Common Ground Tacony: Christian and Jackie

Christian is a high school student who frequents the Tacony Arts Lab classes and open studios. Christian was really excited by the interview and cyanotype process, so much so he quickly downloaded the StoryCorps app. Upon encouraging Christian to start...

Common Ground Tacony: Troy Part II

Troy and I sit and interview as the Black Lives Matter for vigil gets underway one short block from Sawtown Tavern. A peaceful demonstration is about to begin as Troy and I discuss how Sawtown is intent on creating a...

Common Ground Tacony: Janice Monzo-Perry

This week I interview my cousin Janice Monzo who is originally from South Philadelphia 5th & Dudley Sts, but worked all over the city with the Salvation Army for 34 years. While working for the Salvation Army Janice's job was...

Common Ground Tacony Oral History Project: Morgan Robinson

Morgan Robinson shares fond memories of visiting her grandparents every weekend on Tulip St. right at the base of the Tacony-Palmyra bridge. When her parents moved from Tacony they did not move far; never farther than 10-15 minutes away. Morgan...

Common Ground Tacony Oral History Project: Rich

Rich, a longtime resident, of Tacony is now caretaker an abandoned and overgrown citygarden in Keystone Park. Working his whole life as a contractor and 22 years in recovery, Rich talks about his experiences living through addiction to then building...

Common Ground Tacony Oral History Project: John Cambridge

The Butterfly Pavilion in Holmesberg, Philadelphia, PA is lovingly owned and run by John Cambridge. After a tumultuous start in a dubious situation, John and his small staff that feels like family banded together to make a thriving success of...

Common Ground Tacony Oral History Project: Keith Tomaselli

Fishtown Beer Runner and native Philadelphian, Keith Tomaselli inspires us with stories of the inception of the beer runner community that has started in Philadelphia and has grown into a small but important charitable organization across the world. Keith tells...

Common Ground Tacony Oral History Project: Charles Tyson Jr.

A fairly recent transplant from West Philadelphia to Tacony, Charles is an artist, singer, dancer and event producer in the performing arts of Philadelphia. Charles gives insight into his involvement in the flourish Art scene in Tacony, also known as...

Common Ground Tacony Oral History Project: Troy

Part owner of Sawtown Tavern, Troy Everwine, speaks candidly about the arts, vegan diets, Ida Dunnum, the LGBTQ community and the progression of the Tacony community in Philadelphia. We talk about Troy's performances on stage in Center City, the proudest...

Common Ground Tacony Oral History Project: Cyril Van Landingham

Originally from Connecticut Cyril moved to Philadelphia to live with his Grandparents after the loss of both of his parents. Cyril and I talk about his day job working in the school system, how he went to Fisk University and...

Common Ground Tacony Oral History Project: Heather

Heather shares stories of growing up in the historic Philadelphia neighborhood, Tacony, and shares stories of her childhood and upbringing and then her eventual opening of her business in Mt. Airy, Philaelphia. Recorded as part of an artist residency with...

Common Ground Tacony Oral History Project: Rafaela

Rafaela is a long time resident of North East Philadelphia and frequently attends art classes at Mural Arts Philadelphia Tacony. Rafaela speaks about her experiences being born in Philadelphia and partially being raised in South Korea and Philadelphia and then...