What We're Reading

A few articles caught our eye recently, and inspired us!

We enjoyed reading this op-ed from our neighbor Shalimar Thomas, Executive Director of North Broad Renaissance, and this summer's events on Broad Street modeling communities where everyone "has space to move, breathe, and belong."

Park to Broad, and Fairmount Civic, board member Dustin Dove published a call to "double the parks budget" this week, which we're happy to echo! For neighbors who share these sentiments, apply to be a part of our new Mobility & Access Committee and help make better park and community safety a reality for our neighborhood!

Manish Thakre has written in Next City about the opportunity to ensure "local food entrepreneurs and minority-owned businesses are better off because of" next summer's FIFA Men's World Cup matches in Philadelphia, with a special shoutout for "street art, soul food, Ethiopian cuisine, local breweries and cafés" in Brewerytown. We've got a working group (and funding from the Commerce Department Corridor Enhancement program) for this effort too! Apply to join our 2026 Committee at this link.

Lastly, local parent, urban policy specialist, and 'The New Urban Order' Subtack writer Diana Lind has authored this piece on Philadelphia's first school streets pilot, at Bache Martin, for The Philadelphia Citizen, as well as an opinion in The Washington Post about the importance of walkable neighborhoods, the “great retreat” toward spending more time at home alone, and the opportunity to invest more in public institutions and streamlining the process to start-up brick-and-mortar businesses. Here here!