At the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, student leadership plays a central role in advancing the School’s commitment to community engagement, equity, and partnership in North Philadelphia. Through initiatives that emphasize collaboration and “community in-reach,” Katz students are helping build meaningful connections between the medical school and the neighborhoods it serves.
One such initiative is North Philly Flex, a student-led event hosted by the Katz Student Diversity Council. Now in its fourth year, the event took place on December 1, 2025, in the Medical Education and Research Building (MERB) Commons. North Philly Flex provides a platform for local small businesses and nonprofits to showcase their work, connect, and build lasting partnerships with the Katz community and Temple University Health System.
Uplifting and Empowering Businesses Through Community “In-Reach”
According to Dante Puntiel, a fourth-year medical student at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine, president of the school’s Student Diversity Council, and organizer of the 2024 and 2025 North Philly Flex events, the goal is to uplift and empower small local businesses.
“The main purpose of the event is to bring the community together to showcase businesses,” said Puntiel. “Something Dean [Dr. Amy] Goldberg always says is that it’s not only about community outreach — it’s also about community in-reach, bringing people into our spaces. We thought this event was a great way to do it.”
Puntiel said the Student Diversity Council and the school strive to remove as many barriers to vendor participation as possible, including covering the cost of the one-day vendor’s insurance premium, which totals about $125, assisting with setup, providing food during the event, and highlighting businesses on the organization’s Instagram page.
“Our goal is to make it as easy as possible to participate,” said Puntiel. “We’ve also been able to grow the event through outreach and word-of-mouth from our veteran vendors who have invited others that they know — because who knows the community better than the community?”
As a result, the event has expanded from 12 vendors in 2022 to 27 in 2025.
“There is such a sense of community because many of our veterans come back, and they know each other and are catching up,” said Puntiel. “But we’ve also been able to make many new connections.”
The long-term impact of North Philly Flex is best illustrated through the partnerships that continue well beyond the event itself.
Putting the “ART” in Partnership
For North Philadelphia artist Moneek Pines, owner and lead artist at ARTrageous Brush & Flow and three-year North Philly Flex participant, the event has led to a mutually beneficial long-term partnership with Temple University Health System. Pines’ business hosts painting parties and commissions artwork, including paintings, murals, sculptures, mixed-media pieces, and more.
“During the 2024 event, Jennifer Huth, [director of Institutional Events at Temple Health] walked straight over to my booth and started looking at some of my miniature paintings of Philly scenes,” said Pines. “We started talking about my business, and she said, “We’re going to work together.’”
A few weeks later, Pines received a call from Huth, which culminated in an order for 150 miniature 4x4 Philly paintings for a health system-sponsored event. Since then, Pines has hosted “Paint and Sip” events for Temple University, done a live painting event at the health system’s Acres of Diamonds Gala, and painted a commissioned piece that now hangs in the lobby of the new Temple Women & Families Hospital at Wyoming and Castor avenues in North Philadelphia.
“Jen called me one day and asked me to meet her at the [Women & Families] hospital. When I arrived, she said, ‘We want you to do a painting’,” said Pines. “I was just floored, because I’m a mom, and I was so excited to have the opportunity to create something that would touch moms and women coming into the hospital.”
Making New Connections and Learning About the Community
One new connection in 2025 was Pines’ son, Masai Pines-Elliott — a recent graduate of Arcadia University with a bachelor’s degree in photography. North Philly Flex was Pines-Elliott’s first-ever vending event, featuring his mixed-media art that incorporates painting and photography.
“He did it all on his own, and I was just so proud of him,” said Pines. “He was working on pieces live so people could see his process, and he even sold some of his photography.”
“I bought a piece,” said Puntiel. “I am an art fan, and I loved his work.”
Puntiel said North Philly Flex fits in with the Student Diversity Council and medical school’s overall mission by helping future physicians get to know the community they serve.
“We can learn how to best serve the community by talking to the community, bringing them into our spaces, and learning about them,” said Puntiel. “North Philly Flex helps us get face time with our community outside of a healthcare setting and bridge the divide.”