Council-at-large candidate Isaiah Thomas. Photo provided by Isaiah Thomas for City Council At-Large.

As primary elections approach, NEast Philly will interview council-at-large candidates so readers can get to know the names they’ll see on the ballot.

Today we speak with Isaiah Thomas. The Frankford High School graduate has a psychology and social behavior  degree from Penn State University and a masters in education from Lincoln University. His work in the community ranges from his role as executive director at family education center Mature Cradle, Inc and a consultant for United Way. Thomas is also a project director at Sankofa Freedom Academy in Frankford — a natural transition from his decade-long involvement at Freedom Schools.

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The futures of two large neighborhood institutions were discussed at Thursday’s Frankford Civic Association meeting.

First, the now vacant Salvation Army building, on Frankford Avenue near Unity Street, is up for sale, recycling residents’ fear over recovery homes that have beleaguered Frankford for years. Second, the latest chapter in the harried sale of the Frankford Y was announced, including a sale date that passed without action.

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Inside the brightly colored, Spanish-classroom of the Sankofa Freedom Academy in Frankford, a handful of residents were imbued with the global impact and practical cost-saving of properly weatherizing a home Wednesday night.

A representative of the Energy Coordinating Agency, which trains, consults and teaches on energy conversation, particularly to people of low income, was hosted by state Rep. Tony Payton’s office.

During the 90-minute session, Ron Edwards, a representative of the agency, started by describing the generally accepted concept of global warming and talking about projections of the country and the world’s peak oil production. He then pointed out common energy-losing parts of Philadelphia homes and simple, low-cost ways of reducing heat loss.

“That draft under your door means a lot more than a cold living room,” Edwards said last night.

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Paul Deery, a spokesman for Urban Eco Electric at left, and three Frankford residents listen to state Rep. Tony Payton's Chief of Staff Jorge Santana introduce their discussion on solar energy opportunities, held Nov. 19, 2009 at the Sankofa School on Paul St. in Frankford.

Five years from now, the most meaningful state and federal solar energy incentive programs may likely be gone, a spokesman from a solar panel leasing company said at a community meeting in Frankford Thursday night.

“For the next three to five years, it makes sense to get out and talk to homeowners,” said Paul Deery from Urban Eco Electric, a solar panel leasing agent based in West Conshohocken, at an event hosted by state Rep. Tony Payton’s office. Deery was one-fifth of those present at the sparsely attended affair held in the meeting room of the Sankofa Freedom Academy at 4256 Paul St. in Frankford.

The attendance last night — four people at peak — was “unfortunately” a common representation of other similar solar meetings Payton’s office has hosted recently, said the representative’s chief of staff Jorge Santana.

Below, get the scoop on these programs and video of Deery pitching his organization.

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