Community LandCare Groups
 Centro Pedro Claver, Inc.
3565 N. 7th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19140
Centro Pedro Claver, Inc. is a community-based agency primarily serving low-income residents in the Franklinville section of Eastern North Philadelphia. Created by Father Dave Ungerleider and the Puerto Rican Alliance in the late 1970s, the nonprofit offers programming in advocacy, youth activities, social services, education, employment, and housing. Centro Pedro Claver provides service to approximately 3,000 people annually.
Community LandCare Member: July 2003
Staff: 6 full-time, 3 to 5 part-time
Number of parcels: 277
Region: Fairhill
 East Park Revitalization Alliance
3237 W. Montgomery Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19121
East Park Revitalization Alliance (EPRA) was organized in 2002 as a community-based project in the Strawberry Mansion section of North Philadelphia. Its main focus is community greening, public arts advocacy, and nutrition. Through partnerships with schools, agencies, businesses, and residents, the group began their revitalization efforts by planting street trees, creating community gardens, and promoting the Mural Arts Program. Their growth in 2004 brought them into stabilizing vacant lots, working with developers in Brewerytown, and conducting a nature/nutrition-based youth summer camp.
Community LandCare Member: July 2004
Staff: 20 part-time, 8-person crew hired directly from the neighborhood.
Parcels: 225+
Region: Strawberry Mansion, Brewerytown
 New Kensington CDC
2515 Frankford Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19125
New Kensington Community Development Corporation was established in 1985 to revitalize the New Kensington/Fishtown community through real estate development, vacant land management, housing counseling, and economic development. The group established a neighborhood-based open space management program in 1996. To date, New Kensington CDC has reclaimed more than 60 percent of the 1,100 vacant parcels in the neighborhood.
Community LandCare Member: July 2003
Staff: 14 full-time staff, 4-person crew
Parcels: 216
Region: Kensington/Fishtown/Port Richmond
 Ready, Willing & Able
1211 Bainbridge Street
Philadelphia, PA 19147
Originated in New York City, the Philadelphia chapter of Ready, Willing & Able (RWA) opened in 2001. The residential work-training program of The Doe Fund, Inc., RWA is a nonprofit that seeks to empower people to break out of the cycle of homelessness, welfare dependency, and incarceration. RWA employs, empowers, and supports homeless people in their effort to achieve self-sufficiency. Participation in the program lasts from 9 to 19 months.
Through PHS/Philadelphia Green, RWA was initially responsible for maintaining 58 vacant lots in the American Street Empowerment Zone (ASEZ); that number has since grown tremendously through the years.
Community LandCare Member: July 2003
Staff: 5- to 10-person crew
Parcels: 180
Region: Eastern North Philadelphia
Tioga United, Inc.
2338 W. Tioga Street
Philadelphia, PA 19140
Tioga United began as a result of periodic greening projects performed by community volunteers, including children, in Allegheny. Tioga United was recognized as a nonprofit in May 2002. Identified as an area plagued with creeping blight, the Tioga community has experienced a wave of demolition as part of the Neighborhood Transformation Initiative. More than half of the abandoned and dangerously dilapidated houses targeted for demolition have been torn down, and Tioga United hopes to restore the lots for clean and green purposes.
Community LandCare Member: July 2003
Staff: 6-person crew
Parcels: 218
Region: Tioga
 SELF, Inc.
121 N. Broad Street, 4th Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19107
The mission of SELF, Inc. is to have Philadelphia’s shelter system serve as addiction-free community support networks. Through the “SELF Growth” program, the men have gained manual work experience and have learned the value of giving back to the community.
Notable accomplishments of this program include the partnering with Penn State Cooperative Extension; which resulted in 75 men receiving an Urban Master Gardener certificate in the field of landscaping and horticulture.
Community LandCare Member: July 2003
Staff: Two 11-person crews
Parcels: 600 total
Region: North Central Philadelphia and Southwest Philadelphia
 University City District
3940 Chestnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104
University City District (UCD) was established in 1997. An independent, nonprofit organization, UCD seeks to build effective partnerships to maintain a clean and safe environment and to promote, plan, and advocate for University City’s community. Its full-time administrative staff manages programs and services that enhance public space, increase public safety, assist homeowners, and promote University City attractions.
UCD is managed by a Board of Directors and funding comes exclusively from voluntary contributions from University City businesses, institutions, and individuals. Tax-deductible contributions are dedicated to programs and services that enhance the public environment and quality of life in University City.
Community LandCare Member: July 2003
Staff: Two 8-person crews
Parcels: 240
Region: West Philadelphia, Mantua, and Southwest Philadelphia.
 South Philadelphia Block Association/Universal Companies
800 S. 15th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19146
Universal Companies, Inc. was formed in 1993 under the efforts and direction of world-renowned musician/businessman Kenneth Gamble. The revitalization process is concentrated within the South Central Philadelphia area with the hope of building a workable model that can be replicated throughout the nation. This model not only rebuilds the physical environment, but also rebuilds confidence, hope, and the spirit of its people.
Universal Companies has developed more than 250 housing units (rental and homeownership) and 200,000 square feet of commercial space at a total development cost of approximately $90 million. The organization now has more than $1 billion in real estate development projects in its pipeline.
Community LandCare Member: July 2003
Staff: 4-person crew
Parcels: 230
Region: South Philadelphia
 The Village of Arts and Humanities
2544 Germantown Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19133
The Village of Arts and Humanities is a community-based arts, education, and neighborhood development organization in North Philadelphia. Through arts-based programs and activities, the organization works with residents to reclaim abandoned space and rebuild a sense of hope and possibility in their neighborhoods.
Since 1986, the Village of Arts and Humanities has transformed more than 150 parcels of vacant land into 16 parks, gardens, and passageways, which are maintained by Village staff and volunteers.
Community LandCare Member: July 2003
Staff: 5- to 8-person crew
Parcels: 297
Region: North Central Philadelphia
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