Monthly Archives: May 2014

Mother and Son Join Forces to Battle Teen Depression

Mother and Son Join Forces to Battle Teen Depression from Tieast Leverett on Vimeo.

In a crowded Panera in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, a bedroom community of Philadelphia, Tracy “Tre” Scott checks the time on his phone frequently…even though he always makes time to talk about his passion; he is also on a mission.

As the founder of Kick Teen Depression, an organization dedicated to using music and the arts to address depression in youth, teen and young adults, Scott draws heavily upon his own experience with mental illness as the motivation behind his organization.

According to the National Institutes of Mental Heath, (NIMH) about 11 percent of adolescents have a depressive disorder by age 18. In the African American community, depression and other mental health issues are so stigmatized that they are often hidden, which leads to large portions of the community left with untreated conditions.

When depression is not addressed, it can ultimately lead to suicide, an act that is slowly trending upward in the African American community.
Scott has partnered with his mother, Dana Scott-Twine to build an organization focused on ending teen depression once and for all. Scott-Twine, a mental-health parent coach, and the founder of Kick Teen Depression’s sister organization Parents Win, has also battled depression, and believes if parents are knowledgeable about what to look for, they can initiate much needed intervention before it is too late.

FICA Philadelphia Brings Brazilian Culture to the City

FICA Philadelphia Brings Brazilian Culture to the City from Tieast Leverett on Vimeo.

The practice of capoeira Angola reaches all the way back to Africa; the movements, songs, instruments and way of life are all taken from the countries of origin of the slaves brought to Brazil from central Africa.

Often described as a “way of life” the practice combines physical, spiritual and artistic components in a way that over time has meant many different things. At first it was a means for African slaves to continue their cultural practices during slavery in South America, but it soon became a method of resistance to oppression; at which time those in power forbade it.

Fundaçao Internacional de Capoeira Angola (FICA) Philadelphia chapter is a local group that practices and promotes capoeira, and uses the practice to communicate unity and cultural awareness. The group has introduced capoeira to a diverse community, and as a result, has carried out the intentions of those who practiced it so long ago.

Manayunk Property Rebuilds Again After Flood

Manayunk Property Rebuilds Again After Flood from Tieast Leverett on Vimeo.

Last week, the residents of Venice Lofts, an apartment and townhouse community in Northwest Philadelphia had a much greater appreciation of the city for which their community was named.

 

As torrential rains moved through the area, residents were warned about potential flooding, but when the waters rose, no one was fully prepared.

 

Many residents lost their cars and experienced significant damage to their properties, and management says it will take months to get back to normal.

 

“Although we have the elevator back running, the rest of our lobby won’t be fully restored until July,” said Shannon Carlson, Venice Lofts rental agent.

 

The property has flooded three times since 2009, and each time requests to the city to construct a simple floodwall around the property have been ignored.