Making Philly Your Home: How to Contribute to the North Philadelphia Community as a Temple Student–Without Overstepping

 As Temple students, Philadelphia is only our temporary home, while those who live in the surrounding neighborhoods are here for much longer. Because of this, it’s important to find ways to connect with the area while staying conscious of our place here as students. Here are three ways you can get involved in the area and foster positive growth that can carry on, even after you get your diploma.   

1. Volunteer! 

 There are countless non-profit organizations in Philly that are constantly looking for help. Many of these organizations have specific volunteer events or sign-up options for where and when help is needed. The easiest way to find these opportunities is by getting involved with a student organization on campus; there are countless volunteering or service groups that focus on contributing to the community and connecting students with volunteer opportunities, such as NAMI, Harm Reduction Coalition, Students for Sensible Drug Policy, Honors Community Outreach, Habitat for Humanity, Net Impact, and more. While some of these orgs meet regularly, others meet just once or twice a semester. Joining a service club (or even just their GroupMe!) is a great way to stay informed. Also, many hobby or industry–specific clubs sponsor their own service projects or trips. In October, AMA took a trip to ACCT Philly, an animal care and control nonprofit, and throughout the year, AMA works closely with Philly House.  Notable Philadelphia organizations to work with are the Sunshine House, operated by Operation Save Our City, and The Everywhere Project. Both of these organizations are focused on providing basic necessities and harm reduction to Philadelphians who need it most. You can find more information at https://www.operationsaveourcity.org/get-more-involved  and https://www.everywhereproject.org/volunteer! 

 2. Support the Arts!   

Philadelphia is known for its vibrant arts and culture scene, and there are so many non-profit theaters, museums, and concert halls that would love your support. These organizations are always looking to increase their audience, and better yet–most have discounted student prices!  Going to a local theater is a great way to see a quality show for a better price than one on Broadway or the Avenue for the Arts. InterAct Theater, five minutes from the Walnut-Locust Station on the BSL, is a nonprofit theater dedicated to commissioning new, original works from rising Philadelphia creatives, exploring “social, political, and cultural issues of our time,” per their website. Student tickets are just $20 for most shows. Theaters like these are where Broadway shows and artists get their start; your support now could go a long way. Check out InterAct Theater’s 38th season at https://www.interacttheatre.org/season-38.  If you’re looking to see a film, the Lightbox Film Center has student tickets starting at $13.24. This venue focuses on screening independent, international, and experimental film; the venue allows audiences to see unique films that wouldn’t otherwise be shown in Philadelphia while also supporting the local film industry. Hop on the BSL Southbound, transfer to the L at City Hall, get off at 34th Street, and you’re there.  

You can find a list of all future screenings at https://www.lightboxfilmcenter.org/events-1   

3. Educate Yourself!  

Knowledge is power, and the better understanding we have of our surrounding area, the better we can treat it.  Research local politics, so you understand who makes the important decisions and how they affect you and others. Learn the history of the surrounding neighborhoods, and what you can do to respect it. Understand how the transportations systems work–not just the subway, but the trolley and bus systems too, which are often much more direct and faster.

Temple has a pdf guide to Philly transport, which can be found at: 

https://www.foxchase.org/sites/default/files/assets/Resource%20Guide_Transportation%20in%20Philadelphia.pdf  and Committee of 70’s Guide to City Government can be found at https://seventy.org/uploads/attachments/clmt8ss9401fk4wnpfzbicd6q-how-phillyworks-101.pdf.

It’s also useful to learn how to go about different emergency situations; having the reassurance of knowing the basics of CPR and Narcan administration is useful, and if something were to ever happen, it could save someone’s life. Students for Sensible Drug Policy offers easy 5-minute Narcan training, as well as a plethora of resources for harm reduction and well-being.

If interested, you can email SSDP’s president, April Harwood, at april.harwood@temple.edu.  Living in the city is what you make of it, and there are countless avenues for connection and collaboration. Using this list, combined with research and experiences of our own, we as students can support our community while also learning how to thrive ourselves.   

Romeo Angelini 

Freshman, Marketing Major 

Fox School of Business, Temple University 

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