Month: April 2018

Taking A Closer Look: The ACANA CDC Program

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Sharing cultural experiences throughout Philadelphia

Philadelphia commercial corridors especially, the Southwest Philadelphia section of the city are becoming safer. The Corridor is becoming a place where family, residents, and visitors shop and exchange cultural morals and foods.

The ACANA CDC, which is funded by the Office of Neighborhood Economic Development of Philadelphia Department of Commerce, has contract to manage three corridors primary Woodland, Elmwood and Chester Avenues.

The Philadelphia Commerce Department targeted corridor management and  cleaning program as an opportunity to make these commercial corridors culturally friendly for visitors, residents and the business community.

This opportunity for the development of the corridor is receiving national and international attention, in this regard ACANA CDC has received visitors from around the United States to tour these culturally busy commercial corridors. The visitors coming on Woodland Avenue and other commercial avenues in Southwest Philadelphia, leave with notable experiences and understanding of the different ethnic food and other products from Africa.

Visitors to the community interacted freely with immigrants and business owners, residents, and shoppers on the streets and are amazed at the different ethnic food products been sold on the corridors. These products created a level of curiosity in the minds of the visitors and raised many questions.

Above Mr. Voffee Jabateh explained to the visitors the different ethnic food products in a store on Woodland Avenue

There are many questions surrounding the origin of ethnic food products found on the corridor and how they are made.  Visitors are curious to know how possibly they could replicate these type of commercial businesses in their respective cities and towns around the United States.

One these visit occurred on July 4 2017 at which time the CEO of ACANA, Voffee Jabateh who is an immigrant and a Liberian native; quickly explained the usage of the various types of ethnic food products displayed in the stores. He told the visitors, “In order to create such a culturally and integrated commercial corridors in your respective cities and towns’ the cities and township and residents are to be immigrants friendly and culturally adaptable.” The tour ended at Le Mandingue African Restaurant on Woodland Avenue.

 

ACANA works with the Philadelphia Street Department

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ACANA works with the Philadelphia Street Department

The Philadelphia Street Department Spring Clean-up campaign was a concerted success. The effort in Southwest Philadelphia and other parts of the city was coordinated citywide by the Philadelphia Street Department.  The Southwest Philadelphia effort was speared headed by the African Cultural Alliance of North America Inc (ACANA) CDC, in collaborations with several community organizations which included the Liberian Mandingo Association of Pennsylvania, and the Quardu-Gboni Association in the Americas. These organizations mobilized community members to show up for the beautification effort on Saturday, April 14, 2018.

Jubilant crowd takes a picture at the end of the clean-up event

 

The participants came together to cleanup Southwest communities and other parts of the City. The one-day event converged several community members together to beautify the community. Several streets benefited from the efforts along with the main business corridors. The Mount Mariah cemetery and alleyways

Contributors  primarily consisted of immigrants, mainly Africans and other migrant residents of Southwest Philadelphia Many of those participating in the effort felt the need to lend a helping hand in order to  facelift the community.

Many expressed that the  beautifications  of Southwest Philadelphia should not be a one day event and not the sole  responsibility of the Philadelphia Street Department, but should include residents business owners and other  properties owners and business.

The group included males, females, young people, and the elderly people all jubilant and eager during the cleaning process at the end the efforts commercial corridors and alleyways in Southwest appeared inviting to Tourists, shoppers and other visitors.

Southwest Philadelphia is emerging as the “African Town”, a concept that is gaining attraction. Residents hopeful  that as a  gateway to the City of Philadelphia, Southwest will take its rightful place as a respected community and inviting to  visitors and tourists coming through Philadelphia International Airport and Interstate I-195.  Therefore, keeping the streets and the environment clean will create a decent image for all Philadelphians.

 

 

 

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