This week we've got some great performance theater taking place in front of the School Board as students demand action on a voter registration program. Watch a video on plastics and take part in Sunday's discussion with our Environmental Action Committee. Sign up for our Public Bank Visioning Summit. And be sure to check out what happened this week in history, including clips from the legendary Woodstock Festival.
Students to Perform Theater at School Board on Voting
Thursday, August 19, 12PM, 440 North Broad Street
Join us this Thursday as student activists conduct a Forum Theater performance called, "How's Your Voice Gonna Matter (if you don't vote)?" to call attention to the fact that our nation’s most important right and duty as citizens – to register and vote – is being ignored by the School Board. There will be a DJ and food trucks in support of this performance.
Roughly 8,000 public high school students become eligible to vote each year in our City, but actual voter registration remains low and there is no mechanism in place to assure that these students are registered.
We believe that it's time that the members of our School Board recognized the importance of this fundamental principle of American democracy by supporting a program to help register all eligible high school students as a rite of passage in their education and an important step toward adulthood. If you do too, then we'll see you in front of the School Board on Thursday!
Can't make it, but want to help?
Write a letter to the Inquirer, max 150 words (Inquirer.Letters@phillynews.com)
Write an op-ed, max 650 words to Erica Palan (epalan@inquirer.com)
Don’t know what to say? Here are some of the previous testimonies on the topic.
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Join Our Environmental Group to Discuss "The Story of Plastic"
Sunday, August 15, 4:30PM
Please join the Philadelphia Neighborhood Networks Environmental Action Committee's Waste Working Group this Sunday August 15th at 4:30 pm for a viewing of the short animated film The Story of Plastic (please click the link to watch the film), followed by a discussion.
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Sign Up for the Public Bank Visioning Summit
Saturday, September 18, 1-4PM
The planning for our Visioning Summit is coming together and we are signing on an impressive list of guest speakers who will help us to explore all the things that a public bank can do for our City.
Of course, you'll play an important role in this visioning, too and you will have a number of opportunities to ask questions and weigh in with your thoughts. We look forward to seeing you at our online summit, so please let us know you'll be coming by clicking on the link below.
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This Week in History
Aug 14, 1935 – Social Security Act. Calling it a "patriotic" action, FDR signed this historic bill, which guaranteed an income for the unemployed and retirees. Social Security has since become one of the bedrock programs of our nation.
Aug 15, 1969 – Woodstock. On this day, 400,000 descended upon Max Yasgur's farm in NY to take part in America's most famous counterculture music festival. It featured icons like Bob Dylan, Santana, Joan Baez, the Grateful Dead, Jefferson Airplane, Jimi Hendrix and CSNY who were performing only their second gig together.
Aug. 17, 1985 – Hormel Strike. Following wage cuts and serious injuries, workers at the Hormel plant in MN began a one year strike to win safer working conditions and higher pay.
Aug. 19, 1909 – Little Red Songbook. The International Workers of the World released the first edition of "The Little Red Songbook" which featured labor-oriented songs including "The Internationale" and labor organizer Joe Hill's “The Preacher and the Slave”.
Thanks for your activism!
Tim Brown, Organizing Director