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NEWS FEATURES
We interviewed more than 30 Safehouse stakeholders about their personal experiences with addiction, how they feel about the proposed overdose prevention site, and their ideal outcome for the overdose crisis in Philadelphia. Our…
Last Wednesday, a federal judge ruled that Safehouse does not violate the federal “crack house” statute, setting a new legal precedent for future overdose prevention sites to operate under federal law. Since…
The neurologists weren’t helping. Each appointment left Madeline Perez Vega less secure about her son Jose’s well-being than the last. When he eventually experienced a seizure so intense that his face turned…
Last summer, Kensington Health Sciences Academy special education teacher Edward Colfer had an idea for a senior community service project: a program that would allow students with learning disabilities or behavioral needs…
“Strong, rowdy, teamwork, and loyal,” are the words that come to assistant coach Fantaja Jones’ mind to describe the members of Tiger Poets — the Kensington-based poetry team. Established in 2017, the…
Last summer, Elinetzy Pagan, a 2019 graduate from Kensington Health Sciences Academy (KHSA), was inspired after an encounter she had with an older woman in Kensington. Pagan, 18, met her while going…
In 2016, Rebecca Fabiano, the president of Fab Youth Philly, jumpstarted an idea that would take Philadelphia’s Playstreets one step further: she created “Play Captains,” a program that would employ teenagers to…
On an early-June afternoon, chants of “T-I-G-E-R-S” echoed off the walls of a dance studio at the Kensington Creative & Performing Arts High School (KCAPA). The award-winning Kensington High School cheerleading team…
Before moving to Bristol, PA, Blanca Ayala’s children were members of the Kensington Soccer Club for four years. But after they moved last year, she would travel with them by train and…
VOICES
On my very first day as an English Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) and Spanish teacher in Kensington, I was nervous because I didn’t know what to expect. I don’t think some…
It’s difficult living in an English-speaking community when you do not speak English — especially as a parent. As the mother of 14- and nine-year-old daughters, I have struggled when I’ve gone…
*Editor’s note: The author works as a multimedia reporter for Kensington Voice. I was born and raised in Kensington, but my first language isn’t English. As someone who is half Puerto Rican…
It’s been about 15 years since my father has actually been in my life. You wouldn’t know that though if you were friends with him on Facebook because he wants those who…
What did you think about this story? Send a note to editors@kensingtonvoice.com, and we’ll consider publishing it in our Voices section. You can also tell us what you think in person at…
What did you think about this story? Send a note to editors@kensingtonvoice.com, and we’ll consider publishing it in our Voices section. You can also tell us what you think in person at…
Editor: Siani Colón / Designer: Jillian Bauer-Reese / Translator: Kristine Aponte
During the 2018-2019 school year, I had the opportunity to be the site director for 12PLUS At Kensington Health Sciences Academy. 12PLUS is a non-profit focusing on linking high school students in…
As a citizen who has reversed more than 100 overdoses, every now and then I have a cry that is so uncontrollable, and painful, and deep, that I wonder if I will…
SOLUTIONS
In September, Purdue Pharma, the manufacturer of the opioid painkiller OxyContin, reached a tentative settlement for $10 to 12 billion with the 22 states and 2,000 cities and counties that sued the…
Kensington Voice spent the last few weeks collecting questions and concerns from community members regarding Safehouse, a privately funded nonprofit that hopes to open a facility for people to use drugs under…
“Don’t speak English” were the first words Ana María learned to say in English when she moved to Boston from Puerto Rico in 1978 at 14 years old. María still remembers one of…
On her first day of seventh grade, Genesis Mejia recalls walking into her social studies classroom late, lost, and unable to communicate. Everyone turned around to look at her, and her teacher…
Chera Kowalski remembers working at McPherson Square Library when overdoses became a more common occurrence in Kensington. It was 2015, and Philadelphia saw 696 overdose deaths that year — a 52% increase…
Sunflower Hill Park is carved into a valley about 10 feet below the sidewalk on the 1700 block of North 5th Street near Cecil B. Moore Avenue. You probably wouldn’t notice it…
Where are my fellow gardeners and plant enthusiasts? That’s what Kensington resident Hannah Riotto texted Kensington Voice earlier this year. She wanted to connect with neighbors who share her passion for gardening.…
What places do you love the most in Kensington? We’re compiling an ongoing list of places people love in the neighborhood. You can help us make it longer by telling us about…
STORY CORNER
This summer, Kensington Voice collaborated with the Kensington Library to engage tweens and teens for a #TeenTruths photo workshop series. In four weekly workshops, we worked on learning DSLR camera settings, photo…
On July 11, 18, and 25, Kensington Voice is hosting #TeenTruths, a free photojournalism workshop series for aspiring teen writers, photographers, creators, and more, at Kensington Library. Pizza and drinks will be…
After struggling for the last two months to get a large turnout to our Story Corner workshops, we decided to revamp the Story Corner as a program that provides journalism skills trainings.…
In late February and early March, Kensington Voice staff organized two Story Corner workshops around the theme of “roots” to explore participants’ communities of origin. (Design by Kim Holdredge) On February 23…
Few things convey love and care like a hand-made gift. This month, participants at our story corner workshops showed love by crafting valentines for people, places, and things in their community. Just…
The Story Corner is a collaboration between Kensington Voice and McPherson Square Library, located at the intersection of Kensington and Indiana Avenues. I wanted to be part of the story corner camera…
The Story Corner is a collaboration between Kensington Voice and McPherson Square Library, located at the intersection of Kensington and Indiana Avenues. I wanted to be part of the first story corner…
The Story Corner is a collaboration between Kensington Voice and McPherson Square Library, located at the intersection of Kensington and Indiana Avenues. I am an adult/teen librarian at McPherson Square Library and…
The Story Corner is a collaboration between Kensington Voice and McPherson Square Library, located at the intersection of Kensington and Indiana Avenues. I got involved in the first story corner workshop because…
The Story Corner is a collaboration between Kensington Voice and McPherson Square Library, located at the intersection of Kensington and Indiana Avenues. I got involved with the first story corner project because…
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