PNN’s mission is to engage, educate and empower. Here’s what’s coming up in each of these areas:
Engage: Movie Night on Abortion Rights; Juneteenth Celebrations
Educate: Housing AC on Rent Control & Whole Home Repair Legislation
Empower: People's March on DC
Read on to find out when, where and how:
Celebrate Juneteenth in Philly
This Juneteenth has a special significance because last year Joe Biden signed legislation establishing June 19th as a federal holiday to commemorate the day in 1865 that Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas with news that the Civil War was over and slavery in the United States was abolished.
Want to celebrate? Here are some things you can do on Saturday:
Join the Parade: The parade will start at 52nd & Haverford @ 9:30AM and arrives at Malcolm X Park at 51st & Pine at 12PM
Germantown Festival: Visit the historic Johnson House at Germantown Ave & Washington Lane from 12-5PM, where there will be food, music, historic reenactments and activities for kids
Looking for more? Here's the City Guide to Juneteenth
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Movie Night: When You Lose the Right to Choose
Wednesday, June 22nd, 7PM, Virtual
Join us for a viewing of the short film, "Abortion Helpline, This is Lisa" followed by a discussion of where we are on abortion rights in the country, state and our city - led by experts, Julie Zaebst, Senior Policy Advocate at the PA ACLU and Marah Lange, Director of Client Services at the Abortion Liberation Fund of PA.
We’ll look at the potential actions by the US Supreme Court as well as pending legislation from foes in Harrisburg, and we'll discuss how we will preserve our rights and available services in Southeast Pennsylvania.
We urge everyone to get updated on this issue - for themselves, for their friends and family members of child bearing age, as people may really need to know what their options will be and how to get trustworthy information in a crisis moment. Please be prepared to ask questions, so we can share the facts with our friends, neighbors and relatives.
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Housing Meeting to Take on Whole Home Repair
Wednesday, June 22nd, 6:30PM, Virtual
We invite you to join us next Wednesday, June 22nd for our Housing Action Committee. We will explore a range of topics, including the campaign to win passage of the "Whole Home Repair” legislation introduced by State Representative Savil and Rent Control in Philly.
We will provide overviews of these campaigns, next steps to move these campaigns forward, and how we can get involved in and support these campaigns. We will be joined by housing organizer Michelle Crouch who will discuss rent control. Sign up for more details.
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Poor People's March on Washington
Saturday, June 18th, National Mall, Washington, D.C.
T
his Saturday's Mass Poor People’s & Low-Wage Workers’ Assembly & Moral March on Washington will be a generationally-transformative declaration of the power of poor and low-wealth people and our moral allies to say that this system is killing all of us and we're not going to take it anymore. For more information on how you can participate in this event, click the link below.
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Decarcerate & Chill Hangout
Saturday, June 25th, 11AM, 1431 N. 52nd St
For years our allies for prison reform have been building a vibrant movement community to end mass incarceration and win second chances. Now more than ever we need more spaces where we can connect with each other and get new people connected to our movements.
On June 25th from 11 AM - 4 PM we'll join forces with Decarcerate, Abolitionist Law Center, Straight Ahead, Free The Ballot and Amistad Movement Power to host a dynamic movement social event. There will be delicious food, music, games, workshops and other fun stuff to foster the community we need to win.
We'll be kicking it in an outside courtyard space at One Art Community Center at 1431 N. 52nd St. We're fond of the saying: “If you want to go fast, go alone, if you want to go far, go together”.
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WCU Course in Community Organizing
West Chester University is now offering a B.A. in community organizing, called Urban Community Change. A course in the major is open to visiting students this fall and will be taught by Dr. Dean Johnson (co-editor of Resist, Organize, Transform: An Introduction to Nonviolence and Activism, 2019).
The course, PAX 377: Community Organizing: Strategies and Practice, takes place this Fall 2022: Wednesdays 6:30PM-9:15PM on the WCU Main Campus. You can enroll in this course as a visiting student, even if you are not a regular WCU student!
Contact Dr. Hannah Ashley if you have questions or need financial support to take this course. If you take the course, you can ask to be assigned as an intern with Philly Neighborhood Networks!
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This Week in History
June 18, 1983 – Ride, Sally Ride. On this day, Dr. Sally Ride became the first woman in space when the shuttle Challenger flew its second mission.
June 19, 1865 – Juneteenth. See above.
June 21, 1788 – U.S. Constitution Ratified. The After two years of negotiations, New Hampshire became the ninth and last necessary state to ratify the Constitution of the United States, thereby making the document the law of the land.
June 22, 1944 – F.D.R. Signs G.I. Bill. The last of the New Deal reforms was signed to avoid a relapse into depression following the war, giving veterans money for tuition, living expenses, books, supplies and equipment, effectively transforming higher education in America.
Thanks for your activism!
Tim Brown, Organizing Director