Sixth Square: Props

Bringing out the best of Philadelphia street food

newsworks@whyy.org (Eric Walter) — Mon, 30 Jul 2012 18:58:58 GMT

We're giving props to the Vendy Awards, whose 2012 winners were chosen over the weekend. What is your favorite street food?

N.J. alimony reform discussion brings the best out of NewsWorks readers

newsworks@whyy.org (Eric Walter) — Fri, 11 May 2012 19:00:00 GMT

Kudos to the New Jersey NewsWorks readers who joined our discussion on alimony reform. It's very much the way we always hoped reader discussions would go on this site. Thank you for letting cooler heads prevail.

You think your mom rocks? Tell us about it.

newsworks@whyy.org (Eric Walter) — Wed, 09 May 2012 17:49:00 GMT

We're giving props to mom this week. Which mom? All of 'em. Especially yours.

Tell us why you think your mom is the bomb. The shizzle. The cream of the crop. The top of the heap. The cat's meow. Rad.

Helpful people on seventh street

newsworks@whyy.org (Shannon McDonald) — Tue, 08 May 2012 15:13:17 GMT

Thanks to everyone who helped out Monday morning when I was riding my bike on Seventh Street and part of my lunch fell out near Chestnut.

Could you feed yourself on $5 a day?

newsworks@whyy.org (Eric Walter) — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 20:17:49 GMT

The host of WHYY's Radio Times, Marty Moss-Coane, is challenging herself to live on $5 a day for a whole week.

Could you do it? Tell us below.

The experiment is part of the Greater Philadelphia Food Stamp Challenge, sponsored by the Greater Philadelphia Coalition Against Hunger and the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia. Area residents are encouraged to see what it's like to live on $5 a day, the average benefit for an individual, for a whole week.

"Here is what I purchased for my food stamp allotment for the week," said Moss-Coane, referring to the photo above. "I spent $32, and my best find was six peppers for $2. I had to buy instant coffee and already miss my freshly brewed cup of joe. I cooked up a big pot of lentil soup yesterday, which I hope will last for much of the week. While I'm a cost-conscious shopper, I have rarely been so careful and concerned about what things cost."

What do you spend every day on food? Could you get by spending no more than $35 a week?

Good work — Joe Murray: The tweeting detective

newsworks@whyy.org (Eric Walter) — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 21:00:00 GMT

Kudos to Philadelphia Police Detective Joseph Murray, who will soon be allowed to resume his twitter feed, broadcasting crime alerts, tips, and news directly to the citizens he serves.

20 teachers honored as classroom heroes

newsworks@whyy.org (Eric Walter) — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 20:00:00 GMT

Congratulations to the 20 educators from Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York, who were just awarded the Teacher as Hero award by the National Liberty Museum in Philadelphia. Who would you like to give props?

Spring break for more than clowning around

newsworks@whyy.org (Eric Walter) — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 14:39:31 GMT

Let's give a shout-out to the Mott Campus Clowns, a troupe of honors students from a Flint, Mich., community college, who are in Philadelphia this week for an "alternative spring break" to bring some cheer to the people who need it most.

Sister Rosemary Herron's fiscal foresight keeps Mercy Vocational on track

newsworks@whyy.org (Meg Frankowski, for NewsWorks) — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 09:00:00 GMT

With Catholic schools shutting their doors across the city, Mercy Vocational High School is thriving. Much of the school's success is due to the efforts of Sister Rosemary Herron.

George Matysik, who nominated Sister Rosemary, is a former electrical student at Mercy. He is now the deputy director of policy and planning for Philabundance. Matysik said,

"Under the leadership of Sister Rosemary, what could have been another sad story of community schools closing, turned into a story of transformation and stability. Sister Rosemary has spurred investment into this hidden gem at the corner of 29th and Allegheny, providing a quality vocational education, where 88% of students are deemed at-risk."

"I often found myself in her office for all the wrong reasons," added Matysik, "and she stayed committed to me at a time when I needed that kind of encouragement."

Creating unity in Southwest Philly community

newsworks@whyy.org (Brad Larrison for NewsWorks) — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 10:00:00 GMT

Every community has local heroes—people who work to make the lives of neighbors better. Sometimes they are part of a volunteer organization, sometimes they act on their own. They do it because the community needs it and because they feel it's the right thing to do.