Get Involved

Events

Our Blog

Events

  • August 16, 2023

Stone Soup

STONE SOUP; a cross cultural folk tale about collaboration In the story, villagers learn that when everyone contributes just a little of what they have, a greater good is achieved for all.

Germantown United Community Development Corporation (GUCDC) presents STONE SOUP SATURDAYS, a resident-driven series of beautification projects to be completed in 2014. GUCDC will award grants to Germantown artists, gardeners and creative citizens for the implementation of projects designed to beautify and enliven a handful of key locations. This program was made possible by a grant from the Samuel Fels Fund; grants of up to $1500 will be awarded. Priority will be given to projects that have the potential to foster community ownershipSTONE_SOUP_LOGO and build a framework for future enhancements to take place at the project sites. The beautification project locations identified by GUCDC are:

• Unit block of West Rockland Street-vacant lot
• Unit block of West Haines Street (garden space on south side of Germantown Town Hall)
• The wall at the southwest corner of Chelten and Greene (Bus stop at Greene and Chelten, traveling southbound)
• 5722 Greene Street (parking lot entryway of the Germantown Life Enrichment Center)

GUCDC is looking for ideas with the potential to do the following:
• Create a catalyst for future beautification and development in the neighborhood
• Foster community ownership of public spaces and increase community pride
• Attract new businesses to move into vacancies
• Attract more shoppers to the area as to increase business revenue on the Avenue

Deadline for submission is June 7 2014. To request an application, or for questions, please contact GUCDC directly at [email protected]

Winning designs will be on display at GUCDC’s table at the Juneteenth Festival on Saturday, June 21, 2014.

  • August 16, 2023

Notes from the The BIG G

NOTES + VIDEO FROM THE BIG G COMMUNITY FORUM

If you were not able to attend our 2014 Community Forum on Gentrification, you can watch a Video with Opening Remarks by Garlen Capita, GU Board Chair Followed by the Keynote address by Colvin Grannum, Executive Director of Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation. We were happy to have Colvin return to this year’s community forum as Bedford Stuyvesant has experienced

Excerpt from Colvin Grannum:

“The only thing that is constant is change.” Heraclitus

By starting this conversation before Gentrification is underway we have the opportunity to institutionalize the “Arts and Culture” of Germantown before it gets diminished by new residents.

In Bed Stuy one way this was done was by  “Glory in a Snapshot” a program that took historical photos and agree with new business owners such as “Super Foodtown” a grocery store to permanently display these blown up photos as decorative and informative Art.

Spike Lee in his “I’m gonna kill you now” infamous response to “Gentrification being a good thing” was speaking about culture unique to place being taken out of a place when newcomers can’t relate because it’s not their own experience.

Steve Mullin stated that  “Open Markets do what they do; Do we interfere with it?”  and spoke of the 1896 “Separate but Equal” Supreme Court Ruling that no longer exists but it is seen in today’s schools by the tax base funding the schools and poorer neighborhoods have schools primarily composed of black students.

Steve Mullin stated “Duh” to the argument that Public Schools are what stops urban neighborhoods from being diverse and economically sustainable.  He stated the solution to this lies not in the schools but in Encouraging the government to change policy to create a demand for employment and to not tax businesses that operate in the city so that those businesses move to first ring suburbs.

Nora Lichtash spoke of the need for inclusionary zoning and how at WCRP she figured out the 1 of every 4 pieces of land in her jurisdiction was vacant or abandoned.  By utilizing a “Listening Project” she worked with 325 residences to create the idea of a Community Land Trust.  This Trust was the idea of taking any publically owned land revitalizing it with new homes that could be purchased by citizens but at time of sale the community gets it back in order to sell it again at an affordable price.   The Mayor signed the Land Bank Bill and it is in effect today.

This Land Bank Idea gives GUCDC the example that if one plans ahead they can ultilize public owned property to meet the needs of the community rather than developers “driving the open market”.  Three prime commercial buildings that could impact the community and institutionalize the “Arts and Culture” we want to instill in the community are YMCA, Germantown High School, and Town Hall.

Betty Turner, a long time Germantown resident, spoke of the ebbs and flows of Germantown and how she lived in Germantown when it was a thriving clean, active community in the 50s and how she stayed through the bad times and wants to be able stay once it gets revitalized and not get pushed out.

One Community member who is new to the GU board stated in one workshop group, “Don’t Move; Improve.”

Allan Greenberger made an anecdotal example about how government work by talking about how the Streets Department has a limited yearly budget for the city and how this year they are spending 70% of it redoing the corner ADA accessible ramps to meet new standards and applications.  He said that even though only a small percentage of the population will be affected by these changes they have the loudest voice so we are complying with their requests.

Meg Sowell, an attendee, stated that  when she’s done work with Germantown there are so many loud and disparate voices that it’s hard to get things done because they’re no clear objective due to so many voices speaking at once.  She stated that when she did work near LaSalle there was one group that she worked with that got a lot done in part because they used two “Americacore volunteers to do the legwork.”   She stated that Germantown United needs to help touch citizens to come together to compromise and rally their voices to meet a few most important issues/wants by not working in silos but working together.  She stated GU needs to get Ameriacore volunteers or the like, right away, to help better the independent RCOs to work better and rally together.

  • July 21, 2023

Germantown’s PARK(ing) day features artistic energy, civic collaboration

germantown_parking_day_20120923_1091462865 germantown_parking_day_20120923_1589828028

September 23, 2012
By Alaina Mabaso for NewsWorks

Germantown residents didn’t seem to mind giving up several parking spaces for some unorthodox temporary arts and community installations which were part of an international event which came to the neighborhood on Friday.

Germantown’s 2012 PARK(ing) Day participants said that their stations, set up in metered parking spaces commandeered worldwide for the day-long event, attracted many curious passersby.

On the 300 block of W. Chelten Ave., the Germantown United Community Development Corporation rolled several giant triangular boards into two parking spaces.

http://www.newsworks.org/index.php/local//germantownwest-oak-lane/44623-parking-day

  • July 21, 2023

Germantown Second Saturday Festival is Saturday, July 8, 2017, 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Facebook-Cover-Photo-Germantown-Festival

Germantown Second Saturday Festival is Saturday, July 8, 2017 from 12 p.m. – 5 p.m. 
Eat, Shop, Play, Learn & Experience Germantown!
Presented by Historic Germantown & Germantown United CDC

Germantown, Philadelphia, PA – The Germantown Second Saturday Festival will be held on Saturday, July 8, 2017 from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. in Northwest Philadelphia’s Germantown neighborhood. The festival will take place along a one-block stretch of Germantown Avenue, between School House Lane and Coulter Street, and surround Market Square Park (5501 Germantown Avenue). Rain or shine. (Event rescheduled from previous date of May 13 due to weather.)

The community festival, presented by Historic Germantown and Germantown United Community Development Corporation, invites the public to experience Germantown. The festival celebrates the kick-off the Second Saturday series–when all 16 Historic Germantown sites are open monthly–and showcases the many thriving cultural, civic, and business attractions and activities that make Germantown an exciting place to live and visit.

Scenes from the 2016 Germantown Second Saturday Festival.

Performance

Throughout the day, musicians, poets, and creative performing artists will take to the main stage on Germantown Avenue.

The headlining performance by The Universal African Dance & Drum Ensemble will close out the event with an hour-long show. The troupe is sensational and electrifying, and features amazing stilt walkers, dancers, drummers, and ground masquerades with an exciting acrobatic performance. The Universal African Dance & Drum Ensemble represents the beauty of African culture and is considered one of the best of its kind by scholars and African Djelis (historians).

Musical talent includes popular local artists: Danie Ocean Band, Jim and Andrew Dragoni, and many others. Germantown resident Yolanda Wisher, the City of Philadelphia’s Poet Laureate, will host the festivities.

Pictured: 1. Yolanda Wisher, City of Philadelphia’s Poet Laureate
(Photo by Jill Saull); 2. & 3. The Universal African Dance & Drum Ensemble; 4. Jim Dragoni; 5. Twin Poets Nnamdi Chukwuocha & Albert Mills (Photo by Cylinda McCloud-Keal); 6. Wissahickon Dance School (Photo by Jill Saull).

Thank You to Our Amazing Lineup!

  • Yolanda Wisher, Host, City of Philadelphia’s Poet Laureate
  • Universal African Dance and Drum Ensemble, Headliner
  • Danie Ocean and Band (neo soul singer/songwriter)
  • Jim and Andrew Dragoni (guitar & percussion organ)
  • The Twin Poets (Nnamdi Chukwuocha & Albert Mills, Delaware’s Poet Laureate)
  • Wissahickon Dance Academy (dance performance)
  • Karen Smith and Friends (percussionist)
  • The Tia McNeil Band (R&B)
  • The Kama-Sahlor Group (hip/hop & modern inspirational dance)
  • Bria Jordan (youth poet)
  • And more!

Family Fun

The family-friendly Festival will also feature a Kid Zone with moon bounce, face painting, and many art-fueled interactive activities. The Germantown Artists Roundtable will invite festival-goers to create a work of art they can take home at the Imagination Station. The Free Library of Philadelphia’s Techmobile will be on-site with books and lots of learning opportunities.

History

Visitors will learn about Historic Germantown’s 16 extraordinary historic houses, destinations, and museums, including Awbury Arboretum, Ebenezer Maxwell Mansion, Grumblethrope, and Wyck.

The two sites located within the festival grounds, the Germantown Historical Society and Deshler-Morris House (The Germantown Whitehouse), will be open for tours. At the Historical Society, visitors can view the Elephants on the Avenue Gallery Show featuring work by Sonia Sanchez, Barbara Bullock, Benjamin Volta, Yolanda Wisher, Diane Pieri, Ife Nii Owoo and local community members. Learn more at freedomsbackyard.com.

PRESIDENT GEORGE WASHINGTON lived here twice, to seek refuge from the 1793 Yellow Fever epidemic in Philadelphia and as a summer retreat for the First Family in 1794. This National Park Service site also interprets over three centuries of Germantown history, the 1777 Battle of Germantown and former owners of this historic house, including the Morris family.

Eat + Shop

Over 25 vendors will participate in the Art & Craft Vendor Marketplace, coordinated by Germantown United CDC. Local eateries and visiting food trucks including Uptown BBQ Grill, Sweet Lavender, Hardy Funnel Cakes, and The Lunchbox will be serving up good eats. Attendees can also get to know many of Germantown’s civic and community organizations, including Friends of Vernon Park, Germantown Life Enrichment Center, and others.

This is the second year Germantown United CDC and Historic Germantown have partnered on the Festival to bring renewed attention and interest to a little-used neighborhood park and public space, and kick-off Historic Germantown’s monthly Second Saturday series.

The festival will be held rain or shine!

Festival Parking, Public Transit, and Road Closures

The festival is accessible by SEPTA. Bus Routes: 23 Bus, XH Bus; Chestnut Hill East Regional Rail: Germantown Station (150 E Chelten Ave). Visit http://www.septa.org for schedules.

Street parking is available near the festival grounds.

Limited free off-street parking is also available. Festival parking is permissible at the Citizens Bank Lot at 5500 Germantown Ave (enter from W School House Ln).

Road closures: Germantown Avenue between School House Lane & Coulter Street, and the unit block of E Church Lane will be closed to all traffic from 7 a.m.  – 7 p.m.

About

Historic Germantown
Historic Germantown is a partnership organization serving historic sites in Philadelphia’s Old German Township that works collaboratively to preserve its extraordinary historic assets, increase access, interpret them to the public and raise their visibility. Learn more at freedomsbackyard.com.

Germantown United CDC
The mission of Germantown United Community Development Corporation (GUCDC) is to promote and facilitate the revitalization of the business corridors in the Germantown neighborhood of Northwest Philadelphia through a sustainable, creative, and community-driven approach to economic development. Learn more at http://germantownunitedcdc.org.

#     #     #

Press Contacts

To request interviews and high-resolution photos, please contact:

Emaleigh Doley, Commercial Corridor Manager, Germantown United CDC
215-856-4303, [email protected]  

Trapeta Mayson, Executive Director, Historic Germantown
215-844-1683, Ext. 101, [email protected]

Thank you to our generous sponsors!

Germantown Special Services District
Kurtz Construction Company
Univest
Germantown Friends School
Nolan Painting
Germantown United CDC is receives year-round support by:
Philly Office Retail, Post Brothers Apartments, Harvest Equities, Bracken Leadership, Elfant Wissahickon Realtors, Berkshire Hathahway-Lorretta Witt, Pik-A-Panel True Value Hardware,  Germantown Friends School, David Hamme, and the Drumcliff Foundation. Thanks also to PNC Regional Foundation, Allen Hilles Fund, 1772 Foundation, Philadelphia Activities Fund, Wells Fargo Corporate Foundation, Key Bank, and City of Philadelphia Department of Commerce
  • October 1, 2019

“For the Love of Germantown” Postponed

We regret to inform the Germantown community that our annual For the Love of Germantown celebration has been postponed. Fear not: the fundraising event will be rescheduled in 2020. We sincerely apologize for any disappointment this may cause and look forward to celebrating Germantown with you next year. We hope that you will grace the occasion with your presence (or sponsorship) when it is held, date to be announced.

  • October 17, 2017

Germantown Market Square Pop-Up Farmers Market, Sunday, Oct. 8

The Germantown Market Square Pop-Up Farmers Market will be held on Sunday, October 8 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Market Square Park, located at 5501 Germantown Ave (between School House Ln and Church Ln). The market will feature goods from Wild Flour Bakery, Sweet LadyBug Gluten Free Bakery, Weavers Way Co-op, Lancaster Hummus Company, Germantown Kitchen Garden, and more.

Why a pop-up farmers market? Germantown United CDC, Weavers Way Co-op, and Greener Pastures are assessing the level of interest of consumers in the community for a permanent weekly farmers market. Come experience the pop-up! For more information: 215-856-4303 or [email protected].

Can’t attend? Take this short survey and help us gather information and build a market that provides the products and services you desire. Survey >>

  • October 17, 2017

Partners in Preservation: Main Streets Open House Weekend, Saturday, Oct. 7

Germantown is one of 25 historic Main Street districts across the country participating in the Partners in Preservation: Main Streets Open House Weekend. To celebrate, Germantown United CDC will host an Open House on Saturday, October 7 from 1 p.m. – 6 p.m. at the organization’s first storefront office, located at 5320 Germantown Avenue, at the corner of W Penn Street. We invite you to come by and see our new headquarters. The Open House will also coincide with the Revolutionary Germantown Festival, a neighborhood-wide event honoring the legacy of the Battle of Germantown. We’ll have some light bites, activities, and a voting booth for you to place your daily “Vote Your Main Street” votes for Germantown. RSVP on Facebook >>

Reminder! Give a boost to local businesses. #VoteGermantown daily five times a day now through October 31 via VoteYourMainStreet.Org/Germantown. Tell your friends! Vote today (and every day) >>

  • September 18, 2017

Germantown Business Info Session: How to Define Your Target Market

Germantown United CDC’s next Germantown Business Info Session, organized in partnership with The Business Center, will be held on Wednesday, July 19 from 8 a.m. – 10 a.m. at the Germantown Life Enrichment Center, located at 5722 Greene Street (across from Vernon Park). Start your day with us! Refreshments will be provided.

Meeting Topic

How to Define Your Target Market
Who are your customers in Germantown? Learn about the consumers living and shopping in Germantown, and define the target market for your business.

SPEAKERS: Rojer Kern, Philadelphia Department of Commerce; and Meg Sowell, Real Estate Strategies, Inc.*

***Germantown United CDC has been working with Real Estate Strategies, Inc. (RES) to conduct a market study and develop a revitalization strategy for the Chelten Avenue commercial corridor in Germantown. The purpose and objectives of this study are to explore opportunities to strengthen and diversify the mix of commercial uses in the corridor, the potential to reuse vacant or underutilized properties, business and job attraction strategies, and available sources of funding to support recommended revitalization strategies. At the Business Info Session on July 19, Meg Sowell will speak about her findings thus far.

Who can attend?

Anyone who owns a local business, or is interested in opening a business in Germantown is welcome to attend. This program is FREE. To RSVP call Germantown United CDC at 215-856-4303 or email [email protected].

About the series

Germantown Business Info Sessions are held bi-monthly and feature invited speakers who give brief presentations about resources that can benefit local businesses, and updates on GUCDC’s work as it relates to the local business community. All sessions include time for attendees to network, ask questions, and talk with Germantown United CDC staff members. 

First Niagara Foundation color logo

GU’s Germantown Business Info Session series is made possible with support from First Niagara Foundation.

  • September 18, 2017

Germantown Business Info Session: Activate Your Storefront, Wednesday, Sept. 20

Germantown United CDC’s next Germantown Business Info Session, organized in partnership with The Business Center, will be held on Wednesday, September 20 from 8 a.m. – 10 a.m. at the Germantown Life Enrichment Center, located at 5722 Greene Street (across from Vernon Park). Start your day with us! Refreshments will be provided.

Meeting Topic

Activate Your Storefront, and Use Marketing & Social Media to Increase Business
Learn about the storefront improvement program and resources available to Germantown businesses to make façade renovations, and get tips on representing your business online.

Who can attend?

Anyone who owns a local business, or is interested in opening a business in Germantown is welcome to attend. This program is FREE. To RSVP call Germantown United CDC at 215-856-4303 or email [email protected].

About the series

Germantown Business Info Sessions are held bi-monthly and feature invited speakers who give brief presentations about resources that can benefit local businesses, and updates on GUCDC’s work as it relates to the local business community. All sessions include time for attendees to network, ask questions, and talk with Germantown United CDC staff members. 

First Niagara Foundation color logo

GU’s Germantown Business Info Session series is made possible with support from First Niagara Foundation.

  • May 11, 2017

Important Weather Update About Germantown Second Saturday Festival May 13

Due to inclement weather, all outdoor components of the Germantown Second Saturday Festival, originally scheduled for Saturday, May 13 from 12pm – 5pm, will be postponed.

The indoor components of the festival are on as planned. An updated schedule is included below. The outdoor festivities, including Live Music & Performance, Art & Craft Vendor Marketplace, Kid Zone, and Food Trucks, will be rescheduled for Saturday, July 8 from 12pm – 5pm. Stay tuned for updated information about the rescheduled events.

Programs on as planned:

This Saturday, May 13, 2017, our event partner Historic Germantown invites you to experience the following indoor activities at the Germantown Historical Society (5501 Germantown Ave), starting at 10am.
  • 10am – 1pm Petitions and Social Justice with Artist Ben Volta
    Elephants on the Avenue artist Ben Volta returns for his second workshop and the final workshop of the Art, History and Engagement series, Petitions for Social Justice and Change, to take place at Historic Germantown. In this workshop neighbors will be introduced to the 1688 Petition against slavery. Register and learn more >>
  • 1pm – 3pm Elephants on the Avenue Gallery Show Opening Reception
    Artwork created over the 18 months of Historic Germantown’s Pew Center for Arts and Heritage project, Elephants on the Avenue will be on display in our gallery. View tunnel books, fans, haiku poetry and other pieces created around the topics of race, class, and community in Historic Germantown. This special exhibit, curated by Renny Molenaar, features commissioned work by Visual Artists Ife Nii Owoo, Diane Pieri, Barbara Bullock and Benjamin Volta and Poets Sonia Sanchez and Yolanda Wisher and by community members. Register and learn more >>

Tours:

Both historical attractions located within the festival grounds, the Germantown Historical Society and Deshler-Morris House (The Germantown Whitehouse), will be open for tours.

Trolley Tours 

Hop aboard a vintage trolley and discover the neighbor’s fascinating history. The adventurous can board free bus tours to other Historic Germantown sites, led by Historic Germantown’s Elephants on the Avenue project historians Abigail Perkiss and Molefi Asante, departing from the Germantown Historical Society (5501 Germantown Ave).

  • 1 p.m. Ride on Bus Tour of Historic Attractions
    This tour will only drive by the historic sites. Visitors will not leave the bus. Register in advance >>
  • 2:30 p.m. On & Off Bus Tour of Historic Attractions
    Visitors will tour Germantown and leave the bus at two stops. Register in advance >>