Our Mission is to strengthen the Germantown community through arts, education, and recreation, serving persons of all ages as they experience the joys and challenges of urban living.
Creative Germantown Initiative aims to promote the value of urban living and provide educational and experiential opportunities in education, music, arts and recreation for children, youth and adults in Germantown.
Our History:
Creative Germantown Initiative is rooted in the rich history of the First Presbyterian Church in Germantown and its commitment to urban ministry and community outreach.
The Germantown community is a racially and economically diverse neighborhood in northwest Philadelphia. Like many communities in inner cities, Germantown has many needs and problems, yet the resources to address them are always in short supply. But, Germantown is a community that is rich in history, diversity and promise!
Musical performances at The First Presbyterian Church in Germantown have entertained community residents for nearly fifty years. Audiences have enjoyed concerts featuring accomplished performers offering a wide range of music including classical, gospel and jazz.
These concerts rival those offered in Center City. Fortunately for Germantown residents, they are offered in the neighborhood for free!
A different musical and literary event that is becoming increasingly popular in the community is the monthly Bread and Cup Coffee House. Community residents both perform and display their art work in a comfortable, informal setting. Each month there are one or two headliners followed by a time of open mic when persons can share a poem, story, or song. The diversity of Bread & Cup participants is as great as the diversity of Germantown itself.
Community youth have benefited from programs that are designed to provide teenagers with a safe place for recreational and team activities.
Basketball teams compete in area leagues, and the drill team participates in local events as well as national competitions. The young men and women of these groups gain confidence, self esteem and team building skills as they are coached and mentored.
Young children enjoy seven weeks of summer programming through the highly respected Day Camp run by The First Presbyterian Church in Germantown. Boys and girls engage in handcrafts, music, drama, swimming and more. They receive two meals, and snacks throughout the day. Each Friday, campers are part of field trips to places of interest in Philadelphia and surrounding areas. The tuition for this program is nominal, with scholarships available for families who would not otherwise be able to afford such an experience.
Promoting the welfare of the city and its residents among young people from around the country is the goal of PUMI Experience, a summer urban service learning program.
Youth from outside the Philadelphia region spend a week in Germantown learning about the value of a city (Philadelphia in particular) and also the challenges of that a city experiences. Most of these young people come from suburban communities and have little experience with urban living. They learn from city officials, leaders in the Germantown community, social workers, city residents and others about ways to strengthen cities and promote peace and social justice.
Support This Organization
If you would like to support this outstanding organization with a financial contribution, please visit our secure online giving page now!
To learn more about Creative Germantown Initiative, please email Nancy Muth: