“The influence of Drexel and UPenn feels threatening, negative, white, and male driven. It manifests itself when something is just built in the neighborhood and it never suggests that you can be a part of it.” – Barbara Smith
“You (Universities) are taking land, you are displacing folks. Every University has this problem. Life sometimes has to be about giving back and making a difference, not what money you can make.” – C.B. Kimmins
“We encouraged the community to band together against injustice. We had a saying in Mantua: ‘Plan or be planned for.’” – Lani Draine
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Lani Draine (Lani Draine edited) (Lani Draine Full Text) – Lani Draine is a Mantua resident and former SEPTA employee. He is currently the president of a non-profit community development corporation which renovates abandoned houses and builds houses on abandoned lots in Mantua.
Andy Jenkins (Andy Jenkins edited) (Andy Jenkins Full Text) – Andy became an executive member of the West Philadelphia Coalition. He fought for a larger percentage of minorities on the board of the West Phildelphia Coalition, which caused tension between him and the other board members. He “decided to become part of the system and make changes within.”
C.B. Kimmins - (KB Kimmins edited)(C.B. Kimmins Full Text) – C.B. is the founder and director of Mantua Against Drugs (MAD), a community based anti-drug coalition and presence in Mantua. He highlights the importance of communities taking a stand as he says, “The lure of the street is so powerful. Everybody is available for a price. There is no price for us. We are not violent. No hands, no guns, no bulletproof vests.”
Rick Redding – (Rick Redding edited) (Rick Redding Full Text) Rick Redding has worked at the Philadelphia City Planning Commission for over 20 years. He feels “the problems with Mantua exist because the area is an old and neglected marketplace.”
Barbara Smith – (Barbara Smith edited) (Barbara Smith Full Text) Barbara lived in Mantua from 1971 to 1980. She also led Mantua Against Drugs. This started a town watch designed to bring the community together to fight drugs. Barbara said, “Mantua Against Drugs was started and designed to bring traditional and non-traditional players together.”
