Matthew George is the Business Development Manager at Germantown United CDC and founder of I Love Thy Hood. In this mini episode, he discusses his goal to clean up his corridor in Germantown and all that he has done so far to make it happen. About Germantown United CDC Germantown United CDC is a community-based nonprofit organization serving Northwest Philadelphia’s Germantown neighborhood. Our work is centered on commercial corridor revitalization and community economic development. We offer programs that support the local business community and neighborhood residents. Our mission is to promote and facilitate the revitalization of Germantown and its business corridors through a sustainable, creative, and community-driven approach to economic development. About I Love Thy Hood I Love Thy Hood seeks to educate the community on the importance of keeping our cities and streets clean. With the splash of an orange trash can, we strive to enrich residents and neighborhoods alike with more options of recycling and waste management while bringing everyone together to help those in their hood. TRANSCRIPTION (via Otter.ai)

Accra Zuberi is the Outreach and Partnerships Manager for University City Arts League. Accra discusses the process of creating art pieces with participants to really think about how we work together as a community, how we are making connections, and the goal of neighbors experiencing peace together. About University City Art League The University City Arts League is a non-profit organization dedicated to intergenerational education and cultural enrichment in the arts. Their primary goals are: To provide a welcoming space for people of all backgrounds to experience the arts To encourage and support the development of the arts To bring the arts to the community through partnerships and educational outreach TRANSCRIPTION (via Otter.ai)

Lizette Lewis is a Project Manager at New Kensington Community Development Corporation (NKCDC). In this mini episode, Lizette discusses giving healthcare workers access to resources to take back to their communities. About New Kensington Community Development Corporation New Kensington Community Development Corporation (NKCDC) is a different kind of nonprofit. We are community-driven, trauma-informed, and equity-focused. We provide a wide range of services—real estate development, housing counseling, small business assistance, corridor cleaning, workforce development, nutrition education, community health resources—to residents and businesses across the Kensington, Port Richmond, and Fishtown neighborhoods of Philadelphia. We offer housing services city-wide. NKCDC advances social equity & economic empowerment by nurturing and creating opportunities for residents to live in, and actively shape, their neighborhoods of choice. NKCDC advances social equity & economic empowerment by nurturing and creating opportunities for residents to live in, and actively shape, their neighborhoods of choice. TRANSCRIPTION (via Otter.ai)

Gloria Maria Cartagena Hart aka "Smooches", Commercial Corridor Manager at New Kensington Community Development Corporation (NKCDC) discusses healing through trauma with Leon and De'Wayne and why she goes by "Smooches." About NKCDC: NKCDC advances social equity & economic empowerment by nurturing and creating opportunities for residents to live in, and actively shape, their neighborhoods of choice. NKCDC uses a strategic combination of real estate development, community engagement, and people-centered direct services to ensure all of our neighbors can remain—and thrive—where they choose to live. Whether we are building affordable housing or helping residents build their wealth, we pledge to promote equity, stability, and safety in all we do, with a sharp focus on those most at risk of being displaced. TRANSCRIPTION (Transcript by Otter.ai)

Pam Bridgeforth is Managing Director of Camden Repertory Theatre and former Director of Programs for the Philadelphia Association of Community Development Corporations. In this mini episode, Pam talks with Leon and De'Wayne about building community and poetry. About Camden Repertory Theatre Camden Rep was founded by Desi P. Shelton, a Camden, NJ native, in 2005 and initiated their inaugural season in August 2006. While working on her MFA at Sarah Lawrence College, Desi noticed the urban female voice was missing from the theatrical canon. Upon returning to Camden, residents began building on her premonition expressing to her they were not welcome at the local university venues and did not have an artistic home nor outlet in Camden, thus leaving their stories untold. This prompted Desi to begin Camden Rep. After encouragement from her Executive Director at the Walt Whitman Arts Center, Pamela Bridgeforth, she branched out and launched Camden Rep initially under the umbrella of the Walt Whitman Arts Center. In 2008, the organization stepped out on faith, clipped their wings, and began soaring independently. The main stage season operates from September-June utilizing the summer months to focus on training and developing serious pre-professional young artists. These young artists also prepare for college auditions and receive assistance with the application process. Although the focus is on Camden City youth our success has attracted students from the entire Camden County region. The company also conducts intergenerational arts workshops during the summer where artists range from 8-80. Since 2006 Camden Rep continues to successfully make monumental strides: touring in Panama; creating an alliance with Bridgeton’s Youth to Youth; assisting students in obtaining scholarships to two of the top music programs including Oberlin Conservatory and Berklee College of Music in addition to Florida A&M, Morgan State University, University of the Arts and Temple University. Camden professional and community artists and the citizens are the primary focus of the work of Camden Rep. However the high artistic aesthetic continues to attract people from the Delaware Valley because minority artists can consistently obtain and develop their work at the company. Transcription: https://otter.ai/u/0yr1r-KWepSP72EUGm6bAucaqpY

In this mini-episode, Iron Sharpens Iron hosts Leon and De'Wayne interview former Philadelphia poet laureate, Trapeta Mayson. She reads from her original poem, "In Spite of It All"

Chris Spahr, Executive Director of the Centennial Parkside Community Development Corporation, defines affordable housing as housing that can be made available to anyone and everyone no matter their economic status. About Centennial Parkside Community Development Corporation  Our mission is to preserve, promote and revitalize East Parkside through partnerships with businesses and institutions and programs that engage residents, increase opportunity, and grow a diverse, thriving community. We are a governing body made up of the residents and existing organizations to progress community development goals in addition to including new initiatives around healthy living, civic engagement and the arts giving the community new life strengthening the community’s identity and connectivity to Fairmount Park. We hold regular monthly meetings and the community is welcome to attend. Contact Us TRANSCRIPTION Leon Robinson 0:00 Hi my name is Leon Robinson and I'm here with my co partner D'wayne Drummond. And we're here with Iron Sharpens Iron. And today our guest is, Could you introduce yourself? Chris Spahr 0:21 Sure, my name is Chris Spahr, and I'm the Executive Director of the centennial Parkside Community Development Corporation. Well, great. Okay. De'Wayne Drummond 0:27 I got a question. What is affordable housing? Chris Spahr 0:32 Oh, that's a good question. First of all, we just want to thank you, Leon and Dwayne for letting me be a part of this. I love your guys' show. And what is affordable housing? I think affordable housing is housing that can be made available to anyone and everyone no matter their economic status. That means a lot of different things, depending on a lot of different neighborhoods. We know that in Philadelphia, we have a big affordable housing issue, and that we have lots of lots of market rate housing being built across the city. But when it comes to affordable housing, due to the cost of construction and the lack of real subsidies, it's very hard to build it at the same pace as market rate housing. And so we have a lot of folks who are finding that they can't, they can't find housing that suits their economic means. And I really honestly think that housing is a human right. And that housing should be available to anybody, no matter what their economic means. And not only just housing, but housing that is safe, that is healthy, that is sustainable, and that folks never have to worry about losing Leon Robinson 1:44 secondary, secondary. How does equitable development plays a part in your work experience? Chris Spahr 1:51 Well, I think it's directly related to the question you previously asked me about affordable housing, I think, you know, there's different kinds of development and development can be seen as a good thing or a bad thing. I think that Development Act that is equitable, is development that raises up everybody in the community. So it's not just just helping a certain few, but it's helping everybody, especially the people who have lived and fought for that neighborhood. For decades, it is housing that it is development and housing and commercial spaces that support the existing community, and create space for everyone, no matter their economic means or status. Okay, what is a bad when you say, it's a good thing and a bad thing? What is some of the examples of a bad? That's a great question, I think development that is not inclusive of the needs of the community. So, you know, we know that we work in a capitalist society, and real estate development is certainly a way that folks can make good money off of and there's nothing wrong with that. In fact, that is why there's programs out there to train our, our, our residents, and our neighbors and our communities to be able to get into real estate developmen

In this episode, Leon and De'Wayne interview Oneido Luis, Assistant Program Officer for Equitable Neighborhoods for LISC Philly. Oneido discusses with the hosts the sharing of wisdom and meeting agents of change in Philadelphia. About LISC Philly: As an intermediary and Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), we support community-based organizations (CBOs) and residents to transform disinvested neighborhoods. Alongside residents and partners, LISC catalyzes resilient and inclusive communities of opportunity across America –great places to live, work, visit, do business and raise families. In Philadelphia Across the city and region, decades of intentional disinvestment and systematic barriers have created inequitable futures for our neighbors. For over 40 years, LISC has worked with partners to reduce and prevent inequities across systems that impact well-being. Our approach is comprehensive, effective and—most importantly—rooted in what neighbors want for themselves, their families and the places they call home. TRANSCRIPTION Leon Robinson 0:10 Good afternoon. My name is Leon Robinson and I welcome you to iron sharpens iron. And today I guess is could you introduce yourself? Oneido Luis 0:17 Absolutely. My name is Oneido Luis and I'm an Assistant Program Officer with Local Initiative Support Corporation. Otherwise known as LISC. Leon Robinson 0:27 Oh, great,great, great. Great. So welcome to On sharpens on that my first question to you is what is equitable development to you? Oneido Luis 0:35 You know, it's my nine to five job. And it's, it's, I think, a philosophy as well, a way of realizing the best aspects of community development. And to qualify that a little bit more is it involves and it implies involvement from the community. But not just involvement, but power being held by the community in decision making, in planning and an implementation. De'Wayne Drummond 1:08 Okay, great, great deal. Real familiar. How're you doing? My name is Wayne from and I am one of the cohorts of iron sharpens iron. And what brought you to this conference today? Oneido Luis 1:17 Well, you know, I could say, my company helped pay for it. So no, I think I came to this conference today, because it was a really great opportunity to meet just the other players, change agents, just folks involved in community development, all around Philly. And as someone who's not originally from Philadelphia, but certainly cares about the city, a lot cares about the communities in the city. And you know, does this again, as a as a job. I thought it was just critical to be here to have these kinds of conversations and just learn and make connections. Leon Robinson 1:53 So I could say you kind of love your job. Oneido Luis 1:56 I do. I do care about it. Yeah. Okay. De'Wayne Drummond 1:59 and what do you say the name of the company you work for? What is the call? I know you gave us acronyms, but what does it stand for? Oneido Luis 2:06 Yeah, you know, it stands for local initiatives, support Corporation. De'Wayne Drummond 2:11 Right Is your question. What does iron sharpening iron means to you? Oneido Luis 2:19 In my opinion, if I'm not mistaken, it's a biblical, yes, it originates from a biblical verse it is, um, for me personally, it is, it almost comes back to the like, sharing of knowledge or wisdom, if you will, you know, you can make something a lot sharper. If when two things are, you know, able to, I think kind of collaborate, even though we may not think of two kind of iron sharpening each other as a collaboration. But I think of it in that sense, De'Wayne Drummond 2:49 okay. Okay, handle dough. Nice around here. Gotta be sharp. Gotta be sharp, Leon Robinson 2:54 especially when you're teaching. Yeah. Well, we De'Wayne Drummon

Mary Campbell, Director of Housing Services at New Kensington CDC joins hosts Leon Robinson and De’Wayne Drummond to talk about the many layers of what it means to be a housing counselor, the critical role of these advocates, and the need for more supports for affordable, stable housing and opportunities for home ownership. Mary has seen it all, been it all, and supports Philadelphians on their path to home ownership, fights for citizens to stay in their homes, and for the policies, programs and funding to create safe, stable housing for all. Mary Campbell is the Director of Housing Services at NKCDC. Mary became a Housing Counselor in 1986. She has over 30 years of experience in counseling families with real estate and housing  services. Mary has been employed with New Kensington CDC since July 10, 2017. Prior to her employment at NKCDC, Mary led a team of Housing Counselors as their supervisor at lntercultural Family Services from 2008 until 2017. She earned an Associate Degree in Paralegal Studies from Kaplan University in 2011. Mary is a HUD Certified Housing Counselor, and a certified practitioner through NeighborWorks of America in the areas of: Homeownership Counseling for Program Managers and Executive Directors, Pre-Purchase Counseling, Foreclosure Intervention & Default Counseling, Post Purchase Counseling, Rental Counseling, and Financial Capabilities Counseling/ Coaching. It is Mary's mission to ensure fair and equal housing access to all members of every community. Episode transcript available here: https://pacdc.org/2017/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/13_Mary-Campbell_Transcription-2.pdf Producer: Philadelphia Association of Community Development Corporations, Sound Editor: Andrew Heppard, Cover Art: Jennifer Selpa, Music: Needed You by Will Ellsworth

On this episode of “Iron Sharpens Iron,” Leon and De’Wayne speak with Rikeyah Lindsay, the Safety and Justice Coordinator at Mount Vernon Manor CDC in Mantua. Tackling issues from pedestrian safety to gun violence, Rikeyah, De’Wayne, and Leon dive into what it means to support safety in the city block by block. They discuss how the prevention of violence is just as important as interventions to reduce violence in neighborhood, and explore the critical role block captains play in supporting safety, justice and community joy.  Rikeyah Lindsay is the Safety and Justice Coordinator at Mount Vernon Manor CDC (MVM)  in the Philadelphia neighborhood of Mantua. In her role at MVM, Rikeyah leads efforts to improve neighborhood safety, nourish individual and community-wide healing from violence and trauma, and support the personal development and capacities of West Philadelphia residents. Before coming to MVM, Rikeyah worked as a Family Navigator with Action for Early Learning, where she helped parents gain critical information about early education for their children. A lifelong member of the Mantua community, Rikeyah is also a member of the Mantua Urban Peace Garden, the Friends of the Mantua Greenway, and serves as a block leader on the 3800 block of Aspen Street. Rikeyah is a dedicated mother of one, with a passion for youth outreach and community engagement. Episode transcript available here: https://pacdc.org/2017/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/12_-Rikeyah-Lindsay-Transcription.pdf Producer: Philadelphia Association of Community Development Corporations, Sound Editor: Andrew Heppard, Cover Art: Jennifer Selpa, Music: Needed You by Will Ellsworth