Last summer, Philadelphia Parks & Recreation partnered with the Philadelphia Department of Commerce, REC Philly, and the Knight Foundation to launch the Making Space initiative.

Making Space: Reimagining Reaction is a entrepreneurship-in-residence program that provides local small business owners unused space in recreation centers across the city where they can run their businesses. 

“In exchange, these entrepreneurs will provide coaching and training and mentorship to young people in the community who participate at those rec centers,” said Kathryn Ott Lovell, Commissioner of Philadelphia Parks & Recreation. 

When Philadelphia Parks & Recreation put out the call for applications, more than 600 individuals applied; nearly 80% of which are from multicultural backgrounds. 

During a press event at Martin Luther King Recreation Center on March 1, 10 finalists for the program — as selected by the advisory committee comprised of entrepreneurs, youth advocates and community leaders — were announced. 

Among the 10 finalists is Ariell Johnson, owner of Amalgam Comics & Coffeehouse, the only Black-woman-owned comic book store on the East Coast.

She got the idea of opening the shop while she was a student at Temple.

“Originally, I wanted to create a space where I felt comfortable,” Johnson told AL DÍA. “I’m a Black woman that likes comics, that’s nerdy, and I wanted to create a space where a nerd that looks like me could come in and relax.”

Johnson opened her first comic book store in December 2015, on the corner of Frankford and Huntingdon in Kensington. She remained in that location for nearly 7 years before making the decision to close it last year.

She has since begun operating as an online shop, while exploring different avenues to have a new physical space in the near future. 

“I applied for the Making Space program because Amalgam has always had a community aspect… and I thought it aligned with what I was trying to do in my previous space,” added Johnson. 

Her desire is to also have a space where she can host workshops and classes for people to not only get excited about comics, but also create their own.

Rahmi Halaby is another one of the 10 finalists. She is the owner of Linden Ave Studio, which focuses on marketing & design.

“We want to teach youth and young people to be creative and entrepreneurial,” Halaby told AL DÍA.

The types of businesses these entrepreneurs own are diverse in both interests and functions. Each of which, however, hold value.

“One of the lessons that we have learned coming out of the pandemic is how vital entrepreneurs are to our economy,” said Anne Nadol, director of the Philadelphia Department of Commerce. 

This new program provides an opportunity for diverse entrepreneurship in the city to grow, and also make a positive impact on the overall community.  

Making Space is being funded in part by the Knight Foundation. 

Ellen Hwang, director of the Knight Foundation, reiterated that its mission is to build informed and engaged communities.

“We really believe that public spaces like your rec centers are the places where our community should have ownership,” she said.

“And I just love the name of this opportunity, Making Space, because it’s not just about making space in a physical place, but it’s also about making space for each other,” Hwang added. 

With all the challenges facing young people in the city today, City Councilman-At-Large Isaiah Thomas said it’s important to be innovative in finding ways to put them in a position to be their best selves. 

“We have middle school students all across the city of Philadelphia, if given a chance, can build their brand now,” said Thomas. 

He added, “What does it look like to give young people platforms and opportunities to use the skills that they already have, to cultivate and own their brand and own their image?”

The Making Space program can be the answer to that question.

The 10 finalists will submit a formal proposal to the City as the next stage of consideration. From those submissions, four winners will be selected. 

The selected winners will receive a one-year lease to a business-ready space, and between $25,000 to 75,000 (based on need) will be allocated for the design build of the space and business equipment. 

The location of these spaces will allow for the selected entrepreneurs to have direct interaction with youth who use these recreational spaces on a regular basis. 

“We help young people find their path, and we believe… that path is to financial freedom, to personal empowerment being driven by [their] dreams and aspirations. That can begin and blossom at  our Parks and Recreation Center,” said Ott Lovell. 

The four winners of the Making Space program are expected to be announced in the spring.