OIC Philadelphia

A huge THANK YOU to the amazing sponsors making OIC Philadelphia’s 4th Annual Alumni & Community Block Party possible!

Because of your generosity and commitment to our community, we’re able to host a FREE afternoon of live entertainment, delicious food, family fun, community resources, and celebration for our alumni, participants, neighbors, and friends.

Please join us in thanking our incredible sponsors:
🎉 The North Broad Renaissance
🎉 Temple University
🎉 Community College of Philadelphia
🎉 Philadelphia Department of Planning & Development
🎉 Pennsylvania Convention Center - Philadelphia, PA (Philly)
🎉 FIFTEEN Architecture + Design
🎉 School of Sport, Tourism and Hospitality Management at Temple University
🎉 Called To Serve CDC
🎉 Philadelphia Office of Human Resources
🎉 City Year Greater Philadelphia
🎉 Citizens
🎉 ArchWell Health
🎉 Fulton Mortgage Company
🎉 ClockedInNow
🎉 Councilmember Jeffery Young, Jr.

Thank you for believing in OIC Philadelphia’s mission and helping us bring our community together for a day of connection, celebration, and opportunity.

📅 Friday, September 4
🕒 3:00 PM – 7:00 PM
📍 N. Watts Street behind OIC Philadelphia
We can’t wait to celebrate with all of you! ❤️
RSVP: https://pro.gofundme.com/event/4th-annual-alumni-block-party/e802916

From concept to creation — our food entrepreneurs are bringing their businesses to life! 👏🏾🍴

Today, participants in OIC Philadelphia’s Food Entrepreneur Incubator Program stepped into their second Shark Tank-style presentation experience, pitching their products to a panel of business and food industry professionals, including Maria Frizelle R. and OIC Philadelphia Board Member Kalefe Wright.

This time, the experience went beyond the pitch. Participants had the opportunity to present the actual products they’ve been developing throughout the program.

✨ Alkeria showcased her glass-bottled "Keria's Soul Blend" seasoning line, sharing the vision behind her product and brand.

🍽️ Jasmin brought her culinary concept to the table, preparing soulful dishes for the panel to experience firsthand from her "Margaret's Place" food truck.

These real-world experiences are an important part of the journey, allowing participants to strengthen their presentations, receive valuable industry feedback, refine their products, and build the confidence needed to turn their ideas into sustainable businesses.

At OIC Philadelphia, we’re not just teaching entrepreneurship; we’re creating opportunities for aspiring business owners to test, learn, grow, and bring their visions to life.

We’re proud of the progress our entrepreneurs are making and excited to see where they take their businesses next!

👩🏾‍🍳🔥 A New Culinary Journey Begins!

We’re excited to welcome our newest Culinary Arts cohort as they officially wrap up Week One! 🎉

Over the coming weeks, these aspiring culinary professionals will sharpen their skills in the kitchen, gain hands-on industry experience, and build the knowledge and confidence needed to turn their passion for food into a career.

This is only the beginning, and we can’t wait to watch them learn, grow, and bring their talents to the table. 🍽️

Help us welcome our newest Culinary Arts participants and wish them success on the journey ahead! 👏🏾

A huge THANK YOU to the amazing sponsors making OIC Philadelphia’s 4th Annual Alumni & Community Block Party possible!

Because of your generosity and commitment to our community, we’re able to host a FREE afternoon of live entertainment, delicious food, family fun, community resources, and celebration for our alumni, participants, neighbors, and friends.

Please join us in thanking our incredible sponsors:
🎉 The North Broad Renaissance
🎉 Temple University
🎉 Community College of Philadelphia
🎉 Philadelphia Department of Planning & Development
🎉 Pennsylvania Convention Center - Philadelphia, PA (Philly)
🎉 FIFTEEN Architecture + Design
🎉 School of Sport, Tourism and Hospitality Management at Temple University
🎉 Called To Serve CDC
🎉 Philadelphia Office of Human Resources
🎉 City Year Greater Philadelphia
🎉 Citizens
🎉 ArchWell Health
🎉 Fulton Mortgage Company
🎉 ClockedInNow
🎉 Councilmember Jeffery Young, Jr.

Thank you for believing in OIC Philadelphia’s mission and helping us bring our community together for a day of connection, celebration, and opportunity.

📅 Friday, September 4
🕒 3:00 PM – 7:00 PM
📍 N. Watts Street behind OIC Philadelphia
We can’t wait to celebrate with all of you! ❤️
RSVP: https://pro.gofundme.com/event/4th-annual-alumni-block-party/e802916

Teamwork tastes even better when it's homemade!

At OIC Philadelphia, we believe the best teams are built through shared experiences, and this week, our staff traded desks for aprons during an unforgettable culinary team-building experience!

Under the expert guidance of our Culinary Arts Instructor, we divided into teams and took ownership of a signature dish. From crispy fried chicken and fall-off-the-bone ribs to creamy mac and cheese, seasoned greens, homemade butter biscuits, and a perfectly torched crème brûlée, every team brought something special to the table.

The afternoon was filled with collaboration, laughter, friendly competition, and, of course, incredible food. It was a reminder that great things happen when people work together, learn from one another, and share a common goal.

We are now accepting applications for our Fall Culinary Arts Cohort beginning this October! If you're ready to turn your passion for cooking into a career, now is the perfect time to get started.

📲 Apply today and take the first step toward your future! https://oicphila.org/programs/culinary-arts/

Week One of OIC Philadelphia’s Food Entrepreneur Program challenged our aspiring entrepreneurs to step into the spotlight and pitch their businesses in a Shark Tank-style competition before a panel of accomplished business leaders.

From family-inspired comfort food and signature seasonings to healthy meal solutions rooted in healthcare, our participants shared powerful ideas—and even sparked conversations around future mentorship and investment opportunities.
And they’re just getting started.

With eight more weeks of learning, coaching, and business development ahead, we can’t wait to see where their entrepreneurial journeys lead.

Big dreams. Bold ideas. Bright futures.

What happens when passionate food entrepreneurs get the chance to pitch their dreams to some of Philadelphia's top business leaders?

Magic. ✨

This week, participants in OIC Philadelphia's Food Entrepreneur Program took part in a Shark Tank-style pitch competition, where they presented their business ideas and received valuable feedback from an incredible panel of experts.

We heard inspiring stories like:
🍽️ Margaret's House, a food truck inspired by the comfort of family and home.
🧂 Keria's Soul Blend, a seasoning line built on passion, perseverance, and bold flavor.
🥗 C.I.M.B.A.N. (Chef Inspired Meals by a Nurse), bringing together healthcare and culinary arts to create delicious meals tailored to specific health needs.

The room was filled with encouragement, learning, and excitement as participants took one more step toward turning their dreams into reality.

And guess what?

This was only Week One! Over the next eight weeks, they'll continue learning everything from branding and marketing to licensing, finance, and business operations as they build businesses that can positively impact our communities.

At OIC Philadelphia, we're proud to help transform dreams into opportunity.

Who knows? The next great Philadelphia food business could be starting right here. 💙

📖 Read the full story on our website. https://oicphila.org/dreams-take-the-stage-oic-philadelphia-food-entrepreneur-participants-deliver-powerful-shark-tank-style-pitches/

🎉 OIC Philadelphia’s 4th Annual Alumni & Community Block Party is back on Friday, September 4!

Join us for an afternoon of live music, BBQ, family fun, community resources, and celebration. We’re also seeking sponsors to help make this free event possible and invest in Philadelphia’s future.

Be part of a celebration honoring 55,000+ OIC alumni and the power of community. Together, let’s make this year’s block party the best one yet!