Kadafi El-Kardah
Kadafi El-Kardah has dedicated his life to ensuring that others feel welcomed, supported, heard, and valued. Driven by a deep sense of purpose, Kadafi strives to create meaningful impact—not just in his own neighborhood, but in communities far beyond. He currently works on the Choice Neighborhood Initiatives, a HUD program that makes investments in housing, neighborhood, and people. Civic boards and advisory committees: PHILA250 Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee, SEPTA Citizen Advisory Committee, and the TTF Watershed Partnership. He is a Philadelphia Citizen Planner, and a fellow of both the Environmental Leadership Program and the Institute for Conservation Leadership.
About the Project
Drain Buddies is a volunteer-led program that will be piloted in Germantown, one of Philadelphia’s oldest and most historic neighborhoods. Drain Buddies empowers neighbors to take action—adopting storm drains, monitoring for flooding and pollution, and becoming local stewards for environmental resilience. The Drain Buddies program is more than just a cleanup effort; it’s a movement rooted in community ownership, environmental stewardship, and local pride. A community Tool Borrowing Library will also be created as part of the program.