Sustainable Communities Initiative (APM SCI)

APM is the lead agency for the SCI of Eastern North Philadelphia. The SCI model is a flexible approach to community development which includes an intense community engagement component addressing the built environment, wealth creation, economic development, education, health, and the environment. APM SCI is the convener of community residents & other organizations dealing with critical immediate issues such as blight and crime, striving to achieve consensus on a shared vision & strategy for identifying/giving a voice to quality of life issues.

APM SCI hosts regular community meetings and conducts monthly community outreach through our Community Connectors Program and supports aligned activities by: assisting our partners articulate their role in community initiatives and assisting partners fill in the service gaps.

APM SCI continues to build public will by making sure our community members are informed, empowered and aware. APM also mobilizes funding by identifying and providing resources either with in-kind products or services, and money.

APM SCI targets Healthy Environment & Lifestyles, Arts & Culture, and Physical Environment. We strive that our community will become one of the safest, healthiest and greenest communities in the city; that arts and culture will infuse our community, provide a voice for all community members and an opportunity for exposure to other cultures and traditions, and draw Philadelphians from all over the city; and that our neighborhood will be clean and beautiful and will capitalize on its unique local assets including schools, diverse housing options and public transportation.

APM SCI strategies and action steps to successfully reach these goals include:

• Strengthen Community policing to reduce crime in the area.



• Promote public health programs to reduce obesity, teen pregnancy and drug abuse.
• Make the neighborhood a green model for the city.
• Encourage transit use and alternate modes of transportation.
• Strengthen and market existing arts and cultural programs.
• Highlight the cultural diversity of the neighborhood.
• Use arts and culture to make a statement and encourage dialogue.
• Reduce blight by managing vacant land and buildings.
• Improve streets and public spaces.
• Provide a range of housing options to promote a diverse community.
• Reinforce and strengthen community assets.
• Help Property owners maintain and improve property.

To be part of APM SCI or for information contact (215) 235-6070, or visit our office at 600 W. Diamond Street.

Neighborhood Advisory Committee (NAC)

The APM NAC refers residents to publicly funded activities as well as supports initiatives that benefit the clients we serve through the APM Financial Opportunity Center, Housing Counseling, Foreclosure Counseling, the Food Buying Club, Rebuilding Together Philadelphia, the Community Umbrella Agency, APM Head Start programs, and the APM’s Sustainable Communities Initiatives program. Our outreach efforts are supported by community residents that are invested in getting information to their neighbors, community connectors supported by the CUA & LISC that work at events and do door to door outreach, APM social media networks, recreational facilities, partner organizations, and businesses. APM’s NAC program staff will track referrals and maintain a database of residents that received services and are interested in ongoing community engagement. To ensure that there is a broad reach the NAC leverages its capacity by collaborating with community leaders and community partners such as schools, churches, recreation centers, etc. as well as disseminating information via print, web, broadcast, and social media.

To reach the most members of the community we serve, APM believes in strong two way communications pathway for residents in the community. Through the Neighborhood Advisory Committee (NAC) structure, APM promotes resident engagement in community affairs and participation in city sponsored programs. The NAC works on the ground to coordinate informative community meetings concerning development projects, provide information about city programs and upcoming initiatives, and to receive feedback on community concerns and needs as well as resident priorities that need to be address through programming and referrals.

The NAC outreach efforts are supported by community residents, known as Community Connectors, which are invested in getting information to their neighbors in all possible ways. The NAC refers residents to publicly funded activities as well as supports initiatives that benefit the clients we serve through all of APM’s services.

To ensure that there is a broad reach the NAC leverages its capacity by collaborating with community leaders and community partners such as schools, churches, recreation centers, etc. as well as disseminating information via print, web, broadcast, and social media. APM is collaboratively working with stakeholders in the development service area including residents, investors, private developers, PHA, Temple University, the Philadelphia Water Department, OHCD and others.

For more information contact (267) 296-7215, or visit our office at 600 W. Diamond Street.

Commercial Development

Since incorporating community and economic development into its portfolio of services in 1990, APM has leveraged over $140 million in physical development financing—transforming a community of blight into a community of choice.

Projects completed since 1989 include:

• The development of seven (7) Low-income housing tax credit rental units
• 67 units of Market Rate rental
• 163 units of home ownership
• A 46,500 square foot retail center that includes a supermarket, financial institution and laundry
• Preservation of over 100 units of existing home ownership
• Stabilization of 20 acres of vacant land; and most recently



• Paseo Verde—a mixed-use, mixed-income Transit-Oriented Development
  • Paseo Verde has LEED Platinum designation for Neighborhood District, Mid-rise building and Townhome
  • Paseo Verde consists of 67 units of market rate rentals, 53 units of affordable rental units
  • 30,000 SF of commercial space hosting a Pharmacy, a Federally Qualified Health Center and a Community Umbrella Agency (CUA) for the 24th & 26th Police Districts
  • APM Corporate Headquarters
  • The development of Paseo Verde led to the creation of 91 full time skilled jobs

For more information contact (267) 296-7305, or visit our office at 600 W. Diamond Street.

APM-Food Buying Club (APM FBC)

The APM Food Buying Club (APM FBC) is a group of people in the community – friends, family members and neighbors – who pool resources to buy food in bulk directly from the distributor or wholesale market. Over time, members of the club save money over regular retail prices which allows them to gain access to fresher fruits and vegetables and increases their personal, in-pocket cash flow. Money saved is money earned that remains in the community and which families can put toward other things.

Food prices are on the rise including the cost of fresh produce. APM FBC wants everyone in our community to be able to get the most food for their money. A dollar can go twice – even three times – as far at wholesale markets versus the grocery store.

The three main APM Food Buying Club objectives are:

1. To save us all valuable time and money
2. To give us more consistent access to healthy food that we want to eat
3. To build a stronger community

UPDATE: Since Fall 2017, the Food Buying Club was closed until further notice.  Whereas operations of the club have been suspended.  APM has continued seeking funding and alternative resources to sustainably support the club’s operations.  Currently, APM is working with a resident-led Advisory Council and Temple Fox Business school to reassess the program and create a sustainable, fundable business model for the club.

If you are interested in joining the conversation, reach out to Misha Rodriguez through email misha.rodriguez@apmphila.org