NKCDC

NKCDC's Food Systems team will be hosting a variety of Pride-themed workshops, events, and a garden field trip!

Swipe to see everything we have going on this week. For a full list of NKCDC events, head to nkcdc.org/events

NKCDC’s offices are closed today in observance of Juneteenth.

Juneteenth commemorates the day enslaved people in Galveston, Texas learned that they had been freed - more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. The day is both a celebration of Black freedom and a reminder that freedom in America has never been given freely. Progress has come through generations of those who organized, resisted, and disrupted the status quo.

As the nation celebrates America’s semi-quincentennial, Juneteenth this year also invites us to remember a broader history in which the nation’s celebration of freedom and progress hasn’t reflected that of all Americans.

In 1852, only 13 years before Juneteenth, Frederick Douglass delivered a speech commemorating the anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. In response, he asked a question and delivered remarks that still resonate today: What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?

The answer written in commentary form hasn’t lost its power or relevance in Philadelphia in 2026: “What, to the American slave, is your Fourth of July? I answer: a day that reveals to him, more than all other days in the year, the gross injustice and cruelty to which he is the constant victim.”

Forty years later, the nation marked another milestone with the 1893 World’s Fair in Chicago, celebrating the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus’ arrival in the Americas. Yet this celebration too did not represent all Americans. While the World’s Fair is often remembered for its grand architecture and technological achievements, it also reinforced racial hierarchies and excluded Black Americans from full participation and recognition.

Taken together, Juneteenth, Douglass’ 4th of July speech, and the 1893 World’s Fair remind us that progress comes when people are willing to disrupt the status quo and advance truthful histories and solutions to persistent systemic inequities.

Read the op/ed where we pose “what to the oppressed is the semi-quincentennial?” https://share.inquirer.com/CzTFDW. In the spirit of those who came before us, we invite you to join us for A People’s Exposition. Learn more at nkcdc.org/a-peoples-exposition.

Join us on June 24th from 4pm-6pm at the Kensington Engagement Center for a Summit on the impending Philadelphia public-school closures and its impact on youth safety and community violence.

Schools serve as important community anchors, providing education, resources, trusted relationships, and safe spaces for young people. Disruptions caused by school closures can create challenges for youth and families and potentially lead to increased tensions and safety concerns in our neighborhoods.

In an effort to develop an ongoing strategy to address violence as a result of public-school closures, the School Closure Summit will bring together representatives of Community Violence Intervention groups across Philly, youth serving organizations and young people, and Philadelphia Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel in order to build a shared understanding of the challenges ahead, establish what is needed to be effective in addressing them, and identify opportunities for ongoing collaboration and dialogue amongst stakeholders.

This Summit is part of a series of workshops and events happening from now until October as part of A People’s Exposition. As the nation and city celebrate America’s semi-quincentennial, we’re taking a critical and honest look at key issues shaping Philadelphia today, envisioning a more just and equitable future for our city, and acting on co-created solutions.

Learn more at nkcdc.org/a-peoples-exposition, or sign up for our newsletter at https://mailchi.mp/988822e8de98/a-peoples-exposition (link in bio)

New dates, workshops, and partners just added as part of our series of Justice Reform workshops and events in June at the Kensington Engagement Center!

These workshops will look at the facets of the carceral state including prisons, jails, policing, and other practices of enforcement, and explore alternative models of justice and support for individuals. Join us this week and next week for:

- No Way Home Documentary Screening and Discussion with Amistad Law Project Free The Ballot Incarcerated Voter Family Network and Straight Ahead
- Know Your Rights Training and Record Clearing Clinic with Community Legal Services of Philadelphia
- Storytelling and Advocacy Workshop with CeaseFirePA
- School Closure Summit about the impending schools closures and the impact on youth public safety with representatives of youth serving organizations, community violence intervention programs, and Philly’s Police Commissioner

These workshops are part of a series called A People’s Exposition. As the nation and city celebrate America’s semi-quincentennial, we invite everyone to join us from May to October for a citywide exhibit and workshop series to take a critical and honest look at key issues shaping Philadelphia today, to envision a more just and equitable future for our city, and to act on co-created solutions.

Join us at an upcoming event (there will be food!) and be sure to sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date here: https://mailchi.mp/988822e8de98/a-peoples-exposition or to head to nkcdc.org/a-peoples-exposition to learn more.

Grilling in the Garden is back at Tusculum Gateway Garden!

Join us every Wednesday in June from 4PM-6PM for one of our favorite summer events! Each week our Food Systems team will be grilling up a seasonal, veggie focused meal just like this colorful plate from this past week’s Grilling in the Garden!

Come check out the garden, pick some food, and collect flowers next Wednesday! Kids are welcome! Text NKCDCNourish to 833-901-2072 for more garden and cooking event reminders.

We’re thrilled to join Taller Puertorriqueño for Part II of the July 4th Sin Colonias Coalition program at Taller Puertorriqueño on Saturday, June 13. We are connecting the experiences and lessons from the historic 1976 counter-bicentennial protest – when the July 4th Coalition mobilized 40,000 people to a national march in Philadelphia against colonialism and oppression – to the urgent struggles shaping our communities today.

Come to learn about and discuss how the struggle continues in 2026:

- How local activists are building powerful coalitions, as in the recent anti-arena fight
- The key role of arts and artists in building successful movements
- Movement-building responses to this year’s America 250 hype.

In conversation with Debbie Wei (Asian Americans United
); Dr. Bill McKinney (New Kensington Community Development Corporation); and Cesar Viveros (Iglesias Gardens Mural Arts Philadelphia and more!)

Planning a protest action? The event will include a banner and sign-making activity! Refreshments served.

To RSVP and for more information, go to tallerpr.org/events/sincolonias2.

In June, NKCDC Housing Counselors are holding both virtual and in-person homebuyer workshops for first-time home buyers in Philadelphia:

- Tuesday, June 9th from 4PM-8PM (Virtual)
- Wednesday, June 17th from 9:30AM-1:30PM at Coral Street Arts House (2515 Frankford Avenue)
- Saturday, June 27th from 9:30AM-1:30PM in the Orinoka Community Room (2771 Ruth Street, Suite 1)

Whether you're thinking about buying your first home or trying to remember all the steps from the last time, this is the class for you! The first-time homebuyer class is also approved to qualify you for most down payment assistance programs.

Sign up for one of the June Workshops here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/first-time-homebuyer-workshop-english-tickets-1078168333509?msockid=1c47504f9e7f612e0cb145349f786063

Make sure to note location when you sign up!

NKCDC’s Housing team also offers a variety of services such as housing counseling, rental assistance within a targeted area of Kensington, energy efficiency and weatherization services, mortgage default advice, income and tax rebates, and financial coaching. Find more information and request an appointment here: https://nkcdc.org/housing-services/

Join us on June 11th from 3PM-7PM for a community event to kick-off our focus on Justice Reform as part of A People’s Exposition at the Kensington Engagement Center (3000 Kensington Avenue).

On June 11th in honor of June being Gun Violence and Re-entry Awareness Month, we’re coming together to explore the root causes of violence, the impact of incarceration on communities, and alternative models of care. The event will span the Kensington Engagement Center, the McPherson Gateway Garden, and the brand-new McPherson Discovery Path!

This is part of a series of workshops and events called A People’s Exposition. As the nation and city celebrate America’s semi-quincentennial (250th), we invite everyone to join us from May to October for a citywide exhibit and engagement series to take a critical and honest look at key issues shaping Philadelphia today, to envision a more just and equitable future for our city, and to act on co-created solutions that address our greatest challenges.

Learn more at nkcdc.org/a-peoples-exposition, or sign up for our newsletter at https://mailchi.mp/988822e8de98/a-peoples-exposition

The last several weeks have been incredibly difficult for Lee’s Dumplings.

The restaurant experienced a waste pipe blockage and backflow issue that forced the business to close on March 31, 2026. What started a nuisance slow drain became a major sanitation and infrastructure emergency for this small family-run business.

Gally and his wife officially opened Lee’s Dumplings in May 2024 after building their dream through their prepared meal service, Meals Direct. They reinvested everything into opening the restaurant, making this truly a labor of love.

When this emergency happened, NKCDC sprang into action and helped Gally secure a $5,000 mini grant through the Kensington Business Assistance Program to cover plumbing repairs. The needed repairs turned out to be much more extensive than anticipated, including replacing plumbing that had become clogged with concrete due to new construction next door.

NKCDC's economic development team worked closely with Gally to complete an emergency grant application with the Merchant's Fund, organize financials, and advocate directly with Natalie, the Program Director, who was incredibly supportive!

We’re incredibly grateful to share that Lee’s Dumplings was awarded an additional $20,000 through the Merchant's Fund to support recovery and reopening efforts! This funding enabled repairs by Plumbing Pals, who quickly completed all needed repairs.

On Monday, May 11th, Lee’s Dumplings reopened and is operating at full capacity! Special shoutout to everyone who stepped in and worked together to make this possible, including The Merchants Fund and Plumbing Pals!

You can support Lee's Dumplings by visiting their website: https://www.leesdumplingsandstuff.com/

The District Attorney’s Office, the We Speak Youth Advisory Board, and the DATA CoLab are hosting a hands-on data visualization and art workshop. Explore the scale and impact of the justice system, then think creatively about how to transform data into art. This interactive workshop combines learning, discussion, and artistic expression.

This event is part of a series of workshops and events called A People’s Exposition. As the nation and city celebrate America’s semi-quincentennial, we invite everyone to join us from May to October for a citywide exhibit and engagement series to take a critical and honest look at key issues shaping Philadelphia today, to envision a more just and equitable future for our city, and to act on co-created solutions that address our greatest challenges.

To support meaningful participation, we're offering stipends to a limited number of participants committed to engaging deeply in the series! To be eligible for a stipend/certificate, participants must attend at least 3 workshops in a chosen month and 1 additional workshop outside it to encourage cross-topic learning. Learn more and sign up at the link in our bio!

Learn more at nkcdc.org/a-peoples-exposition, or sign up for our newsletter at https://mailchi.mp/988822e8de98/a-peoples-exposition (link in bio)