Our Programs
Welcome to the Mantua Association! Our mission is to cultivate a lively flourishing community by offering a range of programs tailored to the needs of our residents. We invite you to join us in promoting local engagement, supporting growth, and building a brighter future for all in Mantua. Together, we can achieve great things!
Enrichment
We are excited to see that our Tulips are flourishing throughout Mantua. Our goal to brand our Community has successfully grown over four years to include planting 23,000 bulbs, building and distributing over 50 planters, capturing our gateways into Mantua and engaging every community organization in participating.
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Our greatest accomplishment last year was forming the collaboration between MCA, The Museum of Art and Mural Arts to bring our unifying tulip brand to the Spring Garden Street Bridge.
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The great work that we do would not be possible without our amazing volunteers. Volunteers are always needed. If you would like to volunteer please head over to our Calendar to see our upcoming events to see events you can participate in.
Education and Youth
The MCA Education Advisory Committee grew out of voices heard through the “We Are Mantua” community engagement meetings. Residents expressed the importance of an increased focus on the improvement of education opportunities for the children of Mantua, specifically the Morton McMichael School.
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The MCA Education Advisory Committee grew out of voices heard through the “We Are Mantua” community engagement meetings. Residents expressed the importance of an increased focus on the improvement of education opportunities for the children of Mantua, specifically the Morton McMichael School.
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Subsequent to the formation of MCA, the McMichael School was identified as one of 29 schools recommended for closure for the 2013 school year. Through the collaborative efforts of MCHSA, Drexel University the Mantua Civic Association and other community stakeholders, Michael submitted a proposal outlining a three-year plan to improve student academic performance, increase parent and community involvement and student enrollment. The proposal was accepted by the SDP and McMichael has remained open as the only public school in the Mantua community.
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Morton McMichael has made steady progress in academics and school culture and has experienced an influx of critical resources and partnerships over the last five years. As a result of these important resources it has had exceptional progress in RELA in the Turnaround Network of Schools.
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The MCA mission is to align its efforts to support and facilitate the following:
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Bring increased attention to the importance of positive parent and community engagement in the education of our children.
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Help recruit parents and other volunteers to support teaching and learning.
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Advocate for improved educational opportunities for the children and families of Mantua.
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Activities
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School Volunteers: WePAC- McMichael Library
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Back-to-school Welcome: Men of Mantua
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Backpack giveaway: Pre-K-Grade 6
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Holiday Events: Halloween, Easter egg Hunt
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Winter Coat Drive
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School Supple Giveaway
Seniors
On March 1, 2018, Mantua Civic Association launched a renewed Senior Committee with funding from the Ralston Center.
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Samantha Samuels has agreed to lead the group while Corine Sapp and Madeline have agreed to serve as support. Nineteen eager seniors attended the first meeting, where they meet at the Dornsife Center to by conference call every Thursday since then.
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Samantha has planned several events such as a holiday cookout, game nights, trips to shows, and a cruise. Madeline, Corine and Jennifer from the Ralston Center have acquired and distributed 10 captions to Seniors who had no computer or access to the internet.
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Mantua’s Senior Group will show that united, they are a voice to be heard.
Zoning and Development
The Mantua Civic Association grew out of the feedback from the community’s desire to be engaged in making decisions about the zoning and development changes going on in their community. MCA has worked to keep the residents of the Mantua community informed and engaged in the decision-making process through monthly Community Meetings and RCO Public Meetings.
MCA was approved as an RCO (Registered Community Organization) in 2014. As an RCO we have the responsibility to convene a Public Meeting with the owner/developers of building and renovation projects that require zoning appeals. RCO responsibilities include the coordination of Public Meetings for the review of proposed development in our community that require a zoning variance.
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These zoning variances many include matters related to:​
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Height of the proposed development
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Type of development – Single Family, Multi-Family, Commercial, etc
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Required size of open areas
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Required parking for multi-family dwellings
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As one of the RCO’s in Mantua, MCA has acted as the Coordinating RCO. We have taken responsibility for scheduling and convening the public meeting in coordination with all other RCO’s whose boundaries overlap the project location.