Let’s Love Logan Day brings neighbors together for food, fun and fitness

When the Let’s Love Logan Community Association disbanded, Logan Community Development Corporation stepped in to host the annual neighborhood festival.

The 14th Let’s Love Logan Day Festival took place at T.S. Park on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Logan CDC works to enhance the lives of Logan residents, said Cicely Peterson-Mangum, the executive director for the CDC.

“It’s a community event,” Peterson-Mangum said. “We celebrate Logan, our progress and our neighbors.”

In previous years, the event took place on Wingohocking Street, but organizers wanted to be more visible. With CDC board member Albert Einstein Healthcare Network’s ties with the park, the festival ended up facing Broad Street, said Leroy Howell, manager of constituency relations at Einstein.

Howell walked around helping with the set up at the beginning. About an hour later, he was being challenged to tennis by cousins Dá-Bryn Santiago, 13, and Robert Smalls IV, 11. But the competition was friendly with Howell complimenting them on good hits.

Other kids’ zone activities included face painting and a moon bounce.

Though there were some new aspects to this year’s event, organizers also linked it to the past. Michael Haywood and Sonya Bryant, co-presidents of Let’s Love Logan and originators of the festival, were honored for their contributions.

At a table with a banner for Creative Kids Club, Georgette King greeted volunteers from Villanova University. The Hoop Starz, a hula hoop dance group that Creative Kids supports, performed on the stage in matching green and black outfits.

Sherita Glen, part of the festival’s host committee and president of the Logan Neighborhood Advisory Council (NAC), worked on finding vendors. Though she had attended the event before, it was the first time she became involved. The Logan NAC sponsored the event and helped organize the festival. Glen said,”I put my time and energy into the neighborhood.”

The event had a strong focus on providing healthcare information and services. Representatives from Quality Community Health Care talked to attendees about medical services for the uninsured and under insured. Kidz Partners offered health screenings. Health Partners invited Adults and children over 10 to learn about their body mass index.

Shafeqah Múmin took advantage of the services, and found out she had lost weight, Múmin brought her granddaughters, who performed with Hoop Starz.

Debbie Howell attended the event with her husband, one of the festival organizers. She sat on a bench beneath the trees watching him play tennis, and decided that this year’s event was an improvement. “I think it’s better this year with the activity for the kids,” she said. “And the hula hoops. That was nice.”