Top 5 stories to watch in Northwest Philly

Here’s a look at what’s to come:

 

 

1. Fourth District City Councilman Curtis Jones Jr. hosted his sixth annual Block Captain Boot Camp on Saturday. The event, free for block captains, was held at the Salvation Army Kroc Center near East Falls. It gave residents the chance to learn about and exchange strategies that help keep communities strong. Check back next week for a report from the scene.

2. The Poetry People’s Festival was also held Saturday in Germantown. Hosted by the Black Writers Museum, the all-day event at Vernon Park featured poetry performances, jazz and African dancing. Check back next week to learn more about the annual event.

3. Aug. 28 is the 50th anniversary of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech. A number of Northwest Philadelphians grew up during the Civil Rights Era. Some were on the front lines. We’ll check in with residents young and old next week to see how they feel today about King’s half-century-old words.

4. A Mt. Airy resident will soon travel to a ceramics studio in Hungary for to be its artist-in-residency. There she’ll learn about the country’s ceramics tradition through a variety of visits that will include local villages and museums. Check back next week for the full story.

5. It’s been a tough year for the Philadelphia School District. An ongoing budget crisis has slashed classroom budgets and teaching staffs across the city. Much about the funding picture remains unclear, but at least one thing is certain: Schools will open on time. To help, we’ll bring you our annual guide next week to the first day of school.