Neighborhood Innovation : Featured Stories

Hyper-local publications have long been a staple of Philly's neighborhoods, providing residents with essential information on their communities. Even in the current woeful journalism landscape, these news sources are staying strong and heading online.

This creative placemaking project sparks conversations across the city. The teepee recently spent a sunny afternoon in West Philadelphia, providing a forum for kids to play and the community to converse.

From fresh produce to banking to heath services, the ShopRite of Parkside offers an astounding array of resources to the neighborhood. Now they're looking to take their community-based model even further with a jazz cafe. Is this the grocery store of the future?

Traumatic childhood experiences can impact mental health, but they can also have serious longterm ramifications for a person's physical health. This troubling echo can plague whole communities -- fortunately, Philly is at the forefront of tackling the problem.

Led by a man with roots in the neighborhood, the latest effort to establish a Community Development Corporation in Parkside also aims to create Philly's first Energy Improvement District -- using electricity to power development and rebirth.

Beginning in spring 2012, Flying Kite spent a year getting to know four amazing local neighborhoods. Now the innovative pop-up program is back and bigger than ever. Where are we headed next? You'll have to click through to find out.

South Fourth Street is a commercial corridor in transition -- long home to the city's fabric industry, this Queen Village thoroughfare is attracting an increasingly diverse slate of boutiques, eateries and maker-centric businesses. 

This South Jersey hamlet is booming -- it boasts a vibrant downtown, wonderful restaurants, historic homes and easy access to Philadelphia. Get in on one of the region's hidden gems.

It's a United Nations of culinary delicacies in Castor Gardens. Whether you're looking for Brazilian, Chinese, Portuguese, Japanese, Indian or Jamaican, this often overlooked neighborhood has you covered.

An innovative new program gives artists studio space and financial support in exchange for tackling projects in the West Philadelphia community. And in a true twist, it's the neighborhood that decides the exact nature of those tasks. 

The Community Connectors program employs a diverse stable of advocates -- from high school students to crossing guards to stay-at-home moms -- to unify and energize neighborhoods across Philadelphia. 

This Germantown gallery and community space celebrates artists with commitment at the intersection of high and low art.

In response to some of the most essential issues of our time, dozens of communities across the U.S. -- including some in Philadelphia -- have formed effective, innovative partnerships with the police, improving safety and trust between residents and law enforcement.

Urban revitalization is not built on stadiums and skyscrapers alone. Vibrant cities begin with passionate people working on the ground, doing the creative heavy lifting to make their communities better. Leading up to Urban Innovation Exchange, September 24-26 in Detroit, we take a look at 13 small projects with big potential.

The recently released schedule only confirms what we already know: This festival is one of Philadelphia's most exciting institutions.