The warm and sunny evening of Monday, July 29th found a group of about 40 locals getting together for a good cause — beautifying the neighborhood, with the perks of live music and BBQ. Sustainable 19125 & 19134 joined forces with Rock to the Future, with the sponsorship of Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia and IndeGo Bike Share to get people out of the house and to make a change on Trenton Avenue.

Sustainable 19125 & 19134’s mission is to create a cleaner and greener environment for its ZIP codes. This event in particular was lead by Michaela Allwine from the Department of Community Engagement. Allwine hears the voices of the people and works with local residents to address and combat issues. A group of roughly ten neighbors meet monthly to discuss movements towards a more beautiful and sustainable neighborhood. The Bicycle Coalition and IndeGo wanted to get in on what Allwine was setting up after hearing about the cleanup through East Kensington Neighborhood Association (EKNA) and Olde Richmond Civic Association (ORCA).

Citywide spring and fall cleanups are hosted by Sustainable 19125 & 19134 every year, and the end of the school year for Rock to the Future gave graduates of the music program a chance to perform for their neighbors. Rock to the Future is a non-profit organization that provides music education for underserved youth all over Philadelphia. Founding Executive Director Jess Craft got Rock to the Future rolling five years ago and has had a team of dedicated members who have been involved since the beginning.

Rock to the Future’s house band played familiar favorites and covers for the neighbors after the cleanup gave way to the BBQ portion of the evening, with hot dogs and burgers grilled up by Allwine herself. One of this year’s graduates and members of the house band, Destinee Mateo, has been part of the program for the entirety of her high school career and since Rock to the Future’s establishment in 2010. Mateo started off playing the violin at a young age until her high school took away the orchestra program. Her mother came home with a flyer for Rock to the Future and Mateo joined the afterschool program. For four years she played the piano, for one year she played the guitar, and today she says,

“I feel like this could be the best thing that has ever happened to me.”

Mateo starts college in the fall at Penn State York, and will keep her love for music alive as another teen steps up to fill her position in the house band.

As the show wrapped up and people started saying their goodbyes, everyone was feeling good. Dedicated neighbors met new neighbors, young people teamed up to help older ones, and everyone was out there for a good cause. Guadalupe Santos, a resident for 17 years did her cleaning up with a brand-new resident, Barb Delp, and her dog, Lucy. Seven days in the neighborhood and Delp is already doing her part to contribute, saying,

“What better way to get to know people than to get out and work together? I love the youthful energy.”

Locals heard about the event mostly by Facebook posts by Sustainable 19125 & 19134 and Olde Richmond Civic Association. Keep an eye out for events like this and more ways to make our neighborhood a greener, cleaner, better place to live.