Blackberry Mansion Call to Action #NewRule

Tuesday, June 21, 2016 i attended an all day workshop on Youth mental health which went over time and caused me to be late for the community meeting at Strawberry Mansion high school. i arrive at the school, sign in converse with some Blaine parents and realize that Principal Wayman is speaking to the community in the auditorium. i inform the parents that i want to record the meeting and ask if we can meet after the meeting to discuss their concerns.

i enter the auditorium pull out my camera and Ms. Wayman is walking out the auditorium informing the community that we can email her if we have any concerns. Tanya Lynn Parker committeewoman for the 35th district thanks Ms. Wayman for informing the community about the dismantling of Strawberry Mansion with privatization and then says if parents want their children to have a better education referring to a charter school, then that's their choice. Heartbreaking hearing that from her, when several years ago she asked me to get petitions signed to keep the charter schools out of our communities. Seems they really don't care about public education just the building and having access to the building. So many people are fooled by the illusion of getting better schools (not education just new school buildings) when all privatizing public education did was steal public resources and fuel the school to prison, to deportation pipeline. How we the ignorant fall for anything.

http://www2.ed.gov/policy/gen/guid/school-discipline/index.html

i signed up to be part of the education committee, to advocated for community schools that keep resources in our schools and communities not to bow down to dismantling of public resources. There is no campaign to inform parents of the zero tolerance schools entering the community, gassing parents up with going to college. Knowing that college is not for everyone and STEAM is in but not in all our schools. Way too many college students homeless and drowning in debt, currently protesting for $15 an hour to work in fast food with their degrees. Yet no one is reaching out to the parents who are stressed and trying to make ends meet, thus don't have the time or resources to be informed. i haven't heard from the education committee and reached out to them twice. If you watch the video you begin to see the political agenda drown out community. i didn't show the disrupption that broke out and how our elders had to step in and calm things down.

i have been interviewing Blackberry Mansion for several years now. Trying to bring us together, i know there is a way to do so just hope we don't lose everything in the process just to bring us together. Sad what is going on in North Philadelphia. We have great principals at Strawberry Mansion and Dobbins high school. Principals who are from North Philadelphia and are truly vested in our families and communities. Yet no one seems to appreciate what we have until we have lost. i spoke to a Stadium Stomppers who told me they requested a community meeting to discuss Temple University taking over our community. i was told that Councilman Clarke told them they weren't getting a community meeting on that topic. i also learned at #UnleashingNP (North Philly) that there is no real plans to invest in North Philadelphia. 

North Philadelphia residents have to get on the phone and call their council persons and city planning commission because the transformation is taking place all around us. Not just Straswberry Mansion but all of North Philly, we have been called to action!! "Stadium Stomppers" are doorknocking informing as many community members as possible about what is going on in the Temple university area!! Rasheeda Phillips created "Community Future Labs" at 2204 Ridge Ave. to connect with her disappearing community? i'm learning about a Strawberry Mansion project with hopes that we are able to get pass the negative b.s. huanting our minds and unite!!

Citywide Vision is available for download

Click here 

to download the full plan (70mb PDF), or click here for the summary document (6mb).

Gaining public input and support is crucial for a successful planning process. Your involvement also advances plan implementation. We want to keep you engaged and  informed. The easiest way to keep up-to-date on community meetings and plan progress is to follow us on social media and sign-up for email updates.

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Summary of Civic Engagement

Civic Engagement began for Philadelphia2035 as a part of the Citywide Vision in 2010. Two series of public meetings were held across Philadelphia that year and attracted hundreds of participants. Community organizations, block captains, and elected officials were crucial to getting the word out about our first comprehensive planning effort in 60 years.

PCPC staff also convened stakeholder meetings with implementing agencies and key advisors, and presented to a variety of individual community and interest groups. On June 7, 2011 the Planning Commission adopted theCitywide Vision. On that same day, PCPC launched the first two of 18 District Plans.

Outreach for District Plans

Like the Citywide Vision civic engagement process, District Plans rely on community organizations, block captains, and elected officials to help us generate consensus and support for implementing plan recommendations. PCPC holds three public meetings for each District Plan. Additionally, every District Plan will have a steering committee that includes representatives of community organizations, city council offices, major land owners, key implementing agencies, and other stakeholders.

Information about public meetings and plan progress is announced through this website, facebook, twitter, email blasts, mailers to block captains, flyers distributed to community organizations, and announcements and presentations at Planning Commission meetings.

Community Garden Day in Blackberry Mansion 2016

I love what is going on in Strawberry i mean Blackberry Mansion, espeically the healing going on in our community garden. Healing is a process, getting to know who we can count on is key!! Partnerships between East Park Revitalization Alliance​, Pennsylvania Horticultural, Society​ Strawberry Mansion Community Development Corporation,​ Strawberry Mansion High School​ and the community have been stable and fruitful. At the gardens for the past four years we meet every tuesday from 3-7pm and discuss what we would like to grow in our beds. Our garden community changes from year to year because our residents move or no longer want to garden. Outside of those changes our routine is consistent. We are getting to know one another on tuesdays' and these connections grow into extended family. The best part is that learning to care for our gardens also allow us to care for each other.

The gardens are vital because my family no longer have to eat canned vegetables.We have access to fresh organic food!! We are eating with our health in mind when learning of the benefits of the food for our families and flowers for pollinators that we grow. We are growing intergenerational all at the same time. There are experienced farmers, gardeners as well as novice like my family. I love how we come together, learn and support each other. We are growing Blackberry Mansion into a community planted with understanding for differences and the abilty to grow with respect for our differences. Much like our vegetables need their space and care plans!!

Using Words At Playtime, Reading Revolution and Summer Reading Programs!!

My grandsons and i attended a "Words At Play" party hosted by Northeast Treatment Center at the Dr. Ruth Hayre Wright Educational Center in Blackberry Mansion. "Words at Play" party what could that be all about is what i was wondering. The parents/caregivers are vital to introducing our youth to new words via play and i want to learn as much as i can to help my grandsons and others gain independence by reading. The party started out with a story about an apple that fell off a tree. The story wasn't read from a book. The hostess recited the story from memory and used their body to also help tell the story much like we learn the "Itsy Bitsy Spider." My five year old grandson enjoyed the party, my youngest grandson only focus was using the scissors. I enjoyed the information about how allowing our youth to explore the front cover of a book helps them create their own stories and if we read a book about seasons we can extend the learning experience by doing an activity relevant to the story we just read. I enjoyed the party and books that we received as a gift. 

When we got home, we read a few of the books. The Cookie Monster book had a cut out game on the back of the book. i allowed my five year old grandson to cut the pieces out. We played the game and created a another version of the game using the tree he created at the words at play party. i recorded the party so that we as a family can view what we learned and learn more from the party. My goal is not to get my grandsons to read by 4th grade. My goal is to get them to read by five years of age because that was the expectations for us when we were growing up. With these tools and supports my family will reach our reading goal by the end of this summer. Best part is that my two year old grandson soaks up everything that i'm working on with my five year old grandson. Guess he will be reading by two or three because of the exposure!!

We also plan to participate in "The Summer of Wonder" reading program at the Free Library. 

There are two ways to participate in a summer full of reading, games, and creativity!

From June 13 through August 5, sign up in person at your neighborhood library where you will find programs, activities, and events for all ages, as well as Bingo with a literacy twist for children and raffles for teens and adults.

We are very excited to debut a whole new online summer reading experience this year for readers of all ages! From June 1 through August 31, sign up online and earn badges by tracking minutes read and completing fun learning track activities themed around STEAM, literacy, and exploration. You can also select reading materials from School District of Philadelphia suggested booklists, write up book, movie, and music reviews, and explore more in-depth themed learning guides. Every time you earn a badge, you will be entered into a weekly raffle with prizes for each age group, as well as be entered into a special grand finale prize raffle that will take place at the end of summer!

The goal of our Summer Reading program is to encourage all Philadelphians to read for fun and to explore learning opportunities during the summer months. Summer Reading also helps children and teens combat the dreaded "summer slide", so that they can return to school in the fall ready to learn! Summer Reading also plays an integral part in our Read by 4th campaign, a citywide effort of 50 organizations, public and private, large and small, convened and managed by the Free Library of Philadelphia, aiming to have 97% of students in Philadelphia entering the 4th grade at reading level by 2020. This is the largest effort of its kind in the city of Philadelphia. Learn more at freelibrary.org/readby4th.

When i was growing up books were part of the living room decor. We and our neighbors had encyclopedias, Dr. Seuss and Highlights magazines. Seems we need those salesmen to come back and do some community calls with books. The days of those door knocking salesmen are gone, but there is a "Reading Revolution" going on at our summer camps, and libraries, to raise the value for independence via reading and thinking for your self. In Northwest Philly, summer camps have teamed up with State Senator Art Haywood and other community partners to promote reading. 

More Philadelphia Summer Fun!!

Get Free Kids Stuff From Summer Reading Programs for Kids

A List of Summer Reading Programs for Kids That Give Free Books, Money and More

By Stacy Fisher

Freebies Expert

What Type of Education Starts at Home?

Watching Bill Cunningham, there was an African American group, exbaby momma drama in a nutshell. When the wife comes on the stage and reveals that she empowers the stepdaughter by teaching her how to spell her name and other basic life skills you would think would be taught at home first. The mother storms off the stage in embarassment, Bill comes behind her and ask why did she leave the stage. The mother replies because they are telling lies, she didn't teach my daughter to spell the schools did, the schools taught her.

i'm planting seeds of understanding with my five year old grandson. Working on his days of the week, spelling his name, and basic reading skills. We have been playing two different versions of Concentration since he was about three going on four. Sometimes when we are in some of our learning sessions i just want to scream and pull my hair, especially when he starts to whine and ask "do we have to do this?" "do i have to learn this stuff?" i reply "yes because you need to have these life skills," and try to find more than one way to reach his open to learn spot. "That's what school is for, not here, i learn when i go to school." He is learning when we explore various family fun learning venues. Every now and then he will say "Nanna I love you because you always taking me places and teaching me stuff." Preparing my grandson for life means assisting him with basic skills. He knows how to plant seeds, and eat what we grow. He assist me with cooking and cleaning. Mainly because we spend plenty of time together versus with other family members with different values, who may not spend time teaching him the same skills.

His expectations of himself are as high as those in his personal care circile are of him. He will entertain me with Concentration, the calendar, and books when he wants my attention. Sitting in front of the Associated Services For The Blind And Visually Impaired 2016 calendar, my grandson wasn't getting the days of the week just by us pointing and repeating the days over and over.

He grabbed his tablet and we watched the video "Days of the week song for Kids" by Dream English Kids several times repeat the days of the week with some music. When my grandson broke the smile of understanding across his face and announced "I'm getting it." That's when i have reached his learning spot. My two year old grandson will grab his favorite book "colors abc numbers" priddy books and ask what's that, to the pictures? Sometimes he repeats what i say. We setup a Cookie Monster game that we recieved during Word Play party at The Dr. Ruth Wright Hayre Educational Center, sponsored by Northeast Treatment Center. When they get a cookie in Cookie Monsters mouth, they smile and say "I did it nanna" "high five."

Words at Play Vocabulary Initiative June Play Party Series

 Sat, June 25, 2016 11:00 a.m. Add to your calendar
Raymond Rosen Manor 2301 West Edgley Street

Hear A Story Play A Game Make Art

FREE fun for families with children ages birth – 5 years.

Siblings welcome.

Healthy snacks will be provided!

Lately i've been a bit stressed, keeping my grands so much. i catch myself yelling more often than i want to them. They in turn yeil at me and each other as if that is how we communicate. Watching "Roc" on Bounce T.V. "Our Way" 65.4, Eleanor and Roc had a baby and that meant Roc had to make responsible parent changes. Fortunately Eleanor is a nurse and knows how to create the nurturing environment that got Roc to stop yeiling around their baby. So glad we have Bounce airing meaningful African American and Cultures of color programming. I leave Bounce on for my grands so they can see ourselves on t.v. in such empowering ways. I'm planning to create a stop yeiling game so that we as a family can stop so much stressful yeiling.

I attended Joseph J. Peters Institute, Child Sex Abuse Prevention because i advocate for our most vulnerable members of society and like to learn about the issue, solution and resources. How do we educate our family about being safe? Man i learned so much information that i will have to create another blog for what i cannot share in this blog. The questions to ask are selves are: 

• What Safety Rules Do I Have For My Family?
• Who is My Family With? Where Are They? What are they doing? Whoelse is there?

Boundary Tips:

• Boundaries should first be discussed when your child is young.
• Respect privacy
• knock on doors before entering bedrooms and bathrooms
• teach children at a young age how to go to the bathroom, dress and bathe by themselves
• discuss with your child that NO ONE is to touch or ask to see their private parts and that they are not to touch anyone's private parts
• Remeber to use the correct word when describing body parts (vagina,penis,breast,butt..)
• Also teach them the nicknames, lollipop, kitty kat, woody, so that they are not tricked into touching or being touched in private areas
• Keep adult behavior and child behavior separate
• Monitor play area at all times
• Discuss boundaries often and ask "what if questions" to help your babies make safe decisions.
• Point out when boundaries are crossed right away
• Let your child know that they have the right to say NO when someone crosses a boundary or does something that makes them fell uncomfortable.

For more information visit www.jjp.org they do community and personal trainings!!

1 in 4 girls and 1in 6 boys are sexually abused before age 18. 80-90% are abused by someone they know and trust. We have to be alert and informed of our babies where abouts. 

If you would like help with parenting you can also visit https://www.jfcsphilly.org/main-home-page/children-teens-families/family-life-educational-programs-workshops/ for free positive parenting classes and other resources that can help reduce the stress of paying for rent and food. 

Strawberry Mansion African American Community Reconnecting 2016

African Americans Coming Together Building Our Disconnected Strawberry Mansion Community

Community meeting Tuesday, June 7, 2016

Residents and past residents of Strawberry Mansion met in the auditorium of Strawberry Mansion high school to discuss what is going on in their part of the neighborhood and how we can connect our resources. There were four peace marches in the community and most in attendance didn't know about one. Committee Woman Tanya Lynn Parker and NAC Director Tonnetta Graham conducted the meeting with members from the community to connect our concerns, resources and support for each other. The agenda was to hear neighbors concerns and form committees that assist the NAC with supporting the needs of Strawberry Mansion and hear about the fate of Strawberry Mansion high school.

We learned from active community members that the school will probably close on the community next school year with very little to no heads up about the closing. In fact from what we were told, the students will probably all be transferred to charter schools because there is no freshman class for the coming school year and they will have no choice. We were also told that Freire Charter school company is building in our community. They are a zero tolerance school that gas the families with being a college prep school. We should understand that many of today's college grads are homeless and protesting for $15 an hour because the job market is limited. We should also understand that college is not for everyone. We were suppose to discuss this concern but some how our principal was called away from the meeting. So much under handed mess is going on in Strawberry Mansion. Planning to door knock to identify neighbors who want to save our public education resource and community. 

“Dan, I’m a doctor and words cannot express how much I hate it. I hate feeling controlled by people with an entitlement mentality who don’t care if they suck the life out of me. I hate that my medical decision making is being controlled by government bureaucrats. I hate that this is a profession where you are regarded as weak for attending to normal body functions like eating and going to the bathroom. I hate that I have a target on my chest for lawsuits. I live pretty frugally but still have $280,000 in student loan debt at age 53. Plus the fact that I never got married or had kids. These things make my future very bleak, especially if I become to sick or frail to work and take care of myself.”

And we’re still being told the way out of poverty is education.  Unfortunately, our model defining “education” is broken.  Going to college is likely to lead directly into poverty. 

http://www.48days.com/homeless-college-students-will-be-homeless-slaves-with-massive-debt/

A number of committees were created to help the NAC with getting information to our neighbors. The next meeting will hopefully have more in attendance and all will be asked to get vested in our community by joining two committees. Thanks to the diligent work of Tanya and Sherri we have the Dr. Ruth W. Hayre Educational Complex located in the formerly hill school. We have community partners sharing the building please view the events the NET has for us!!

TRAUMA Did You Know That The Summer Season Is High Trauma Season?

 Did i mean high "Drama Season," when the number of all kinds of violent things happen to families and communities?  When we see way more skin then we want and are we really seeing unrecognized thick skin trauma? Or the school closing and gentrification trauma going on? No not in this blog, that blog coming soon.

i'm blogging fun summer family time being dangerous. Did you know that summer season is considered high trauma season? i didn't, til leaving Smith Memorial Playground and noticing some litter on the walkway.  A "Be a Superhero of Summer Safety" flier produced by Shriners Hospitals for Children. I don't like litter so whenever i can i do my part to  #UnLitterUs.

How does litter connect to trauma besides creating this blog? Is litter a condition of trauma? Traumatized communities are often decorated with litter during summer season, what is catalyst for this behavior ...................


 Throughout my life I have heard it said several times that; “if people don't litter someone won't have a job going around and cleaning up after them.” They then think they have an actual duty to litter, and this is why I say they are very immature, and therefore, all of us mature people need to in concert speak out and educate them.
Jim Beaming Downey

Are we as a city traumatized daily in small ways that add up?

Sara, describes an interaction with a litterbug where she yelled at a middle-aged man tossing garbage in a Fitler Square planter: “That’s not a trash can, and littering makes YOU garbage.”
Read more at http://www.phillymag.com/news/2013/11/13/philadelphia-dirty-city-litter-unlitter-us-campaign/#RzCfAQAJXIol8dQ0.99
Public service announcements tend to be feel-good things to make us think we’re doing something to fix a problem. People didn’t stop smoking because of Truth.com; they stopped smoking because societal attitudes toward cigarettes shifted. Drunk driving used to be an accepted part of life; it did not go down because E.T. told people to phone home. 40-plus years of anti-drug PSAs haven’t really moved the needle on usage. And research has shown television PSAs are generally the most effective campaigns.
Read more at http://www.phillymag.com/news/2013/11/13/philadelphia-dirty-city-litter-unlitter-us-campaign/#RzCfAQAJXIol8dQ0.99


According to the flier, fun summer activities lead to a higher risk of injuries and death among children and is known as "TRAUMA SEASON" in the public health and medical professions. Prevention of these serious and life changing injuries is what Shriners Hospitals for Children "Love To Rescue" is promoting.

Playground 101

The Centers for Disease Control reported that every year emergency departments treat more than 200,000 children ages 14 and younger for playground-related injuries.* Before your kids head outside to play, be sure to keep these precautions in mind: Take your children to playgrounds with shock-absorbing surfaces. Choose parks and playgrounds that are appropriate for their age. Teach children that pushing and shoving on the playground can result in accidents and injuries. Remind kids to go down the slide one at a time and to wait until the slide is completely clear before taking their turn. Teach them to always sit facing forward with their legs straight in front of them. Insist they NEVER slide down headfirst! Remind children to swing sitting down. Encourage them to wait until the swing stops before getting off and to be careful when walking in front of moving swings. Before sending kids out to play, make sure they always wear shoes to protect feet from cuts, scrapes and splinters, and wear sunscreen to protect from sunburns and harmful ultra-violet rays. *Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Make a safe splash

While playing poolside may be a blast, Safe Kids Worldwide Organization reports that drowning is the leading injury-related cause of death for children ages 1-4 and it is the third leading cause of injury-related death among children 19 and under.* Additionally, each year about 6,000 young people under age 14 are hospitalized because of a diving injury, with one in five of those sustaining a spinal cord injury.** Supervision and common sense can go a long way to prevent accidents and injuries. Always practice these tips to ensure your family’s safety around water: Teach children to never swim alone or go near water without an adult present. Give children your undivided attention when they are swimming or are near any body of water. Always jump in feet first to check the depth before diving into any body of water. Never dive in the shallow end of a pool or into above-ground pools.   *Safe Kids Worldwide **University of Michigan Health Systems

Fun on the water

Boating, tubing and other water sports can be great fun but can also be dangerous. Nearly 71 percent of all boating fatalities are caused by drowning and 85 percent are a result of not wearing a life jacket.* Here is what you can do to enjoy the water safely: Always have your children wear a Coast Guard approved, properly-fitted life jacket while on a boat, around an open body of water or when participating in water sports. Educate yourself. According to the U.S. Coast Guard, 86 percent of boating accident deaths involve boaters who have not completed a safety course.* Always check water conditions and forecasts before going out on the water. The safety of your passengers is dependent on you. *2012 Recreational Boating Statistics, U.S. Coast Guard

Mowing matters

While a lawn mower may seem like just a common household tool, thousands of children are injured in lawn mower accidents each year, some severely. Lawn mower injuries account for a large percentage of accidental amputations according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. The speed of the blade can send dirt and bacteria deep into a wound, creating a high risk for severe infection.* To avoid accidents involving lawn mowers, keep these tips in mind: Teach children to never play on or around a lawn mower, even when it is not in use. They should never be permitted to walk alongside, in front of or behind a moving mower. Children under 6 years of age should be kept inside the home while mowing. Children should be at least 12 years of age before operating a push lawn mower and at least 16 years of age before operating a riding lawn mower. *American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons

Fire safety simplified

In 2012, more than 136,000 children across the United States, including more than 67,000 children 4 and under, were injured due to a fire or burn and treated in emergency rooms.* Use these tips to keep children safe around fires, fireworks, grills and other heat sources: Teach kids to never play with matches, gasoline, lighter fluid or lighters. Make a habit of placing these items up and away from young children. Do not leave children unattended near grills, campfires, fire pits or bonfires. Always have a bucket of water or fire extinguisher nearby whenever there is a burning fire. Take your child to a doctor or hospital immediately if he or she is injured in a fire or by fireworks. *Safe Kids Worldwide

Shriners Hospitals for Children wants all kids to enjoy a safe, injury-free summer. Should an injury occur, the physicians and staff of Shriners Hospitals are here to help.

To find out more about the treatments available visitShrinersHospitalsforChildren.org.

To make an appointment, please call 800-237-5055.

AND DON'T FORGET TO DRINK PLENTY OF WATER AND EAT FRUITS !!