#powercorpsphl

By Kim Cook Carousel House Farm Manager & Educator

Parks & Rec’s FarmPhilly program supports urban farming projects on Parks & Rec land. One of our most valuable partnerships is with Philly’s amazing PowerCorpsPHL. PowerCorpsPHL is a workforce and professional development program. Program participants are paid for their work and gain career experience.

FarmPhilly and PowerCorps crews work together on projects at our farms and gardens. It's a win-win:

FarmPhilly receives help completing various projects

PowerCorps members learn gardening skills

PowerCorps has helped make FarmPhilly the successful program it is!

This season FarmPhilly is hosting a PowerCorps Fellow for the first time. Vashon Michie will help with these projects:

seeding, weeding, and pruning.

educational programming

volunteer workdays.

Welcome Vashon – we look forward to working with you!

In March and April, Philadelphia Parks & Recreation asked our staff members to share pictures that demonstrate how they make a difference in the community. Three of those entries are below, and we’ll post more soon!

Lindsey Walker, TreePhilly

“TreePhilly team member Lindsey Walker (right) at the fall 2014 yard tree giveaway at the Pennypack Environmental Center. TreePhilly, part of the Urban Forestry & Ecosystem Management division, provides free trees for city residents to plant on private property. We're making Philly the City of Arborly Love, one yard at a time!”

John McBride, Bridesburg Recreation Center

“I’ve attached two photos: the first is myself and a group of volunteers from the RealLife Community Church during a clean up day that was instrumental in prepping the pool for a successful 2014 season. The second, I am flying model airplanes with a group of children from the Bridesburg Tot Recreation Program. The point of both pictures is no matter how old or how young, everyone in the community can make their community a better and happier place. As recreation leaders in the Program unit, we are blessed to be a major conduit through which a community grows, thrives, and helps other communities.”

Dan Brown, PowerCorps PHL

“This spring, one of our five outstanding PowerCorps PHL Parks & Recreation crews reopened a section of walking path boarding Randolph Creek and Reservoir Drive in East Fairmount Park. This project was created and executed in close collaboration between the Fairmount Park Conservancy, the Philadelphia Water Department and Philadelphia Parks & Recreation. Improving accessibility and public safety is just one of the many ways PowerCorps supports our parks and recreation centers.”

"Find Your Path" Stories

Chaz Brown, Seasonal Maintenance Attendant Parkside Evans Playground