News of the Northeast
Philadelphia is a city like no other. From the everlasting tales of chaotic rides on the subway to the unshaken pride for the Philadelphia Eagles, everyone’s heads click in understanding when they think of Philly. Visit Rittenhouse Square and Society Hill for the true tourist experience or wander into Fishtown for some eclectic finds. But what about beyond the city? Philadelphia is home to a variety of neighboring boroughs including Manayunk, East Falls, Ardmore, and Bryn Mawr, all of which have earned their own rise to acclaim, but another neighborhood outside the city with ample amount of culture and horticulture remains undefined yet. Northeast Philadelphia is a diverse community loaded with rich culture from every nearly inch of the globe, which is why Global Philadelphia’s Northeast Project holds high value for diversifying Philadelphia’s heritage reach.
This neighborhood has grown to be a home for many, with language being a crucial component of the Northeast’s allure for immigrants. Post Cold War America saw an influx of immigrants from ex-Soviet territories, including my own parents from Kiev. From one frosty winter to another, my parents, along with so many other immigrants settled into the Philadelphia boroughs and made them their own, learning the ways of the United States and taking it upon themselves to found organizations that aim to aid future immigrants to following the same journey to the Northeast.
Having spent a lot of time in Northeast Philadelphia, I have come to discover some hot spots for culturally enriching meals like Georgian Bread, a small restaurant and bakery that deliver hot and flavorful Georgian cuisine you wouldn’t find unless you sat on a plane and flew for a day. You know the food is good when your parents drive 30 minutes to pick up an authentic Georgian cheese bread.
Through their mission to shine a light on cultural heritage around Philadelphia, GPA turned to the Northeast with high hopes that were not disappointed. Researching cultural organizations around Northeast Philadelphia was the main objective of GPA’s Northeast Project, a task which I jumped to assist with due to my close connection with the area. Most of the organizations I found located in Northeast Philadelphia hold deep international ties with Eastern Europe, due to the high presence of Eastern European immigrants living in the area.
For example, New World Association is an organization devoted to assisting immigrants and refugees acclimate to life in America through ESL classes, financial and family literacy workshops and classes, and citizenship test practice. Similarly, I found two other cultural organizations, one centered on Belarussian-Americans and spreading awareness about the oppressive regime in Belarus, and the other on Lithuanian culture and history through music, folk dance, books, and more. The aim of both of these organizations is to underline the importance of culture despite immigration and how it allows people to find community.
Leaning towards greenery and horticulture, I had heard of Glen Foerd before, but that was the extent of my knowledge. Through the Northeast Project, I was able to dive into the intricacy of Glen Foerd and discover what they do, as well as learn the interesting history behind the grounds. Now a museum, the grounds feature an elegant mansion built in the 1850’s style of Greek Revival, as well as 18 acres of rare trees, shrubbery, gardens, and a vineyard. Through their many youth programs, Glen Foerd aims to form a community of environmentally conscious and inquisitive people, placing their efforts in education through hands-on experiences.
With each of these organizations come questions regarding their connection to GPA, as per the research project. As GPA aims to highlight culture and heritage around Philadelphia and its neighboring boroughs, the organizations I discuss each play a pivotal role in shaping the minds of people primarily through education, which GPA holds dear to its missions.
The Northeast Project conducted by GPA is just the beginning of spreading awareness about the potential Northeast Philadelphia holds as a multi-cultural center of Philadelphia. With its numerous communities of varying nationalities, such as Ukrainians, Georgians, and Turkish, there is a plethora of knowledge and history to behold when you take the time to explore the Northeast and all it has to offer.
Interested in learning even more about the Northeast? Visit our communities page and explore the diverse nationalities that call the Northeast home.
northeast Philadelphia - a glimpse into eastern europe
Cover photo credit: Billy Penn at WHYY
