New Kensington Community Development Corporation (NKCDC)

Our team celebrated another year of growing and expanding in new and exciting directions at our annual holiday party at @philadelphiabrewingcompany! Want to join this wonderful team and be a part of a growing organization committed to co-creating real change? Head to our job board at nkcdc.org/jobs to explore open opportunities!

Last week, NKCDC attended "Leaving a Legacy Through Homeownership", two informational events hosted by the Neighborhood Advisory Committee and the Philadelphia Housing Authority! Participants learned about on real estate planning and debt reduction, as well as getting connected to first time homebuyer programs and home repair services! The Neighborhood Advisory Subcommittees ensure that residents throughout Philadelphia are able to access relevant and meaningful services that create and preserve homeownership, while resisting displacement of longtime residents, supporting residents in becoming leaders through workforce development initiatives, and improving overall community health.  NKCDC is proud to serve as a NAC organization, promoting community engagement and resident participation thanks to the funding from the City of Philadelphia's Division of Housing and Community Development.

Through an ongoing planning and implementation process called Co-Creating Kensington, more than 650 community members have been identifying their priorities for Kensington. Over the last several months, NKCDC and Doing Good Well have been working together to identify a collaborative of partners and community stakeholders who can work with residents on implementing strategies to address the community’s self-determined priorities. Last week, we held the first meeting to begin discussing a collaborative project to address mental health and housing stability in Kensington with eight organizations including trauma specialists, organizations with specialization in root-cause assessment, workforce development partners, medical providers, substance use disorder support services, and mental health service providers. It’s when stakeholders recognize the power and ownership of residents, acknowledge their strengths and limitations, and find the right seat at the table to offer what they can, we can create creative and effective solutions for the long-term. Stay tuned in the coming months for more on this collaborative project happening in Kensington! To find out more, head to kensingtonplan.org and doinggoodwell.org.

NKCDC’s Nourish team works with community partners to provide direct access to nutritious food. For Thanksgiving, Nourish provided 250+ meals in partnership with Visitation! We’re grateful to the partners who donated and supported getting meals to 250+ families for Thanksgiving through a choice-based model! Thank you to our partners for helping make this possible: @riverwardsproduce @shopritestores The Richmond Shops IGA @kpfinemeats @cousins_supermarket @circlethrift @who_can_we_help_llc @phillyfoodrescue @small_things_philly @philabundance The Philadelphia Prison Orchard

"I operate from the theory of change, that starts with all solutions need to be trauma-informed, comprehensive, and community driven." In a discussion with WURD Radio Eco with host P.O.C., NKCDC Executive Director, Dr. Bill McKinney laid out the organization's theory of change in its approach to community development in Kensington. Through trauma-informed, participatory, and comprehensive strategies that are preventative in nature and with Kensington residents as co-creators in the solutions for their neighborhoods, a path for community healing can emerge and a resident-led vision for the community can take form. Interested in collaborating in the Co-Creating process? Head to kensingtonplan.org to learn more.

"I think that things are always inspired by residents. I think that our true power comes through any sort of strategy that is community driven," While on WURD Radio Eco WURD Show with host P.O.C. to discuss Opioid Settlement funding, NKCDC's executive director Dr. Bill McKinney emphasized the importance of community driven and participatory strategies to co-creating solutions in Kensington. Community driven solutions are more sustainable because they are owned by those most affected by the outcomes. Co-creation ensures that power and ownership of processes and interventions remain with residents. Strategies that are community driven, trauma-informed, and comprehensive, a path for community healing can emerge and a resident-led vision for the community can take form. To learn more about our community driven process, Co-Creating Kensington, visit KensingtonPlan.org.

On October 30th at The Hive, we had the privilege of hosting a community-building conversation about Co-Creating Kensington: An ongoing, flexible, and participatory planning/implementation process in Kensington facilitated by social justice partner New Kensington Community Development Corporation (NKCDC) and Impact Services. There, attendees grappled with what has been achieved and what lies ahead for this important participatory work that is applicable to all communities. Nearly 40 leaders representing direct service, policy advocacy, law enforcement, city government and philanthropy came together to discuss this matter in an effort to yield greater engagement, strength-based roles, and resources for community defined priorities. To hear more about these plans and how you can be involved, check out their website here: https://lnkd.in/emFFmd9u

We are still accepting donations for our annual Thanksgiving Giveaway at Visitation! Thank you to all who have donated so far, your donation will help make sure neighborhood families have a Thanksgiving meal this year. To donate to NKCDC’s Thanksgiving giveaway fund, you can use Venmo (https://lnkd.in/euXaD5VC) or PayPal (https://lnkd.in/edcD2-Ur) , and make sure to label your donation as "Thanksgiving Food Donation"!

NKCDC was recently awarded a state grant to build a new retaining wall, new fencing, and new gates at the former Greensgrow Farms! Thank you to Representative Joseph Hohenstein and Senator Nikil Saval for your support and the investments being made in urban agriculture and green spaces for Kensington, Fishtown, and Port Richmond residents! This funding is a necessary investment to secure the future of this space. We want to honor Greensgrow's legacy and reiterate that this land will not be sold or developed for housing. NKCDC is committed to co-creating the future of this space with the community and ensuring that it remains an urban agricultural hub that is accessible to the neighborhood and the rest of Philadelphia.

Thank you to NeighborWorks America and HDC MidAtlantic for organizing the Neighborworks Association of Pennsylvania's annual retreat! We are grateful to be a part of NWAP and to collaborate with other members to increase access to affordable housing in Pennsylvania!