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

Cedar Park: Vietnamese Cuisine

Opening its doors just four months ago, the Vietnam Café brings friends in for a quick lunch and entertains 40th birthday celebrations.

This restaurant is nothing new to Southern Vietnamese owner Benny Lai. In 2008, he and his family members ran a small BYOB restaurant. Opening the Vietnam Café in November 2009 was an expansion of this business.

The café now has a liquior license and the capacity to hold large parties. Furthermore, Lai owns the Vietnam Restaurant in Chinatown. According to Lai, juggling two restaurants was not difficult.

“[In the] beginning it was hard, but now we are so used to it,” Lai said.

For the next six months, Lai will continue to increase the menu selections. Traditionally, southern Vietnamese cuisine has French influence. Using raw vegetables, mint and basal leaves, most foods are grilled. Unlike heavier Chinese foods, chefs at the café cook in less oil and grease. Additionally, Vietnamese food uses more Chile spice than Thai food.

Most Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays are the busiest times. When young professionals and people from Mainline, City Avenue and Manayunk finally thaw out from the wintry season, the Vietnam Café will be full of activity.

Trenae McDuffie, Cedar Park

Business District of 48th and Spruce Streets

Poor lighting, vandalism, loitering and parking problems create a gloomy atmosphere for the 48th and Spruce streets business district, but storeowners aren’t complaining.

The grievances come from the Garden Court Community Association (GCCA). This 300-member organization is composed of paid members who are generally residents of Garden Court. For over 50 years, GCCA has strived to create “the best” community. This passion has influenced the Spruce and Pine Streets business districts to reach for new community demographics.

In 2003, GCCA drafted a strategic plan to revitalize the business district of both 48th and Spruce streets and 48th and Pine streets. Over the past seven years, this neighborhood organization has rallied to bring a new look to the business district that would best fit the residential community.

Now, the Garden Court Business District includes a Dollar Store, a beauty supply shop, a beer distributor, Radio Shack, Blockbuster, a laundromat and cleaners, which run along 48th and Pine streets. Convenient corner stores, Chinese takeouts, a doughnut shop, a seafood market, a pizza shoe and auto repair shops outline 48th and Spruce streets.

In the 22-page business revitalization report, the GCCA highlights that these businesses generally attract “typically young, female African-American customers.”

GCCA’s primary goal is to encourage residents living south of Spruce, who are “primarily homeowners with more disposable income” to take advantage of this promising commercial area.
Along with improving existing establishments, the GCCA has indicated the most desired businesses are a “bakery, sit-down restaurant and café.”

Furthermore, the report reveals other various challenges that hinder renewal of the district. In the evening, the streets are poorly lit. GCCA wants to install neon lights that will outline the exterior of the buildings.

Another problem for the association is the duplication of businesses. The GCCA says there is no need for two Chinese take-outs and two convenient corner stores. Instead, the association wants a variety of options that better serve the needs of the community.

Perhaps, this renewal project will create an economic boost for businesses. Yet many of the private owners are not enthusiastic about this plan. Dawit Tsegay, the owner of Keren Food Market, says coffee and flower shops are great, but with the current economic conditions, these businesses are not practical and would not yield immediate profit.

“They told me there was too much competition and they [tried] to give me advise to open a flower shop, but I’m not interested and do not know [anything] about flowers,” Tsegay says.

It has almost been a year since Tsegay opened his doors and he does not want to see business decline. He thrives for the bustling morning commute and the evening traffic rush of people who stop in for snacks or to play the daily lottery. That is how he gets most of his customers. Tsegay watches many businesses, like the Baltimore Crab and Seafood closing, and does not want that distressing ending.

The GCCA has reached out for further assistance to progress the project. By raising $2,500 to hire urban planners, the GCCA conducted the Business District Revitalization Project. Through numerous e-mails and word of mouth, the GCCA was able to effectively communicate its vision to business owners.

It has been three years since the completion of the plan and virtually no progress has been made. Mark Mendenhall, the business district committee chair, says the worn down physical appearance and concrete landscape of the district does not match the residential community.

“There is a feeling that the business district is not reflective of the neighborhood. It looks beaten down and [there are] not attractive stores,” Mendenhall says.

The GCCA applies for grants for exterior improvements for the business district. Allocations would be used for planting more trees nut business owners do not want to worry about cleaning the leaves that fall. Mendenhall says these additions would greatly upgrade the visual perspective of the district.

“We want to help improve and make the neighborhood a better place,” Mendenall says.

The Enterprise Center of West Philadelphia, which provides business education to minority business owners, has lent a hand to the revitalization project. The Enterprise Center now owns the former Food Rite building on 48th and Spruce. Now with bars on the windows and empty shelves, this abandoned-looking store will house the Kitchen Incubator. This culinary enterprise will provide food training, allowing people to create products that would be sold in the store.
The Kitchen Incubator business model would be innovative for this neighborhood, but it is not unfamiliar to other communities.

According to Kerry Miller of Business Week, kitchen incubators are most practical especially with the increase of commercial reality. This transformative approach “offers shared workspace and equipment, and business advice to aspiring caterers, bakers, and specialty-food makers.” However, Miller does warn that these shared kitchens will leave a high utility bill.

These projections have not hindered the progress of the project in Garden Court. In the next five years with the opening of the Kitchen Incubator, the GCCA says it hopes the business district will attract new businesses and increase the diversity.

The GCCA is a neighborhood, self-help organization that encourages the preservation of its district. The organization concentrates on educational programs, crime and safety, greening projects, zoning and development.

Walnut Hill: Barber Shop Chat

In many communities, the barbershop is the hub for social expression for men. Politics, economics, sports and relationship drama are topics spoken amongst friends and neighbors. Traditionally, barber shops cater to racial ethnicities representing the local community.

Along 42nd and Baltimore Avenue there is one of the most multicultural barber shops I ever encountered. Universal Cutz is a melting pot of African, Asian, Caucasian, Indian and Vietnamese men of all ages. Students from Drexel University and University of Pennsylavnia try to squeeze in before class.

With no competition until Chestnut Street and near the 34 Trolley and 30 Bus, this social center is the “exchange of information” as described by owner Troy Taylor.

Fluent in English, Spanish and Patois—a combination of English and African Creole spoken in Jamaica—Taylor has spent the past four years with Universal Cutz, but has been cutting hair for over ten years. Taylor has trained two apprentices who later received their barber’s license.

“My main objective is to make [the shop] multicultural—to make the atmosphere relaxed,” Taylor said.

Eric Brooks, a Clifton Heights pizza shop owner, was sitting in the chair getting his hair cut.

“I mean look at the floors, look at the mirrors. You just don’t see that in other places,” Brooks said.

Similarly, his associates, Daniel Robinson and Leon, are veterans on the clippers. Robinson started cutting back in 1988. We all laughed when I told them that was the year I was born.

Leon, teacher of hungari—a form of martial arts—enjoys the shop and the notorious animals that pass by. During the summertime, there are tables and chairs outside the shop where customers can eat their lunch, but one day there was an unsuspected visitor. A squirrel climbed into the front gate and got stuck. Days later, a whole family of squirrels came back to save him.

Universal Cutz was formally located on 43rd and Pine Streets and went by the name Bling Bling Hair Styles. In the next five years, Universal Cutz will redecorate its exterior—putting in new gates and signs. Furthermore, Taylor has dreams of expanding into North Philadelphia to open a female hair salon and later a full service spa.

Every Tuesday students receive $2 off cuts, every Wednesday children ten-years-old and under are charged $6 and every Thursday senior citizens pay $7. The shop even does braiding and eyebrow arching for women. Taylor encourages walk-ins and appointments.

Stories of squirrels climbing gates, an older Asian woman who never paid for a hair cut, a twenty-four year old Russian scholar and a man named 88 who is the neighborhood “hustle man” are the best memories these men share while working at the barber shop.

Trenae McDuffie, Walnut Hill

Hot Wheels in Walnut Hill

Up in the Old Cuckoo’s Nest, known as the former firehouse of Ladder 13, Fire House Bicycles is a neighborhood full service bike shop in Walnut Hill. Located on 50th Street and Baltimore Avenue, above the Dock Street Brewery, Fire House Bicycles sells new and used lightweight road, touring, vintage cruisers, mountain and hybrid bikes.

Touring and road bikes are most popular for fast speeds and long distances. Vintage cruisers are durable and used for low speed travel. The mountain bike is most effective for dogging trolley tracks. Hybrid bikes are built upright for city streets. Every bike style has its own personality, but the wide selection of as-is bikes, which cost $50 to $135, attract a lot of attention.

Even though most of its customers are adults, Fire House Bicycles are friends and sponsors to Neighborhood Bikes Works. This educational nonprofit creates opportunities for urban youth to get an experience of learning how to fix and ride bicycles.

Sofi Courtney, Store Manager, has been working at the shop for five years. She appreciates the openness of the three owners Monica Pasquinelli, Sam Davis and Paul Walker. Collectively, decisions are made by owners and employees.

Just three months ago, Philadelphia cyclists were hit hard with City Council passing legislation that would raise fines for cycling violations. This response was after the hit and run death of pedestrian, Andre Steed, who was found lying on the ground at 16th and Locust Street in October 2009. Even the Philadelphia police have increased enforcement and cracked down on cyclist for not stopping at red lights and signaling to turn.

Courtney says the news media “blew” the issue up and created a “reaction” used by politicians because they knew that people would side with cars. She explains that cyclists are not trying to dictate roads.

“Cars can cause more harm. [Bicycling] is good for the city, there is less congestion and it’s healthier,” Courtney said.

This transportation controversy did not move business away from Fire House Bicycles and neither did the weather. Despite blizzards slamming Philadelphia, Edward peddles into Fire House Bicycles frequently. He rides his bike and washes windows. Edward rides so much; he decided to purchase a new back blinker so that he could be seen while riding at night.

When the snow and ice melt, business will pick up in April. Fire House will soon prepare for the summer rush.

For over a decade, Fire House Bicycles continues to be a hub for servicing and educating the neighborhood cyclist and introducing others to a new form of transportation.

Trenae McDuffie, Walnut Hill