The New Kensington Community Development Corporation (NKCDC) is collaboratively carrying out a series of events aimed at developing an actionable plan for neighborhood revitalization through greening initiatives in Kensington. The project, titled “Co-Creating a Green Print for Kensington,” will run through April at the Kensington Engagement Center.
The initiative includes urban agriculture skills workshops, community conversations exploring ways to support a healthier neighborhood, and meetings with residents to co-create a shared plan. For the past 40 years, NKCDC has been guided by the principle that community development can and should benefit all Kensington residents.
Bill McKinney, NKCDC’s executive director since 2020, stated:
“For four months, we are focused on creating an ecological greening plan for Kensington, working with many collaborators and communities to talk about what people want and their vision. On this occasion, Philly Boricuas addressed land sovereignty, which is part of Puerto Rican identity both in Philadelphia and on the Island, and it is an issue we must continue to address.”
On March 14, Philly Boricuas presented “Planting Seeds of Resistance,” featuring the screening of two videos on food sovereignty in Puerto Rico: How Puerto Rico Lost Its Food Sovereignty and The Migrant Kitchen. According to the organization Vida Campesina, food sovereignty is the right of peoples to define their own agricultural and food policies, prioritizing local, sustainable, and culturally appropriate production.
The Philly Boricuas event encouraged dialogue among participants and included presentations by Vanessa Maria Graber, Charito Morales, Justin Roig, and José Caballo, who spoke about the importance of sustainable urban agriculture. This practice involves the cultivation, processing, and distribution of food within cities using ecological methods, such as community gardens.
“We want to teach the new generations in this city about urban agriculture—from planting in a small cup to growing fruits or vegetables in the ground and bringing them to the table. It’s about nourishing from the inside out with healthy food and building a better community,” Charito Morales shared. She added that consuming frozen foods or foods high in salt contributes to hypertension and diabetes.
A study led by the University of Pennsylvania, published in 2018 in collaboration with the medical journal JAMA Network Open, found that transforming 541 vacant lots into green spaces in Philadelphia reduced feelings of depression by 41.5% and self-reported poor mental health by nearly 63% among residents living near the greened lots. The study also found up to a 29% reduction in gun violence in areas surrounding the lots studied.
The Kensington Engagement Center, located at 3000 Kensington Avenue in North Philadelphia, is a space that offers residents the opportunity to co-create strategies to address neighborhood challenges and achieve collective goals. Philly Boricuas is a grassroots organization dedicated to activating the Puerto Rican community in the city and encouraging participation in community advocacy, both in Philadelphia and for families on the Island.