About Us
FunTimes is Registered Trademark FunTimes ISSN 2163-7806
FunTimes Magazine began operating in Philadelphia, PA, over ten years ago. We celebrate African, Caribbean and African American communities in the Delaware Valley. Until the end of March 2020, FunTimes was a 100-page, print magazine maintaining an online presence with about 2.4k likes and a 19K monthly user reach on Facebook. Because of the pandemic, we shifted 100% online. FunTimes has since gained over 61K likes and reached 1.7 million people in the last 28 days on Facebook.
FunTimes Magazine is a community trusted information source, a nationally certified Minority Business Enterprise, accredited by the Better Business Bureau with an "A" rating. We belong to Pen and Pencil Club in Philadelphia, Philadelphia Association of Black Journalists (PABJ) and LION Publishers.
Ninety percent of FunTimes executives and advisory board members reflect the racial makeup of our audience. Eighty-five percent of the editorial team has diverse immigrant heritage. Our team has first-hand knowledge of the issues affecting our audience, giving us a culturally nuanced prism to frame discussion. FunTimes Magazine also collaborates with dozens of public and private community-based organizations. Our sponsored events honor those making a difference and create intentional spaces to bridge disconnect in the Diaspora.
FunTimes also connects Diaspora communities to invaluable resources and provides a platform for vulnerable minority groups overlooked by mainstream media. We printed the first-ever comprehensive Philadelphia Black Business Directory in 2019, funded by Beech Companies and the Commerce Department of the City of Philadelphia. We updated this listing for 2020 to engender Buy Black initiatives. We also produced the Upper Darby Township showcase, a compilation of businesses, government services and landmarks in Delaware County. FunTimes worked with the US Census Bureau on their 2020 campaign.
We are involved in COVID-19 education for the safety of the Black community through virtual discourse and collaboration with WHYY/NPR and Enon Baptist Tabernacle. FunTimes is involved in the African/Caribbean Storytelling project funded by Independence Public Media Foundation. We have provided internship opportunities for students from Temple, West Chester and Drexel Coop. FunTimes has created networking opportunities, led Historical Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) dialogues, partnered with the Gift of Life Donor program, and remained a community engagement partner with Brown ShopRite Superstores for over 10 years.
Testimonials and Endorsements
"When I want to know what is happening in the African and Caribbean Community in Philadelphia, I read FunTimes!"
"Congrats FunTimes for being a positive and necessary platform for
the African Diaspora community. Your representation is powerful, authentic, graphically awesome and most informative. You have a caring and quality driven team working with you. FunTimes is one of the limited resources where we can go to tell and/or hear our stories. Continue to help unify and strengthen our community using such positive tools of expression." Sandy Lawrence
"I have personally, and my business Brown's ShopRites and The Fresh Grocers, have worked with Eric and Fun Times Magazine from its early days. We have absolutely love our African and Caribbean customers and associates and the Fun Times Magazine is the very best way to communicate with this very significant and important market."
Career Coach
"FunTimes magazine provides insight into the compelling everyday stories that a lot of magazines miss. FunTimes captures the authentic diversity of our stories from the diaspora in a way that is informative, empowering, and inspiring."
Sena O.
Consultant
"FunTimes Magazine is an important member of a very limited Black Media family in Philadelphia. As Black owned and operated media platforms, we must work together to support and serve our communities, to ensure that Black media has a presence, and a voice, let alone a seat at the table."
Sherri Darden
Publisher of Scoop USA Media
Phoebe Coles "Fun Times is the only publication in the Delaware Valley region that ties people of color to their heritage and current events. Fun Times gives a voice to the fullness of the diaspora thriving in our communities across the region by helping to unite us around important issues, people and celebrations."
President, Community Marketing Concepts
"As a recipient of the Funtimes Magazine 2019 Women of Influence Award, I am thrilled to endorse Funtimes Magazine as a premier magazine that personifies the pure essence of the African Diaspora. The passion in which they tell our stories; seen through the lenses of people that truly identify with the black culture and live the struggles of black people are key to cultivating the next generation of Kings and Queens. Many thanks to Eric and his team for creating a platform where people of color can be recognized for the remarkable and essential work that we do in our communities."
Chris Brown Director, Community Services, Beech Companies
"FunTimes Magazine is the go to source for "Who's Who" of the diaspora for the region. Like a great recipe, it's content is the perfect mixture of up and coming trends, current trends and history of our culture."
Khalil Bullock
Advertisers and Business Partners/Sponsors
FunTimes Magazine Reporting Supported By
Independence Media / Resolve Philly / Solutions Journalism Network
Worked With/Featured/Collaborate
Carol H. Williams / Cardenas Grant / MI Integrated Media / Harmelin Media / Tierney / TML Communication / Community Marketing Concepts
Philadelphia City Hall / Cabrini University / Lincoln University / Temple University/ Jefferson University / Mercy Hospital
Community College of Philadelphia / Trinidad and Tobago Embassy / Botswana Embassy / Philadelphia Union / Independence Blue Cross / PECO
Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church / New Covenant Church of Philadelphia / Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
