Who We Are

A charitable collaboration among five community stakeholders in the neighborhoods of Mantua and Powelton Village in West Philadelphia that seeks to reduce the negative impact of development on these two neighborhoods. MPA is party to a 15-year community benefits agreement (CBA) with Brandywine Realty Trust through which Brandywine provides annual contributions into a Community Fund managed by MPA. 

The Mantua Powelton Alliance’s purpose includes stewardship of charitable assets and making strategic charitable grants and contributions. 

The Mantua Powelton Alliance is managed by a board representing the following community stakeholders.

HopePHL™ (pronounced “hopeful”) was founded through an integration of two human service organizations in Philadelphia, PA: People’s Emergency Center (PEC) and Youth Service, Inc (YSI). Leveraging 150 years of combined service experience, it is HopePHL’s mission to inspire Philadelphia’s children, youth, families and communities to thrive by providing housing, advocacy, and trauma-responsive social services designed to promote equity, resilience, autonomy, and well-being.

​HopePHL is committed to ending systemic racism. We amplify diverse voices and champion issues of inequity, including accessible quality education, healthcare, safety, and justice. HopePHL helps over 25,000 community members and residents annually to reach their goals of safe homes, economically secure and healthy families, and thriving businesses. People with Hope, thrive.

Powelton Village is a residential neighborhood located in the University City section of West Philadelphia. It is recognized as both a National and Philadelphia Historic District with a wide variety of Victorian architecture and an active and diverse population.

The Powelton Village Civic Association (PVCA) is an all-volunteer organization of residents dedicated to making Powelton Village a better place to live and work. We advocate for issues impacting our community, ensure responsible development in the neighborhood, help preserve historic buildings, organize clean-ups and social events, support neighborhood schools, maintain parks and playgrounds, keep our sidewalks and public spaces green, and much more.

The PVCA holds monthly meetings and sponsors numerous community events throughout the year. We welcome all residents of Powelton Village as members

Jamie R. Gauthier was elected to represent the Third Councilmanic District in November 2019.

A native West Philadelphian, after graduating from Central High School, Councilmember Gauthier received her undergraduate degree from Temple University and her Master’s in Urban Planning from the University of Pennsylvania. She is the only elected official in the City of Philadelphia with a planning degree, offering her a unique perspective on issues ranging from zoning and housing to transportation policy.

Since assuming office in January 2020, Councilmember Gauthier has fought for equity and justice in West/Southwest Philadelphia and beyond. With an eye towards tackling gentrification and poverty in the Third District, Councilmember Gauthier’s agenda prioritizes creating and preserving affordable housing, encouraging equitable development, combatting the gun violence epidemic, advancing small businesses and investing in community-based assets like our Recreation Centers.

Additionally, Councilmember Gauthier has been leading the charge to enact a stronger local response to the gun violence epidemic. Her persistent advocacy for a more robust, evidence-based response to gun violence helped result in a record $70 million investment in funding for gun violence prevention and programs in FY 22. In this current budget cycle, the Councilmember is pursuing her #JustServicesPHL campaign which calls for an immediate $25 million in new investments to address quality-of-life concerns in neighborhoods throughout Philadelphia.

The Mission

The Mantua Civic Association (MCA) grew out of the feedback from the community to be engaged in making decisions about the changes going on in our community. MCA has worked to keep the residents of the Mantua community informed and engaged in decision-making regarding development projects in the community.

The Purpose

The purpose of the Mantua Civic Association is to advocate for and represent the issues and concerns of residents, to improve the quality of life for all, and preserve the identity and history of Mantua for the next generation.
The mission of the Mt. Vernon Manor Community Development Corporation (MVMCDC) is to increase fair and affordable housing, environmental sustainability, and quality of life in West Philadelphia. Working primarily in the predominately Black neighborhood of Mantua, MVMCDC champions a safe and accessible community for both longtime and newly arrived residents. We do so by pursuing strategic partnerships that expand fair, affordable housing opportunities, increase green and open space, advance racial and economic equity, and empower long-time community stewards. We help residents realize a shared vision of equitable development to ensure that our community remains diverse, inclusive, and welcoming to all.