Read about how our latest Civic Catalyst advocates for and supports greening efforts in Queen Village. 

Name: Louis Bartholomew

Role: Executive Director for Queen Village Neighborhood Association (QVNA)

Green superpower: Supporting logistics, data collection, and funding for grants for greening and beautification projects in Queen Village. 

How Bartholomew wields his superpower: He meets with individuals, businesses, and Park Friends groups to prioritize projects and encourage them to apply. One such project is in the Courtyard Apartments, an affordable housing complex. At the request of the residents, Bartholomew and a team of volunteers are starting a community garden in the complex. 

What green project excites him: The push to plant more trees because, in addition to the health and climate benefits, tree coverage “boosts property values; it decreases crime. It lowers the long-term infrastructure costs for sidewalk and road repair because you don’t have heat beating down on the street as much.” 

Bartholomew used his data collection skills to create an online mapping tool that shows empty tree pits and potential sites for new tree pits based on city metrics. QVNA works closely with the Queen Village Tree Tenders and their director, Dan Gibbon.

What he finds fun about the work: Planting days! Despite the threat of sunburns, Bartholomew loves the opportunity to be outside, get his hands dirty, and meet his neighbors.

Challenges to overcome in the sustainability movement: 

Personal challenge: “I don’t have a green thumb at all.” 

Overall challenge: Coordination and clarity with all stakeholders. When executing a community project, Bartholomew emphasizes the importance of clear communication and education among all members to ensure the final project meets the intended expectations. 

His advice for getting involved in greening and beautification efforts: “The best place to start is your RCO, your Registered Community Organization.” To find them, use the City’s OpenMaps tool here and check “Registered Community Organization.” He says that, when city resources are limited, neighborhood change happens through RCOs. 

How to get in touch: Email Queen Village Neighbors Association at info@qvna.org, or call the office number at 215-339-0975

Cover photo: Louis Bartholomew

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Angie Bacha (she/her) is a Philadelphia-based solutions journalist and recent Erasmus Mundus Master's in Journalism, Media and Globalisation student in Aarhus, Denmark. Previously, she worked as a student journalist at Community College of Philadelphia and Editorial Intern at Resolve Philly. Some other hats she has worn: Human Rights and Theatre Studies graduate; teaching artist; carpenter; AmeriCorps volunteer; and rock climbing gym shift supervisor. NEWS TIPS: angiebacha1@gmail.com View all posts by Angie Bacha