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: People's Economic Forum; Help Collect Petition Signatures
Educate: Annual African American Children’s Book Fair
Empower: Earthquake Relief Fundraiser; Philly Rent Control Meeting
People's Economic Forum: Powering the Cooperative Economy
Thursday, February 16th at 7PM on Zoom
Next week, in collaboration with the Philadelphia Area Cooperative Alliance and the Philadelphia Public Banking Coalition, we will explore ways that a Philadelphia Public Bank could strengthen and support the co-op movement.
About the Forum: Cooperative businesses provide an alternative to an extractive and oppressive economy, with an independent way to build community strength and address the racial wealth gap. The co-op movement is growing in Philadelphia, but the barriers to financing are daunting.
How can a public bank help power the cooperative economy? Come with your questions as we explore ways to democratize our wealth and our economy. Guests will include speakers from the national and local co-op movements.
We hope to see you then!
(It is primary election season in Philly, so remember to ask every Mayoral and City Council candidate for their position on public banking!)
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Join Helen Gym for Lovett Library Petition Rally
Saturday, February 25th, 11AM-1PM, 6945 Germantown Ave
Want to help Helen Gym collect signatures to get on the ballot for mayor? Then join us at the Lovett Library next Saturday, February 25th at 11AM for a petition rally! Helen will kick us off with some inspiring words and then we will head out to our favorite places to gather signatures. (Not sure where to collect signatures? No worries, we'll help you!)
Can't make it on Saturday, but still want to help? Click Here
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Want to Circulate Petitions for Other Candidates?
All candidates are now in search of as many signatures as they can get by to assure their place on the ballot. PNN will be helping our endorsed candidates in this work that starts next week.
Use the link below to sign up to help one or more of our endorsed candidates and we'll help you get started.
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Seth Anderson-Oberman Kicks Off Campaign Saturday
Saturday, February 11th, 6525 Germantown Ave, 12PM
Join our endorsed candidate for the Eighth District City Council, Seth Anderson-Oberman as he kicks off his official campaign at the Project Learn School building on Germantown Avenue starting at noon this Saturday. Chris Rabb, an early endorser, will speak at the launch.
We believe that Seth is the leader who can bring the Eighth district together and engage the community to help build our neighborhoods and create an economy where we all grow together. Seth is the kind of collaborative, hardworking, innovative person we need on City Council to represent the Eighth District.
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African American Children’s Book Fair
Saturday, February 11th, 1PM-4PM, Convention Center, 12th & Arch Sts.
The 31st annual African American Children’s Book Fair will be held in person this Saturday from 1PM to 4PM at the Pennsylvania Convention Center at 12th and Arch streets.
Admission is free for this event. Hosted by the African American Children’s Book Project (AACBP), a nonprofit organization created in 1992, the event promotes the preservation of children’s literature written by or about African Americans.
The book project says on its website that it recognizes that early access to books plays an important role in building lifelong readers.
AACB founder Vanesse Lloyd-Sgambati said, “Kids in the region will get a chance to meet the stars of the children’s book world all in one place.” The event will feature award-winning authors and illustrators will read and autograph their books.
There will be an onsite bookstore with a wide selection of African American books for children, preschool to young adults. Promotional giveaways, prizes and games will also highlight the afternoon as a part of the afternoon celebrating reading.
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Earthquake Relief Fundraiser at Weaver's Way
All Weekend, Weaver's Way Co-Op, 599 Carpenter Lane
Weaver's Way will be holding a special at-the-register fundraiser for Doctors Without Borders, which is doing vital work in the aftermath of the earthquake that has been so devastating in Turkey and Syria.
The Co-op will match all donations up to a maximum Co-op contribution of $2,000. Customer donations are tax deductible and will generate a receipt. If you prefer to donate directly to Doctors Without Borders, you can do so here.
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Philly Rent Control Meeting
Saturday, February 25th, 1PM-3PM, 1801 W. Diamond Street
City Council President Darrell Clarke just cancelled a planned informational hearing that would allow community members to have the opportunity to speak on the record about why Philadelphia renters deserve protections from unfair rent increases and price gouging. He did so at the behest of the landlord lobby and District Council members who are afraid that they'll lose their political benefactors.
Join our allies at the Philly Rent Coalition for a meeting at Church of the Advocate at 18th and Diamond Street to discuss what we can do together to take on these special interests and help our city's renters.
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Court Finds School Funding Unconstitutional
Great News! In a historic victory for students, on February 7, 2023, Commonwealth Court ruled that Pennsylvania's current school funding system is unconstitutional. The judge issued a clear directive: "All witnesses agree that every child can learn. It is now the obligation of the Legislature, Executive Branch, and educators, to make the constitutional promise a reality in this Commonwealth."
Now, it's our turn to tell state legislators how we feel. Sign the petition below.
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This Week in History
Feb 10, 1966 – Unsafe at Any Speed. Justice crusader Ralph Nadar testified before Congress for the first time about unsafe practices in the auto industry, leading to the passage of safety laws in the unregulated auto industry.
Feb 11, 1990 – Mandela Freed. After spending 27 years in a South African prison, Nelson Mandela was free by the Apartheid government. Four years later, he would be elected president.
Feb 12, 1909 – NAACP Founded. On the 100th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln's birth, W.E.B. Du Bois, Ida B. Wells-Barnett and other black leaders announced the formation of a new organization called the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, which played a huge role in the civil rights movement.
Feb 15, 2003 – Anti-War Protests. A coordinated day of protests was held across the world in which people in more than 600 cities expressed opposition to the imminent Iraq War.
Thanks for your activism!
Tim Brown, Organizing Director