"At our first meeting at Erica's house in 2009, we only intended to add another community garden to the vibrant tapestry of West Philadelphia. But after witnessing the dire need for jobs and improved food security in both West Philadelphia and the city as a whole, we founded Philly Rooted as a way to address these issues. Since our founding in 2010, Philly Rooted has built two community gardens, an urban farm and developed a growers' cooperative to market a portion of the food grown. We feel fortunate to work in the progressively diverse neighborhoods of West Philadelphia. And we are proud that our work is ensuring a sustainable future for our community."

"Mariposa has over 40 years of history here—being owned and operated by the people of West Philadelphia. We needed more space because our membership doubled over the past few years, and we wanted our new home to be close since most of our members live within blocks. We wouldn’t dream of leaving such a vibrant and tight community."

"In University City, you can find this remarkable concentration of academic and industrial entities—the sort of environment in which a place like The Wistar Institute can thrive. Together, we have built a culture of respect that underlies the sort of collaboration and innovation necessary to help us translate biomedical research discoveries into lasting clinical benefits for the public."

"I’ve always been drawn to the diversity of University City. The neighborhood is home to so many vibrant cultures, and there’s a youthful exuberance here that really appeals to me. University City welcomed Distrito with open arms when we debuted here in July 2008, and it was that reception that inspired me to bring JG Domestic, my ‘signature’ restaurant, to the Cira Centre here last year. I’m proud to be a member of this community, and I look forward to many more years in the neighborhood."