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West Philadelphia: More than Praise, Worship and Service

Churchgoers are getting more out of church. Members of the Christian Stronghold Church do not only attend services for the sermons, but for the continuous motivation to develop their personal relationship with God through service, employment or education.

The church encourages its members to participate in serve activities as a way to honor God and develop spiritual friendships. Traditionally, a church member’s function is to offer their skills to a particular ministry. However, deciding the right area of service might be challenging. Passion for the activity, devoted time commitment and faithfulness to the ministry are variables in successful ministry service. Many church members do not look at serving as strenuous work, but rather reverence to God.

Amanda Davis sings soprano on the Christian Sounds Choir—one of six musical ministries. As a young adult, singing on the choir is more than a monotonous Sunday morning routine.

“It’s important for me to serve in ministry because it’s an opportunity for me to give back to God the gifts that He has given me. At the same time, it blesses other people,” Davis said.

There are over fifty active ministries in CSC. African American Cultural Awareness, Audio Visual, Bookstore Workers, Children’s Church, Community Action Council, Evangelism Ministry, Job and Career Management, Men’s Discipleship, Photography Ministry, Singles Ministry and the Youth Ministry are many of the operating ministries in the church.

Another opportunity for church members is to receive employment from the church. There are numerous administrative positions that keep CSC well organized. Tenora Rogers, information processor and graphic artist, designs all flyers and banners for various ministry events and creates the weekly Sunday church bulletins—generally six to ten pages in length. As a recent Temple University alumna, Rogers uses her advertisement degree for the service in the church.

April 30th, 2010 will celebrate Roger’s tenth year as member of CSC. Over the years, she has been involved with the Singles Ministry and served as a youth worker for the Youth Ministry. She smiles at the many years of service and enjoys her new position.

“I am able to use my natural gift of art for God’s people,” Rogers said.

When pastors are not preaching, hymns are still being song and the Bible remains open Monday through Friday for spiritual growth and academic progress. CSC serves as a Christian school. Both Creative World Learning Center—teaching six months to five years old and Destiny Learning Academy—teaching kindergarten to sixth grade—provide Christian education. The schools are apart of the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI).

Established in 1992, both schools’ vision focuses on the “shared responsibility for [a] child’s growth and development.” According to school records, students who graduate from these programs are generally two grades above national levels and are in the top ten percent in area charter middle schools.

Executive director, Reginald Dunston, has managed the schools for the past three years. His experience with the schools are rewarding because the outreach to the African American community has been a success.

“My favorite part is the impact we have on young people’s lives spiritually and academically,” Dunston said.

The vision to increase membership yearly, create new church ministries and advance the Christian schools academic standards was given to Rev. Dr. Willie Richardson, senior pastor at CSC. In 1966, Richardson received the call to pastor over a church—this refers to the belief that God spoke to him with the spiritual vision.

Forty-four years ago, Christian Stronghold Church’s (CSC) membership started at six people. Now, there are over 4,000 active members.

According to the 1st Quarterly Report of 2010—January 1st to March 31st—total membership in CSC was 4,058 people. Men made up 1,338 and 33 percent of the members. With larger numbers, there were 2,061 women who accounted for 51 percent membership. The youth, between 12 to 17 years old, accounted for 11 percent. Lastly, there were 214 younger children. This was approximately 5 percent of membership.

Compared to the last quarter of 2009—October 1st to December 31st, 2010—the membership was 3,977. Since then, 81 people received membership. These growing rates could contribute to the mental refreshment of a person’s spirituality—the idea of starting off right for the new year.

Yet, CBC members are more than a statistical number. Despite the large congregation, CSC calls its members the “church family” because there is a close community among the members.

Richardson expanded CSC to others by preaching, teaching, and counseling locally, nationally and throughout the world. His workshops, seminars, sermons and lectures at college seminary campuses, are focused on reaching “families of all ethic backgrounds.” CSC has been a blessing in many lives in many communities.

His works were even recognized by former President George W. Bush—who invited Richardson to the White House to help organize “Faith Base Initiatives.”

In 2000, Richardson began to create a new plan to cater to the needs of his large and growing congregation. CSC became a cell church by “glorifying Christ, amplifying the Bible and edifying people.” Through his leadership, members meet at other member’s homes weekly for fellowship, prayer groups and Bible study lessons.

Richardson’s life scripture is Acts 26:18 which says, “To open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by that is in me.”

Walnut Hill: Sassy Club Swings

Step back, step front, switch the hip, side step and feet together. This is one dancing sequence taught at the Teen Ballroom class at Take the Lead Dancing Studios located on 4701 Pine Street.

Shuffling their feet across the floor, these 7th grade students have been dancing since 5th grade in the Dancing Classroom Philly Saturday Scholarship.

Dance instructor, Kate Rast, has been teaching ballroom dance for about five years. Yet, Rast has been dancing ballet and modern dance since she was three years old.

She enjoys watching the student’s progress with their dancing and comfort levels increase with one another. Their giggles and shyness is expected at the beginning, but the young dancers are gaining confidence in their moves.

“It’s tough for Fee-Fee being the only gentleman. Ladies have it easier,” Rast said.

Despite their initial fears, the young dancers are active in class and asking for help when needed. At times, they got tined up learning the waltz.

“Waltz is like your floating. You don’t want to make it sharp,” Rast said.

The last class for the spring semester is Saturday, May 8th. The students will show the simple two-step, graceful waltz and sassy club swings to their parents.

Trenae McDuffie, Walnut Hill

Walnut Hill: Reality of Rough Times

Making a critical decision to get a hair cut or pay a bill leaves many under close watch of how their money is spent. Current economic conditions are getting worse. Money has become tight for many people of Walnut Hill, but others have managed to find ways to modify budgets and create other economic opportunities.

Adam Mack works full time for the Johnson Security Co. The average age of a security guard at his company is 30 years old with a family to support. As contracts float away, downsizing within the company is evident.

“[Employees] are trying to make it. It’s a struggle for everybody. We don’t know [if] we are coming out this recession,” Mack said.

Mack acknowledged recuperation from this continually declining economy is not easy. He predicted recovery will take awhile.

“What are they going to do, sell cookies,” Mack said.

Baltimore Pet Shop owner, Courtney Tripp, has found a sweet solution within the tremendous economic gloom of the neighborhood. According to Tripp, since the store’s opening in November 2009, the shore has had great business.

“People thought I was crazy [to start a new business], but people love their pets,” Tripp said.

Nevertheless, Walnut Hill residents hope for relief.

Trenae McDuffie, Walnut Hill

Walnut Hill: Keeps Classics Fresh

Dizzy Gillespie, Steppenwolf, John Coltrane and Led Zeppelin records are pilled high at the Beautiful World Syndicate (BWS). This neighborhood records shop—located on 48th and Pine Streets—sells, buys and trades classic jazz, hip-hop, rhythm and blues and rock music. Prices range from $7 up to $19.99, but there is a selection of CDs that only cost $2.

In her collection of Salt-n-Pepa, Red Hot Chile Peppers, Rod Stewart and KISS, Mirra Watkins loves her bargains.

“They have reasonable prices. I would never [pay] regular price,” Watkins said.

John Yates, shop manager, wants to keep a flea market feel to the store.

“It’s easier to sell cheap stuff and make happy customers,” Yates said.

BWS has been opened for two and a half years. There is a sister shop in South Philadelphia located at 1619 East Passyunk Aveue—which has existed for almost a half a decade. Even though this location has been opened longer, Yates has more fun with the friendly customers of Walnut Hill.

Earth, Wind and Fire, Curtis Mayfield’s SuperFly and Santana posters cover the lime green walls. The shop organizes music as New Arrivals, Hip Hop Under tables, Jazz, R&B, Rock and Dance genres.

If you’re into Billy Preston, Doors and Elvis Costello shop by the shop Wednesdays to Sundays to grab some timeless tunes.

“This store is for college kids…and old ladies who are looking for jazz.”

Walnut Hill Gets a Sweet Visit

The rainbow sprinkles painted on the exterior of the white truck reminded me of an ice cream truck, but I did not hear the corny carnival songs.

The Buttercream Cupcake Company made a stop on Baltimore and Springfield Avenue.

The owner, Kate Carrera, known as the Cupcake Lady, used to be an attorney. She gathered up friends, bought an old mail truck and began to bake out of kitchens in Northern Liberties and in Manayunk.

One of her friends from San Francisco, Jamie Maser, has known Carrera for 12 years and his wife and daughter help with the baking.

"We enjoy bringing the cupcakes to the neighborhoods and my daughter is learning to take the money and break the change," Maser said.

Menu items include the Banana Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting, Yellow Cake with Chocolate Ganache, Chocolate Cake with Peanut Butter Buttercream and the famous Red Velvet Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting.

So what attracted the Cupcake Truck to Walnut Hill?

Maser told me about a month ago, there were young sword fighters who played in Clark Park located on 43rd and Baltimore Avenue. These energetic warriors told Maser to bring the truck down on Saturdays for the weekly produce markets.

If people miss the truck in Walnut Hill, the truck makes stops all around Philadelphia. On Mondays the truck stops at Drexel University, Tuesdays at Jefferson Hospital, Wednesdays at University of Pennsylvania, Thursdays at Temple University and spends Fridays in Center City Philadelphia.

Do not worry about high prices either because all cupcakes cost $2. What a great deal for a fancy treat!

Trenae McDuffie, Group 35, Walnut Hill

Money for College

The SAT scores are in, the essays are written, and the applications have been mailed, but the pressure and stress of financing a college education still remains.

The current economic climate has made money very tight in households. Even with tax returns and stimulus packages thrown into communities, many families struggle to pay college tuition.

Politicians often speak of how education is an important concern. Yet, education is used to create a convincing political agenda, and communication is often just words and no action.

Pennsylvania State Sen. Vincent Hughes is among the few who are providing various resources to help relieve this burden off of Philadelphia families. He hosted the “Show Me the Money-the Roadmap to Financial Aid for College” conference at the High School of the Future in West Philadelphia. This one-day conference offered panel discussions and workshops by the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA), the Campaign for Working Families, the Philadelphia School District-Office of College and Career Awareness and the Mayor’s Office of Education.

“We must ensure that students and parents have the dollars, information, and other resources they need to make positive contributions to the community-at-large. Our Show Me the Money conferences are designed with these goals in mind,” Hughes said.

Scholarships are a great way to pay for college.

Hughes has spent his legislative career focused on higher education issues. As a member of the Board of Directors of the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA), the Board of Governors of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (SSHE), and the Council of Trustees of Cheyney University, Hughes is committed to education.

Additionally, Hughes created the James Hughes Memorial Scholarship Fund, in honor of his father. Over the past decade, the fund has raised approximately $1 million for Philadelphia high school students. Eighty scholarships have been given out since its existence.

“Accessing high quality affordable education is inextricably tied to a young person’s ability to compete successfully in the global marketplace,” Hughes said.

According to the 2009-2010 reports from the College Board, “more than $168 billion in financial aid is available to students and their families.” The report also mentions “about two-thirds of all full-time undergraduate students receive grant aid.”

Associate Director of Financial Aid at Rosemont College Sarah Fevig has spent her 20-year career dealing with families worrying about financing their children’s college education.

Fevig encourages parents and students to start the search for aid with scholarships. The next step is to fill out the free United States Department of Education Federal Student Aid (FASFA). This is the free application for federal aid. It uses income tax information from parents or from students if their working. FASFA calculates a score for colleges to determine what kind of aid students qualify for—this is called the Expected Family Contribution.

Associate Director of Financial Aid at Rosemont College Sarah Fevi gives information about federal programs.

“FASFA is one of the most reliable sources for aid for a student entering college,” Fevig said.

Nikoya Black is a mother of a West Catholic High School ninth grader. She already pays approximately $650 a month for her son’s high school education. Her son is an active baseball player and has goals of attending Stanford University. However, Black’s Show Me the Money souvenir bag was filled with information on how to pay for a higher education.

“He’s very into the college process. I will use this information for him and [myself] because I was thinking about going to school too,” Black said.

Mykina Simmons of West Philadelphia also attended the conference. She has a brother who is a senior in high school, but does not receive much information about financing his college education from his school or guidance counselor.

“I really haven’t heard too much information from him saying that they were going to help him find scholarships. His guidance counselor is sometimes unavailable to him,” Simmons said.

Her brother is involved in various basketball leagues, but academics come first in their household.

“Sometimes the recreation centers were he plays basketball, points him into the right direction. The community outreach is better than the school in that aspect,” Simmons said.

Simmons received encouragement for herself, too. She wants to return to school. Two years of her college experience was spent at Lincoln University, but she did not feel apart of the college community. She does not want to finish at Lincoln, but rather find a different institution.

Niemma Aiken and Kia Miller are in 10th grade and have started the college process.Andria Mebane, an 11th graders at Charter High of Architecture and Design, learned a lot about essay writing.

“You have to write down key points about yourself, [because] you’re selling yourself in the essay,” Mebane said.

She also gathered information on how to use Internet search engines to look for scholarships. For example, she was taught to use FastWeb.com.

Despite her school focusing on the current senior class, Mebane and other 11th graders are focused on the state standardized tests—PSSAs—and the SATs. Even so, Mebane knows that she wants to attend an all female university and plans to study psychology and minor in history.

Walnut Hill: We-Inspire in West Philadelphia

Ten 10th and 11th grade girls sat around a science classroom while eating their pizza lunch in the West Philadelphia High School Academy for Automotive and Mechanical Engineering.

These girls were selected to be apart of the We-Inspire program hosted by the West Philadelphia Alliance for Children. Every week in March, these girls are introduced to professional women in numerous industries. This week was “Women in Business Week.” Program director, Ekeoma Washington, invited several women in various business industries.

Sara Canuso—A Suitable Solution, Kya Mason—Wachovia Bank, Branch Manager, Ashley Rosenthal, Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce, Nicole Newman—Newman Networks, and Renee Amoore—the Amoore Group were the panelists.

Although Washington provided background information for the students to do their own research about these business women, some girls were shy, but eventually opened up and asked many engaging questions.

“Always project a confident image,” Canuso says.

She is the president of A Suitable Solution. She is an image and body language specialist. Canuso helps individuals create great first impressions. To keep positive thoughts in her mind, she writes 15 daily affirmations.

“Time, dress and communication are important for an interview,” Mason says.

She also expresses that when people are hired at her branch, some look uninterested in the job. With this attitude, Mason says she will not hire these individuals.

“You have to start somewhere,” Newman says.

Her various personal struggles and revelations left many girls speechless. She told the girls that grades and attitudes were important, as well.

Vice principal, Ms. Cox asks the girls if they know the person who owns the local corner store or hair salon. A few girls shoot their arms up and realize that they know several community entrepreneurs.

Not only does she know entrepreneurs, but 10th grader, Ashai, dreams of starting her own laptop animation business.

Amoore is an entrepreneur, but started her path differently. She began her career as a registered nurse working in Harlem and South Bronx hospitals. After years of working for various companies and helping the local communities, Amoore wanted to work for herself. Thus, she opened her own healthcare company. The Amoore Group serves various international, national and local communities in Baltimore, Washington DC, Pittsburgh, Harrisburg, Norristown, and Philadelphia.

“If you are not educated, you cannot make money,” Amoore says.

On March 25, the We-Inspire Program hosts an awards night at the Vesper Boat Club recognizing several hard working women from West Philadelphia who bring positivity and encouragement in their communities.

Trenae McDuffie

Walnut Hill: The Barber Shop and the Community

Keeping edges sharp and cuts crisp, Universal Cutz is the popular barbershop of the neighborhood. The shop is located on 42nd and Baltimore Avenue. This social center builds bonds between men from diverse backgrounds.

African American, Caucasian, Indian, Vietnamese and Russian men get cuts or hang out for entertaining conversation. Most of the diverse demographics are men attending the local universities and those who live in the surrounding neighborhood. Some clients living in southwest Philadelphia travel at least 15 minutes to get their hair cut by one of the barbers.

Troy Taylor, co-owner, has been cutting hair since 1988. Over his 20-year career, he has worked in many barbershops.

During his training at Tri-City Barber School located on 5901 N. Broad St., Taylor met Leon Chley. After leaving this institution, both men began to work in various local barbershops.

First, the pair started at Hair Artistry from 1990 to 1996. Next, Taylor and Chley cut hair at the Cutting Zone from 1996 to 2001. From this shop, Taylor then operated his own shop with two other associates.

In 2001, Taylor and his partners ran a shop called Bling Bling—which used to be located on 43rd and Pine streets. However, business relationships were not successful. Thus, Taylor saw an opportunity to manage a different shop. That was when, Taylor and Lenwood Washington, co-owner of Universal Cutz, ventured to open a new shop that focused on professionalism, comfort and meeting clients needs. In October 2006, Universal Cutz opened its doors on 42nd and Baltimore Avenue.

“This was a better location. [The shop] is more accessible by bus and trolley,” Taylor said.

Prior to his management at Universal Cutz, Washington had cut hair on and off for 12 years. With the support of his family and Taylor, who is his cousin, encouraged Washington to use his creativity and improve his barber skills.

Spending the past three years at Universal Cutz, Washington has not only cut men’s hair, but he has developed skills to tend to female clients. He can clip dead hair ends and shape up the edges of their necks.

“I like helping the community. Making everyone look good [and] knowing that that’s my work. It makes you feel good to make someone else look good,” Washington said.

Yet client’s sentiments are not the only way to measure success. Based on the number of clients who come back for a cut or conversation, Washington said that the business must be doing something right.

“We were trying to expand and do something different,” Washington said.

To provide styles fitting to his clients wants, Washington will ask what they are looking for and try to interpret the haircut.

Other family members of Taylor have gained creditable experience from being in the shop. Mike Taylor, 16, is Taylor’s son. One of three boys and one girl, Mike has had barber experience since he was 11 years old.

“It was just something I do when I’m bored. [I’m not into cutting hair], but I really want to play football,” Mike said.

Yet his dad compliments his skills.

“He probably [can cut] sharper than me. That’s because he is younger than me,” Taylor said as he smiled while Mike cut his hair.

This Philadelphia Electric Academy11th grader does not have plans to stay in the family business, but rather cut hair as a hobby and to make extra money. He aspires to be a student athlete at Temple or Drexel University.

Despite Mike focusing on a different career path, Taylor’s 25-year-old nephew, G Bazeman, has spent the past nine months as an apprentice. Under his uncle’s supervision, G Bazeman has his own chair and work station.

From the numerous combs, guards and clippers, Bazeman knows to use a wider comb on thicker the hair. The most famous comb is the Afro picks. Likewise, the smaller the guard is used on a clipper, the more hair that it will take off.

Bazeman’s favorite trimmer for creating a part is the Andis model clippers. Similarly, he uses the original Andis clippers with T-blades that give a decisive crisp step into fades.

Within the next few months, Bazeman plans to complete his barber license.

Although Taylor and Washington are the business owners, they still pay rent on the building. The property is owned by Powelton Properties—a leading management specialist of rental properties in West Philadelphila and University City.

In the next five years, Taylor hopes to expand in the North Philadelphia area. He wants to keep this concept of diversity in his shop especially on college campuses.

On average 200 to 300 clients come through the Universal Cutz doors every week. Thursday, Friday and Saturday are the busiest days of the week and the waiting time can be prolonged.

But do not fret. Not only do these barbers pamper the client, they entertain as well. Conversations of popular music artists, neighborhood gossip or watching Leon dance the old school Soul Train line are a few aspects of this lively barbershop.

Trenae McDuffie, Walnut Hill