FOLLOW US ON @sophreview
LIKE US ON /southphillyreview
Vol. 71 No. 29 | July 17, 2019 southphillyreview.com
GRACE MAIORANO/South Philly Review
On Saturday afternoon, community members gathered at Mifflin Square Park for free health screenings from Thomas Jefferson University and to celebrate ongoing efforts to improve the welfare of the Whitman park, as Southeast Asian Mutual Assistance Associations Coalition Inc. received two grants totaling $70,000 from Sen. Larry Farnese and Rep. Elizabeth Fiedler, made possible through the state Department of Community and Economic Development.
Local elected officials invest $70,000 into SEAMAAC Funds from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development are going toward Mifflin Square Park, the South 7th Street Commercial Corridor and the SoPhiE food truck By Grace Maiorano SOUTH PHILLY REVIEW
S
outh Philadelphia residents gathered at Mifflin Square Park on Saturday afternoon for free blood, glucose and other medical screenings with volunteers from Thomas Jefferson Univer-
But, the health-focused event expanded beyond vital signs. The community spent the day celebrating ongoing efforts to improve the welfare of the Whitman park, as Southeast Asian Mutual Assistance Associations Coalition Inc. received two grants totaling $70,000 from Sen. Larry Farnese and Rep. Elizabeth Fiedler,
ment of Community and Economic Development. SEAMAAC, a more than 30-year-old Philadelphia-based nonprofit working to empower immigrants, refugees and marginalized communities, plans to allocate $50,000 from Farnese’s office to its SoPhiE food truck, which features immigrant chefs. Fielder’s additional $20,000 will be
along the South 7th Street commercial corridor, the beautification at Mifflin Square Park and funding for neighborhood events and programs. “We’re just very excited about (the funding),” said Joel Arnold, community building and planning coordinator for SEAMAAC. “It helps us make sure that a lot of these things that we think
hood can keep going and we can actually bring some improvements, some tangible improvements.” The $70,000 in state funding is being allocated amidst Mifflin Square Park’s continual “Making Room for Everyone” master plan. Sparked by SEAMAAC in 2016, the mammoth project, which includes green infra-