PA-PHIL-KENSINGTON-L Archives

From: (ken milano)
Subject: Albanian Immigration in Kensington talk
Date: Thu, 4 Oct 2001 20:41:19 -0600

Dear Friends,

Welcome!

Albanian immigration to Fishtown, Kensington and Port Richmond
1900-1939 & 1991-2001
Albanian history, immigrant experience and a conversation amongst neighbors
__________________________________________________________________

Join us Thursday, October 18, 2001 7-8.30pm (free)
at the First Presbyterian Church of Kensington,
418 East Girard Avenue, Philadelphia PA 19125
home-made Albanian treats will be served including bakllava, byrek and
hasude

Have you wondered why the recent Albanian immigrants have come to
Kensington, Fishtown, & Port Richmond? Kensington History Project member
Ken Milano has, having spent the last five years teaching English to dozens
of these Albanian immigrants at the Lutheran Settlement House. Through
after-school and social activities Ken has developed many Albanian friends,
he has learned about the history of Albania, and last year he fell in love
and married Dorina, an Albanian immigrant. They are expecting a child in
January of 2002.

"Don't worry my mother, you have a sons in America."
-Bishop Theofane Noli, who immigrated to America, started the Albanian
Orthodox Church of America (Boston), was a musician, poet, translator, and
a Prime
Minister of Albania.

The communities of Kensington, Fishtown and Port Richmond have long been
the first home for immigrants to Philadelphia. Rather than reading about
the past we want to share the present and learn from some of our newest
neighbors, the Albanians. Come hear a brief presentation on The History of
Albania and Albanian Immigration to America in the Early Twentieth Century
given by Mr. Andrew Rubis, a reader at the Albanian Orthodox Church of St.
John Chrysostom (17th Street below Vine) and a social worker to the
Albanian community of Fishtown & Kensington for the Lutheran Settlement
House. Mr. Rubis is an Albanian-American and fluent in Albanian, Russian,
Greek, & Italian. He is a native Philadelphian.

We will also hear The History and Mission of Coffee Tirana-Personal
Observations & Thoughts of Albania & Albanians in Fishtown by Reverend
Rodney Tilley, minister of the new Albanian Protestant Church, located at
the First Presbyterian Church of Kensington (where we will meet). A
Louisiana native, Reverend Tilley is also the founder of Coffee Tirana (a
local cafe) and
is active in outreach work to the Albanian community of Fishtown. He spent
6 years in Albania, from the fall of Communism in 1991 until 1997, when he
returned to America and became active in the Albanian community in and
around Philadelphia. Besides his years in Albania, Reverend Tilley has also
spent a number of years ministering overseas.

We also encourage your participation and recollections. Please bring
memorabilia to share. Do you remember the Berat (later Farren) Athletic
Club, or Emanon, which played baseball near 3rd & Columbia during the
1940's? Did you buy treats from Sol Kasim's Candy Store at Second and
Jefferson? Do you remember Doctor Steffa through his office on the 1400
block of Second Street, his work at Stetson Hospital or his home visits?
Perhaps you knew members of the Albanian Orthodox Church of St. Peter & St.
Paul (established 1915), on the southwest corner of Hancock & Oxford
Streets; this group laid the foundation for the immigration since 1991 when
Communism collapsed in Albania and the doors to emigration returned.

Join us Thursday, October 18, 2001 7-8.30pm (free) at the First
Presbyterian Church of Kensington,
418 East Girard Avenue (the river side of Girard Avenue, between Palmer &
Columbia, 3/8 of a mile east of the Front Street and the Girard El
station), enter by the large center doors of the church.

Sponsored by: the Kensington History Project: Ken Milano, Rich Remer &
Torben Jenk & Coffee Tirana, 454 East Girard Avenue: Reverend Rodney & Judy
Tilley

Questions? email:

Ken Milano
Kensington History Project
2313 E. York Street
Phila., PA. 19125

This thread:

• Albanian Immigration in Kensington talk by (ken milano)