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Interfaith Philadelphia launched the Crafting Community Project in Kensington in Fall 2020. Through this neighborhood-rooted art and education initiative, we collaborated with organizations, faith communities, and neighbors to launch the Kensington Grows, Cooks, and Serves series to explore the intersections of food, faith, and culture. One component of this initiative is a blog interview series highlighting Kensington-based restaurants and grocers who demonstrate understanding, community-centeredness, and the celebration of diversity.  This week we sat down with Anas Dabbour at Al-Amana Grocery Store at Al-Aqsa Islamic Society , to learn more about the store, hear about what community means to them, and the importance of food within the Islamic faith. What inspired you to get involved with Al-Amana Store? My Uncle opened the store 20 years ago when they opened Al-Aqsa Masjid and its community center. My siblings and I actually went to school here at Al-Aqsa Academy. My Dad had a p

By Matt Hilferty Interfaith Philadelphia  launched the  Crafting Community Project  in Kensington in the Fall of 2020. Through this neighborhood-rooted art and education initiative, we collaborated with organizations, faith communities, and neighbors to launch the  Kensington Grows, Cooks, and Serves , a multi-part series exploring the intersections of food, faith, and culture within the Kensington area. One component of this initiative is a  blog  interview series highlighting Kensington-based restaurants and grocers who demonstrate understanding, community-centeredness, and the celebration of diversity. This week we sat down with  Blew Kind, founder, and co-owner of Franny Lou's Porch. This interview was published in two parts. This is Part 2 of 2. 4.  In what way does your business help foster understanding and promote community relationships? Opening up a space for dialogue so we can understand each other. We do that from the inside out, we focus on dialogue heavily within our

By Matt Hilferty Interfaith Philadelphia  launched the  Crafting Community Project  in Kensington in Fall 2020. Through this neighborhood-rooted art and education initiative, we collaborated with organizations, faith communities, and neighbors to launch the  Kensington Grows, Cooks, and Serves , a multi-part series exploring the intersections of food, faith, and culture within the Kensington area. One component of this initiative is a blog interview series highlighting Kensington-based restaurants and grocers who demonstrate understanding, community-centeredness, and the celebration of diversity. This week we sat down with Blew Kind, the founder and co-owner of Franny Lou's Porch. This interview is Part 1 of 2. 1. Tell us a little about your business. (e.g. Where are you located? When did you open? What do you serve/sell?) Franny Lou’s Porch opened in 2015. We’re a coffee and tea house, and community space. We’re named after Frances E.W. Harper and Fannie Lou Hamer, both 19th and 2