PNN’s mission is to engage, educate and empower our neighbors to make our City a better place to live. Here’s what’s coming up in each of these areas:
Engage: Sign Up to Buddy Canvass; Become a PNN Blogger
Educate: Isaiah Thomas Driving Equality Movie; Derek Green on Public Banking
Empower: 8th District Council Candidates Debate
Canvass Kickoff Next Saturday at Lovett Library!
Saturday, April 15th, Starts at 11AM, 6945 Germantown Ave
Sign up now to knock doors to join our Canvass Kickoff outside Lovett Library. We'll go over how we'll frame our conversation with our neighbors (what to say and why), and then hit buddy up to hit some doors to talk about PNN and our progressive slate of candidates.
We have a new mayor to elect and Helen Gym, the only progressive candidate in the race, is in the thick of the race against some deep-pocketed contenders. Her path to victory? Her supporters are going to knock more doors for her than canvassers for any other candidate!
We're also going to enthusiastically work to elect Seth Anderson-Oberman in the Eighth District in NW Philly, as well as a slate of progressives for Council At-Large and other officeswith records of success both in and out of government.
If we can convince voters to support our slate as a block of candidates, then we are more likely to get each slate member elected and launch a whole new era of progressive government in Philadelphia!
It Starts with a Click: Take a moment to commit your time to one or two shifts somewhere between now and election day. So, click on the link below and break out your calendar to see where you might have a free Saturday (11AM-2PM) or Sunday (1PM-4PM) to knock doors.
Commit to Three (3) Shifts and Get a Brand New PNN Tee Shirt! Just click the link. If your schedule changes, we understand - things come up. But please don't put it off, because then we can't properly plan. We'd rather have you cancel than wait to sign up.
Want a Buddy? If you'd like, we'll pair you with one of our other volunteers so you can go out as canvass buddies. You can share the conversations at the doors and the time goes by faster. Plus, for some reason folks are a little more likely to open their doors if they see a team rather than an individual. Check the box that lets us know you'd prefer a canvass buddy.
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This Tuesday: Derek Green Interview w/Public Bank Coalition
Tuesday, April 11th, 5:30PM, Virtual
Join PNN and the Philadelphia Public Banking Coalition as we interview mayoral candidate Derek Green about his vision for our city's future and how a public bank will play a key role in that work. The interview will start at 5:30PM on Zoom. Sign up to get the link.
Next Up: Mayoral Candidate Rebecca Rhynhart on April 20th. To see the Helen Gym’s recent interview, Click Here
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This Wednesday: Isaiah Thomas Driving Equality Documentary
Wednesday, April 12th, 6PM, Summit Church, 6757 Greene St
Join us for an eye-opening documentary on Councilmember Isaiah Thomas' historic Driving Equality bill. Thomas speaks personally about his lived experience with traumatic and ineffective pretextual stops, paired with the data that shows this is a citywide and national problem. Councilmember Thomas' bill, just passing one year of enforcement, is being replicated by cities across the nation.
This documentary shares Councilmember Isaiah Thomas' experience, Team Thomas' process for creating and passing this bill, and the reception from the city. The short film will be followed by a Q&A with Councilmember Thomas.
Did You Hear the News? Last year, the FOP sued the City to Block CM Thomas' Driving Equality law, claiming that the ordnance illegally preempted state law. On Wednesday, Common Pleas Court Judge Craig Levin ruled that how and when police carry out minor traffic stops are “matters of purely local concern” and and tossed the FOP lawsuit. You can read more about it here.
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POWER Mayoral Candidates Forum
Sunday, April 16, 3PM-6PM, 3801 Market Street
Join 60 congregations of all faiths across the city at First District Plaza to ask questions of the mayoral candidates about what it will take to make our communities safer, including questions about gun violence, schools, clean air, good jobs, and housing. Attendees will have an opportunity hear from each mayoral candidate in small groups, and then come together at the end to debrief and talk about next steps.
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Seth vs Cindy: Candidates Debate for 8th District Council Seat
Wednesday, April 26, 7PM, 400 W. Ellet Street
For those unhappy with the leadership demonstrated by incumbent Cindy Bass, April 26th offers a moment of reckoning. Lifetime Germantown neighbor and career union organizer Seth Anderson-Oberman has rallied the troops to put up perhaps the biggest challenge Bass has had to face since she first won the seat back in 2011.
The two will face off at the Germantown Jewish Centre at 400 W. Ellet Street on the evening of April 26th in what promises to be a spirited clash of styles and values. Click below to let us know you're coming.
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Got Something to Say? Say it as a PNN Blogger!
It's easy to get started as a PNN Blogger. Of course, you need to have something to say and the courage to share your thoughts with others in a public space. We'll work with you to help you find your voice, clean up typos, and share your work with allies in our social media network. Click on the link below to get started.
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This Week in History
April 8, 1993 – Latina in Space. Astronaut Ellen Ochoa became the first Latina in space when the shuttle Discovery lifted off from the Kennedy Space Center.
April 12, 1861 – War Between the States. Confederate troops attacked Fort Sumter in South Carolina, leading to the four year Civil War.
April 13, 1964 – Poitier Wins Best Actor. Sidney Poitier became the first African American to win the Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in "Lilies of the Field".
Thanks for your activism!
Tim Brown, Organizing Director