Mrs. Mack was blessed with a long life, which she shared generously with her community. She was 94 at the time of her death, and family, friends and community members gathered to celebrate her life at a funeral held on March 22 at Mount Zion Baptist Church at 5015 Woodland Avenue. Sarah Mack was the only daughter of Sheppard and Dolly Collins of Philadelphia. She married Frank Otis Adams Sr. in 1936 and the couple had eight children. Mrs. Mack’s roots go deep in our community. She attended Wilson School, Shaw Middle School, and West Philadelphia High School and completed two years at Community College of Philadelphia. After Mr. Adams death, she met and married Jacob Mack in 1971. Mr. Mack died in 1999. Mrs. Mack was employed in many positions, as a crossing guard and as a clerk for the Curtis Publishing Co. and the School Security Administration. She later worked as a home and school community coordinator. Sarah Mack was a true community activist and wore many hats in her years of community service. She was an active member Mt. Zion Baptist Church. She served as a member of the community board for the
West Philadelphia Free School, the Woodland Avenue Committee, the Southern Home for Children, the NAACP, the American Society of Friends Weekend Work Camp and Cedar Park Neighbors. Cedar Park Neighbors greatly benefited from Mrs. Mack’s activism and leadership. She served on the CPN Board from 1975 through 1981 and then most recently served again from 2005 to 2007. While active in many CPN activities, Mrs. Mack notably served as Treasurer of Cedar Park Development Inc., formed in 1974 as a project of Cedar Park Neighbors at that time to develop nine blighted and abandoned properties on Hazel Avenue and the 800 and 900 blocks of S. 49th Street that were sold to owner-occupants. In the early 1990’s, she also served on the board of the West Philadelphia Future Fund, which raised and distributed funds to attract and support minority-owned businesses in the Firehouse Market Project. Cedar Park Neighbors extends sympathies to Sarah Mack’s family in this time of loss. She was a formidable presence in our community and a woman for whom we have deep respect and appreciation. Donations in her memory may be sent to the Sarah A. Mack Book Fund, c/o Mount Zion Baptist Church Scholarship Committee, 5015 Woodland Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19143.
Sarah Mack
The Cedar Park Nominations Committee presents the following candidates for Board Election Candidates for Officers (to serve a one-year term each) President: Michael Froehlich, 500 block, S. 48th Street I live in Cedar Park with my partner, Susanna, and four-year-old daughter, Zora. What do we love about our neighborhood? The porches, the restaurants, the playgrounds, the trees, and, most importantly, the people! I have served on the board of CPN for about four years. I was elected to be President in 2012 and now stand for re-election. During the day, I work as a legal aid lawyer with Community Legal Services. I am a founder of the West Philly Tool Library and serve on the boards of UC Green and Shakespeare in Clark Park. I’m excited about the opportunity to continue to work together to improve Cedar Park for longtime residents and newcomers, seniors and school children, and everyone in between. First Vice-President: Monica Allison 4900 block, Catharine Street I joined the board of Cedar Park Neighbors a decade ago. I have lived in this neighborhood closing in on 20 years and have witnessed the change in our community. Being on the board of Cedar Park Neighbors has given me an opportunity to serve my community, my block and my city. West Philadelphia is my home, and I will continue working towards a cohesive vision of our neighborhood. We are facing challenges within our community that need addressing. Working with Cedar Park Neighbors and its membership, we can overcome these challenges. Currently, I am a member on the following CPN committees: Park Maintenance, Membership, Jazz, Education and Block Organizing. I serve as Program Director for Virtual Tutoring and Mentoring, Inc, a nonprofit educational learning center for cyberschooled children. I am entering my second year as President of Pennsylvania Families for Public Cyber Schools and am a BAEO (Black Alliance for Educational Options) Ambassador. Recently, I began working with Senator Anthony H. Williams on his Violence Reduction Initiative for West Philadelphia and have accepted the position as Community Page 2
CPN Newsletter
Liaison for Dreamweaverz Inc., a grass roots organization with the mission of addressing some of the basic needs of Philadelphia communities, which involves crime prevention, public safety, education, youth employment and empowerment. I am looking forward to continuing to assisting my neighbors, my neighborhood and my city in the capacity of First Vice President of Cedar Park Neighbors.
Second Vice President: David Hincher, 5000 block, Catharine Street I have lived in Cedar Park for the past five years along with my wife and four-year-old daughter, who attends the Children’s Community School, located within Calvary Center. We love the neighborhood with its diversity and community energy, and are excited to see it brimming with activity, and amenities such as the new Mariposa Coop grocery store. I am a licensed architect and leverage that knowledge and expertise to assist Cedar Park Neighbors. I have a particular interest in issues that impact the quality of life in the community, such as the vitality of neighborhood schools, zoning, development, safety, etc. I was the lead volunteer on the Baltimore Avenue Community Corridor design study, completed in 2010. I joined and now chair the CPN Development Impact Task Force (formerly Property Housing Task Force) to further the strategic vision for Baltimore Avenue and proactively engage community development. I have been a board member since 2011 and served as 2nd Vice President during 2012. My goal is to assist CPN in achieving the Baltimore Avenue vision to extend prosperity further west along our main street. I am also the CPN steering committee representative for the Philadelphia City Planning Commission’s Phila2035 community plan and zoning effort, which will influence future neighborhood investment. I am a member of the West Philadelphia Coalition for Neighborhood Schools (WPCNS) and have worked with Henry C. Lea Elementary School as part of the Greening Lea Task Force. Last year, we completed a Community Design Collaborative grantfunded strategic plan focused on improvements to the asphalt schoolyard.
H
VO T E
H
H
VO T E
H
H
VO T E
H
Candidates for Officers (one-year term)
Candidates for Director (two-year terms, vote for 8)
Secretary, Ana Lisa Yoder, 4800 block, Beaumont Avenue I have lived in Cedar Park for 13 years, currently with my partner Tony and 4½year-old son on a sweet little block of Beaumont Avenue. I have been on the CPN board for the last year and in that time have served on both the budget and nominations committees. In the last several months I have also supported the analysis of CPN’s Future of the Neighborhood Survey results. I am grateful for many things about this neighborhood, including its many green spaces and independent businesses and restaurants. I also recognize that increasing property values and other changes in Cedar Park have impacted neighbors of varying demographics (income level, ethnicity, and length of residency) in different ways. These changes present both opportunities and challenges to CPN. I hope to continue supporting CPN’s work to understand and represent the interests of all who live within Cedar Park’s boundaries. As a Community Impact Manager at The Philadelphia Foundation by day, part of my job involves reviewing applications and making recommendations for funding. This work has given me an awareness of the importance of good organizational record keeping and I would be honored to support the organization’s ongoing health by serving in the role of Secretary for the next year.
Ariel Ben-Amos, 4800 block, Hazel Avenue I moved to Cedar Park from Spruce Hill in 2012 and I am excited by the opportunity to serve on the Cedar Park Neighbors Board. While I have significant experience serving on boards across the city, I have yet to serve on one devoted to a neighborhood, let alone my community. My excitement is peppered by my love for West Philly and Cedar Park. I am committed to serving my community in a way that builds off of my skills and experience. I am a senior planner and analyst for the Mayor’s Office of Transportation and Utilities. In this role I have provided policy and project management support for projects ranging from Street Furniture to Pedestrian Plaza and Parklet programs. I have a long history of working in Philadelphia’s CDC (Community Development Corporation) community (from Mt. Airy USA, to UCD and NeighborhoodsNow) and have served on the boards of the Design Advocacy Group, Crossroads Music and the Gershman Y. I served two years in the Peace Corps in Albania before returning to my alma mater, the University of Pennsylvania, for a dual degree in City and Regional Planning and Government Administration. I am a Mt. Airy native, but West Philly is my home.
Treasurer, Naomi Fiordimondo, 5000 block, Catharine Street I have lived in West Philly for more than 15 years and previously served on the CPN Board for five years. Professionally, I am a food marketer and am working on my MBA at St. Joseph’s University Haub School of Business. Additionally, I served as block captain for seven years at 5000 Catharine Street where I live with my husband and three rescued cats. As block captain, I organized clean-ups, hosted regular meetings and block gatherings, helped neighbors in need, encouraged Junior Block Captains to get involved, got street signs replaced, organized neighbor-volunteers to maintain and upgrade abandoned and neglected properties and welcomed new neighbors. I facilitated the planting of many trees on the block, through UC Green.
I joined the CPN Zoning Committee this past summer. Since joining I’ve been an active participant and consistent advocate for the community in discussions with developers. I see these discussions as opportunities to negotiate growth that enhances everyone’s quality of life in our neighborhood.
Suzanne B. Anderson, 700 block, S. 49th Street I’ve lived in University City for the better part of 33 years — in Powelton Village, Spruce Hill, and Cedar Park sections of University City and currently reside on the 700 block of South 49th street with my husband, Kelvyn, our two teenage daughters and two golden retrievers. Kelvyn and I bought and moved into our house in 2011, the week of Hurricane Irene! We’ve been members of CPN since that time. We’ve come full circle, as we lived on the 4900 block of Catharine Street in the late 1980’s.
I earned my MSW from Temple University 20 years ago and have been involved with various civic groups since then. I was a former board member of CHAT (Consider Homelessness A Tragedy), am a member of Friends of Clark Park and an active supporter of our daughters’ schools. My particular civic interest is in greening and cleaning the community. I’m a regular participant in block cleanups, negotiated an agreement with the owner of a multi-unit rental property across the street from us and planted a Juneberry tree in that plot and have begun to plant native plants there as well. I recently earned my J.D and am very interested in real estate and contract law and applying my skills and interests to reduce blight and litter and increase the amount of trees and green space in the Cedar Park section of University City, believing a cleaner and greener neighborhood will enhance the quality of life for everyone in Cedar Park. April 2013
Page 3
Candidates for Director (two-year terms, vote for 8) Sean Dorn, 5000 block, Catharine Street I have lived in Cedar Park since 2000 and live on Catharine Street with my wife, Emily, and our daughter, Nora. My wife and I own VIX Emporium at 50th and Baltimore. VIX, besides featuring handmade gifts by local residents, is a co-sponsor of the GO WEST Craft Fest in Woodland Cemetery. I’m an advocate for a diverse and active commercial corridor on Baltimore Avenue and very interested in neighborhood history. I helped to design and re-launch CPN’s website on a more interactive, user-driven model and participate on CPN’s Development Impact Task Force and on the Membership Committee. Ivana Dussell, 5000 block, Baltimore Avenue I have worked for Philadelphia Federal Credit Union (PFCU) for 11 years and at the 50th and Baltimore location for 6 years and am the Branch Manager. I do not live in this community, although I spend most of my days here, which makes it my home away from home. PFCU cares about the community and its people and we want to see them thrive. We donate money and staff through the year to help communities. PFCU also sponsors Friday Night Jazz in Cedar Park every summer. I was born and raised in former Yugoslavia, now Serbia, and came to the USA as an exchange student my senior year in high school. I returned to Serbia to attend the University of Belgrade for one year. I came back in 1993, when my host family invited me to attend school here, and have been here ever since. I graduated from Temple with the degree in International Business. I have been in banking for over 16 years. Now I am married and have a family and two wonderful kids with busy lives. I volunteer at my kid’s school and participate in fundraising and community service. I come from a diverse culture and have been exposed to a variety of situations and issues that I had to deal with. All of my banking experience, customer service experience, leadership and management experience would make me a great candidate for your board. There are many reasons I would like to be an active board member of CPN. I have worked for the past six years in West Philadelphia. During that time I have had the pleasure of meeting and helping some wonderful individuals. My primary desire is to use my business acumen and knowledge of people to move from helping individuals to contributing to the larger Cedar Park community. Page 4
CPN Newsletter
Margaret Ferrigno, 5000 block, Cedar Avenue I moved to West Philly in 2008 after seven years of volunteer work in Asia. Currently, I am pursuing my doctorate in Sustainability Education and work for the University of Pennsylvania Netter Center, directing the Huey community school on 52nd Street. This past year, I founded the Ahimsa House, a center for nonviolence, through my nonprofit, the Pureland Project. Ahimsa house offers free yoga, meditation, dance, non violent communication and gardening classes to the community. I co-ordinate the Block Leaders Committee for CPN and am becoming the block captain for the 5000 block of Cedar Avenue. Michelle Lewis, 5000 block, Willows Avenue I moved to Cedar Park in 1984 when I migrated from the island of Trinidad and Tobago. I attended St. Francis De Sales Elementary school, graduated from West Catholic Girls High and hold a Bachelors of Science in Sociology from St. Joseph’s University. I am currently pursuing a Masters in Organizational Development and Design. I also work at St. Joseph’s University as the Assistant to the Vice President of Student Life/ Associate Provost. I am married with three children, two juniors in college and one in the eighth grade. I am described by my colleagues and friends as the “organizer.” I enjoy event planning, promotions, creating itineraries, and working under pressure, while staying on budget. I also love researching ways to improve prior events and how to increase turnout. Prior to July 2012, I had no experience organizing community events. However, last summer I decided to research what was required to become a block captain in Philadelphia. I petitioned to become the official block captain, held two block meetings, added our block to the City’s clean block list and organized our first block party in over 15 years…and I did this in three weeks! I have a renewed passion for this community. I have witnessed our residents’ desire to improve this neighborhood and I want to be a part of this transformation. I want to help foster a sense of belonging to neighbors and engage those who don’t feel a part of this community. I want to hear people’s concerns and help them find solution. These are just some of my goals I hope to accomplish while serving on the Board.
Candidates for Director (two-year terms, vote for 8) Gregg Mohrmann, 4700 block, Springfield Avenue I’m proud to be a more recent addition to the Cedar Park Neighborhood. A little over two years ago, my wife, Rachel, and I moved into the former house of Joan Wells. The last two years have been an adventure of remodeling, exploration of local restaurants and a chance to meet great neighbors. I’m originally from Long Island, New York, and Rachel is from the Silicon Valley in California, but we moved to Philadelphia for our love of history, warm diverse neighborhoods and incredible food. More specifically, West Philadelphia offered all the benefits of being local to a big city but at the same time the comforts of a cozy suburb with dog parks, B&Bs and street parking! When I get time, I love to garden, cook (you can even see me at our grill in the winter), participate in community fundraisers, and eat at our great local restaurants. After attending college in upstate New York at Binghamton University for psychology, I received a Masters in Healthcare Administration in New York City. When not enjoying free time in the neighborhood, I am a partner in a healthcare technology consulting firm with local clients that include Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania Health System, Virtua and Einstein Health care. I am energized to run for the CPN Board so I can continue to give back to our incredible neighborhood and encourage growth in all areas which excite me about living in this neighborhood. My wife and I love University City and think our neighborhood will continue to grow but realize it will take a lot of work from all of us. If you vote for me to join the Board of Directors, I will work hard to continue making our neighborhood a place where families, like ours, and what I am sure future families will see as a great place to live.
CPN has a new phone number: 267-BALT-AVE (267-225-8283)
Pat Warner, 4800 Block, Windsor Avenue I have lived in Cedar Park for more than 25 years, both as a renter and, for the past 17 years, as a homeowner. My partner and I chose to live in Cedar Park for many reasons, primarily the racial and economic diversity of the community; its convenient location to both Center City and Delaware County; and the green and open space throughout the neighborhood. Those have remained very important to me throughout the neighborhood’s many changes in the past 25 years. We have built a very strong community of friends in West Philly. We have met them through community activities, through our daughter, and simply from around the neighborhood. In my professional life, I have worked as a senior manager for non-profit organizations from various disciplines, sizes, and different parts of the city. I know city politics well and have worked on community organizing and communitybased issues in different parts of the city. I am a good strategic thinker, planner, organizer, and problem-solver. My experience with community-based issues and non-profit management can be helpful to CPN and the Board. As a member of the Cedar Park Neighbors board, I would hope to bring energy, enthusiasm, and lots of hard work to help make Cedar Park a better place to live for everyone. I love this place. I want it to continue to be one of the best neighborhoods in Philadelphia.
Directors (one-year term, vote for 1) Karen Allen, 4700 block, Warrington Avenue I believe that in order for a community to be viable, its residents must play an active role in the life of that community. I have been active in Cedar Park Neighbors and in the larger University City since moving to the neighborhood in 1982. In addition to my duties as CPN Treasurer, I have worked on the CPN Budget, Zoning, and Bylaws Committees. CPN is currently spearheading many worthwhile projects. I’m happy to have had the opportunity to serve on the CPN Board, and I look forward to continuing these efforts during the coming year. April 2013
Page 5
c/o Calvary Community Center 4740 Baltimore Avenue Philadelphia, PA 19143
CPN Mission Statement: Cedar Park Neighbors is an association of diverse households and businesses based in the Cedar Park neighborhood of West Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The purpose of the association shall be to foster collaboration among all persons living and working in the Cedar Park neighborhood, to promote community development, to provide a forum for communication and community education, to respond to neighborhood concerns and to advocate for and promote the general welfare of the Cedar Park community. Newsletter Editors Maureen Tate & Judy Lamirand Newsletter Design Judy Lamirand, Parallel Design To Contact Cedar Park Neighbors or submit Newsletter items: contact@cedarparkneighbors.org www.cedarparkneighbors.org 267-BALT-AVE (267-225-8283)
MARK YOUR CALENDAR
CPN Board President
Dock Street Scholarship Fundraiser Sunday, April 7, 4-6pm Dock Street Brewery, 50th & Baltimore
Join us for free beer and pizza, a silent auction, and live music by the local band Big Tusk.Tickets are $40 and are available at the door or online
CPN Elections & Annual Meeting Monday, April 22, 6:30 p.m. Calvary Community Center, 48th & Baltimore
The Cedar Park Neighbors annual meeting and Board of Directions election.
Take Me Out to Cedar Park
Michael Froehlich
Cedar Park, 49th & Baltimore
1st Vice-President Monica Allison
Saturday, April 13, 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. Mayor’s citywide clean-up day will be our first workday of the season. Saturday, May 11, 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. Love Your Park Week begins! We’ll launch the week by cleaning and planting our Cedar Park garden beds. Picnic in the Park on May 17 or 18 We’ll close out the week with a community Picnic In The Park. Cedar Park Jazz Fridays, beginning May 24
2013 COMMUNITY CLEAN-UPS Saturday, April 13 Saturday, November 2 Saturday, December 7
Saturday, April 5 Saturday, May 25 Saturday, July 20
Clean-ups sponsored by University City District. Contact UCD at 215-243-0555 or cleanandsafe@universitycity.org.
Clean-ups sponsored by Philadelphia More Beautiful Committee. To register, contact Clean Block Officer Sandra Miranda at 215-685-3985.
Page 6
CPN Newsletter
2nd Vice-President David Hincher Treasurer Karen Allen Secretary Dorothy Welch Berlind Directors
Algernong Allen Mahari Bailey Sean Dorn Margaret Ferrigno Laurie Friedman Lisa Johaningsmeier Theresa McCole Manzi Shawn Markovich Ray Murphy Sara Nissley Marcus Presley Beverly Rouse Mavil Spence Saba Tedla Courtney Walton Ana Lisa Yoder