The Give Back Festival Weekend Also Features

History Of The Give Back Festival
The Give Back To The Community Festival was first held in August of 2002, to establish activities
that unified and encouraged Nicetown residents to give back to their community, and work
together to revitalize it and make it cleaner and safer. The event is also an annual community
celebration that highlights the NTCDC’s resident-driven mission, while providing entertainment via
arts & culture, vendors, and recreation for youth and their families. The “Give Back” Festival has
since grown to include the Walk For Peace, ZAR Education Scholarships, a Youth Amateur Boxing
tournament, and Triumph Baptist Church’s Sunday Glory Fest Choir Competition.
The primary goal of the NTCDC was to educate and engage the community by bringing arts and
culture back to the neighborhood, and feature live entertainment for younger and older audiences
alike. They contacted Nicetown native Chevon Young, who at the time was a popular hip-hop artist known as “Ms. Jade”. After making contact and discussing the proposed event with her, they
discovered her love for Nicetown and that she shared the desire to bring such an event to her
neighborhood. Ms. Jade was the catalyst in identifying and securing other popular Philadelphia
hip-hop artists that were willing to give back and help produce the event. Nicetown’s own Chris &
Neef, were then up and coming recording artists on Jay Z‘s RocaFella Records. They joined Ms.
Jade and other Philly hip-hop artists such as Freeway and State Property to establish an event that
continues to be produced in Nicetown. This year(2015) will be the 13th Annual Give Back Festival.
The Give Back Festival was first held in Nicetown at the historic Stenton Park, and later added the
Walk For Peace in 2005, in response to the tragic murder of 24 year-old Latoya Figueroa. The Walk
for Peace annually engages residents and more than 35 community and faith based organizations
to walk the streets of Nicetown, including the notorious Wingohocking Street hot spots. During the
Walk, emergency response and resource information is distributed door-to-door, as well as direct
invitations to come out and enjoy the Give Back Festival. In 2004, the NTCDC wanted to bring
attention to its planning and commercial corridor revitalization, and moved the Give Back Festival
to Nicetown Park, which is situated centrally on Nicetown’s commercial corridor.
In 2009, the Zakee Abdur Rahman (ZAR) Education Scholarships was founded as part of the event in
memory of the son of NTCDC’s President, who was lost to senseless violence. Since then, more
than 60 financial scholarships have been presented on stage to college bound high school seniors.
In 2011, Nicetown native and former lightweight Champ Ivan “Mighty” Robinson sponsored his
first youth amateur boxing competition as part of the Festival. This exhibition of discipline and
skill has become one of the most popular and anticipated aspects of the Festival.
The “Give Back” is known as a showcase for up and coming talent, with a diverse base of local and
regional perfomers. It highlights a broad range of genres from neo soul, jazz, rhythm and blues, to
spoken word and gospel. Singers, dancers, fashion models, comedians, and others provide nonstop entertainment to go along with community service award presentations and special surprises.
Featured Recording Artists attract thousands to the Give Back Saturday Evening Concert every year,
and previous performers have included Kindred the Family Soul, Pieces of A Dream, Jeane Carne,
Mikki Howard, Jazmine Sullivan, Breakwater, and The Sound Of Philadelphia Band. The Give Back’s
return on investment has measurable impact and outcomes for the Nicetown community,
Sponsors, visitors, community and faith organizations, and the City of Philadelphia.
Friday- August 7th

College & Job Fair (3pm-6pm)
Information vendors from local colleges, universities, training schools, and employers.

Zakee Abdur Rahman (ZAR) Education Scholarships (6PM)
Financial scholarship awards presented on stage to local college-bound students

Fraternity Step Show Competition (6:30pm-7pm)
The Q’s , Temple University, and other Fraternities battle it out on stage!!

Hip-Hop Evening Concert ( 7pm-10pm)
More than 30 young artists performing spoken word, rap, neo-soul, and hip-hop.

“Jazz On The Ave” (8PM-10PM)
Featuring live Jazz Bands performing on stage in the evening on Germantown Avenue.
Saturday August 8th:

Walk For Peace- (Noon until 1PM)
Participation from residents, businesses and 35 community and faith based organizations
Distribution of service, resource, and emergency response information to nearly 50 blocks .

Give Back Variety Show ( 1 pm –5 pm)
Concerts, fashion, dance, comedy, and presentation of community service awards.

The 4th Annual Ivan Robinson Youth Amateur Boxing Competition (1PM - 3PM)
Nicetown native and former Champ Ivan “Mighty” Robinson presents youth trained and
disciplined in the sport. Twelve live boxing matches will be conducted in Nicetown Park, and
winners will be awarded trophies immediately following the competition.

Ballin’ For Peace (3PM-5PM)
Youth Basketball Competition, games, & Celebrity Appearances
Give Back Saturday Evening Concert Featuring the EU “Go-Go” Band (5pm-9pm)
R&B, Jazz, and other artists open for Sugar Bear and the EU Band concert finale!


The Give Back Festival Weekend Also Features:
Vendors Bazaar (Both Days)
A diverse array of international food and retail merchandise .

Health & Service Information Fair (Friday & Saturday)
More than 50 providers such as Temple University & Health System , Keystone First,
Comcast, and others join City, community and faith based health and service organizations.
Children’s Amusements, Giveaways, Games, and Cultural activities (Both days)