Community News
Philly study focuses on learning how to use public transit as path to independence for people with learning disabilities
Researchers at Temple University will look at the effectiveness of the Chance to Ride travel training program and recruit participants in Philly. Nicole Leonard Apr 2, 2025 At the corner of 4th and Spring Garden streets in Philadelphia, Luke Tomczuk waited for the 57 SEPTA bus. Soon it came rumbling down the street and riders…
Here’s how a Pennsylvania school is setting students with autism, intellectual disabilities up for success
By Madeleine Wright Updated on: March 8, 2025 / 12:11 PM EST / CBS Philadelphia People with autism often face barriers to employment, but a private school in Middletown Township, Delaware County, is coming up with a solution. Davidson School, operated by the nonprofit Elwyn, opened a café on Feb. 3 so students can get real world…
Philadelphia opens first urgent care walk-in clinic for mental health needs
The clinic is funded by the city and officially opens to patients beginning September 3. It will not provide emergency crisis services. Philadelphia now has its first urgent care facility for mental health needs that will provide psychiatric evaluations, quick counseling sessions, prescription refills, and referrals. A white brick building near North Broad Street and…
Philadelphia’s median income rises, Pennsylvania’s falls
By Mike D’Onofrio On September 18, 2023 Philadelphia households saw modest gains in median income last year, new census data shows. Why it matters: While incomes fell nationally and statewide, Philly bucked that trend as the city’s poverty rate ticked downward. Yes, but: Philly maintains its status as the poorest big city in the country. Its 21.7%…
FEMA designates several Pa., Del., N.J. areas as ‘disaster resilience zones’: Here’s what that means
The new designation prioritizes the areas for federal funding related to climate change resilience. By Kenny Cooper and Sophia Schmidt On September 8, 2023 The Federal Emergency Management Agency is providing a shortcut for hundreds of vulnerable communities to get easier access to funds for climate resiliency projects. FEMA announced Wednesday the initial designation of…
PA. will track voting machine malfunctions under new settlement with election security groups
By Carter Walker of Votebeat On August 18, 2023 This article is made possible through Spotlight PA’s collaboration with Votebeat, a nonpartisan news organization covering local election administration and voting. This article is available for reprint under the terms of Votebeat’s republishing policy. HARRISBURG — Thanks to a new settlement between Pennsylvania and a coalition of election security…
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Local Organizations
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Philadelphia Coalition for Affordable Communities
Philadelphia is becoming a more desirable place to live. There’s increased development in many neighborhoods, which has resulted in a rise in property values and in the cost of living. While this development is critical for improving Philadelphia’s neighborhoods, for too many of us it has meant being forced out of our communities. This has especially affected those of us who are disabled, are seniors, or are part of working families living below the poverty line. We need to preserve affordability in gentrifying neighborhoods so that those who are committed to and invested in our communities can afford to stay.
Eastwick Friends & Neighbors Coalition
EFNC actively supports the Eastwick Lower Darby Creek Area (ELDCA) Community Advisory Group (CAG), which was established to inform residents about Clearview Landfill clean up, and provide opportunity to voice concerns and provide input to the process.
MANNA
MANNA uses nutrition to improve health for people with serious illnesses who need nourishment to heal. By providing medically tailored meals and nutrition education, we empower people to improve their health and quality of life.
Why Not Prosper
Our mission is to help women from prison systems discover their own strength by providing them with the support and resources that will empower them to become responsible, economically self-sufficient and contributing members of the community.
Esperanza
Driven by the Biblical mandate to serve “the least of these” we strengthen Hispanic communities. For more than 30 years, Esperanza has been empowering those on a pathway out of poverty in the Hunting Park section of North Philadelphia by offering programs that cultivate self-belief, grit, and knowledge acquisition, allowing clients and students to develop agency, voice, and influence over their own lives.
Friends of the Free Library of Philadelphia
The Philadelphia Free Library has its own foundation, but the neighborhood branches get by with a little help from their friends. The Friends of the Free Library is an independent nonprofit organization that supports library groups and is totally dedicated to the city’s 54-branch library system — one of the most extensive in the country. Active volunteer Friends groups provide additional support to their local librarians, helping to enrich programming, boost services, and improve the collection.
Project HOME
Philadelphia has one of the highest rates of poverty of any large U.S. city but has a relatively low rate of those experiencing street homelessness. That’s due in part to the work of Project HOME. “None of us are home until all of us are home” is Project HOME’s famous motto, and getting all of us home will require finding affordable housing for more than 5,600 people who will be without shelter this winter.
Hopeworks Camden
Hopeworks started as a training program to connect disenfranchised youth to opportunity. But the organization soon discovered that success required much more than providing those youth with chances. Young people also needed trauma-informed services — and these proved to be the ingredient that allows them to take advantage of life-changing opportunities.
New Sanctuary Movement of Philadelphia
Some 170,000 undocumented immigrants live in Pennsylvania, and providing them with a place of refuge is either an act of civil defiance or radical hospitality. New Sanctuary Movement of Philadelphia, an interfaith, multicultural immigration justice organization, calls it a radical welcome. For 14 years, NSM has worked to secure rights for the undocumented — and its latest battle is to allow such residents to get driver’s licenses.
SEAMAAC
Philadelphia’s Asian American community represents a variety of countries, including Bhutan, Indonesia, Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos as well as China and South Korea. The Southeast Asian Mutual Assistance Association Coalition, better known as SEAMAAC, seeks to help them all.
Upcoming Events
2024 Symposium on Neurodiversity
The University of Science & Arts of Oklahoma is excited to host Dr. Temple Grandin, alongside Tim Herbel, as the keynote speakers for the 2024 Emerson-Wier Liberal Arts Symposium focusing on neurodiversity, a derivative of our annual Speaker Series.
FREE Black History Month Through Film at Belle Isle Library
Features OETA’s documentaries that delve into black history in Oklahoma, from Langston University, which opened even before Oklahoma became a state, to the trailblazers of Oklahoma’s Civil Rights movement, such as Roscoe Dungee, Ada Lois Sipuel Fisher, and Clara Luper.
“The Fairytale Project”
A dance performance about the love between two African-American slaves and how they discover their roots in the free colonies of East Texas. It is both informative and moving.
UCLA Luskin Lecture: Barbara Ransby
Noted writer, historian and activist Barbara Ransby will explore the inter-institutional space of ideas and organizing, linking research and scholarship to communities and movement-based work.
Empower Run 2024
The Empower Run is a 3.1 mile long family-friendly race open to participants of all ages and abilities, including runners, walkers and strollers. Funds raised by the 2024 Empower Run will provide access to free representation and legal services to low-income survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault and help secure #JusticeForSurvivors.
41st Upton Sinclair Celebration
In 2024, we’re looking forward to honoring the contributions of organizers and activists who are paving the way for social justice progress in Los Angeles—from fighting for the creation of a new Youth Development Department focused on care not punishment, to advocating for eviction protections for millions of struggling tenants—or securing a ban on toxic…
North Texas Food Bank – Pack & Box
Millions of meals are distributed through our programs and Feeding Network each year. Volunteers participating in the Pack and Box opportunity will work together in an assembly line to package the boxes/bags of food that are distributed to our neighbors through our programs and our Feeding Network. This opportunity is ideal for individuals or groups.…
Qigong For Peace
Join us for this 2-hour Live Webinar, Qigong For Peace, on Saturday, Feb. 10th, 2024. David J. Coon, will share Qigong Exercises, Guided Meditations to Experience Inner Peace, and a Medical Qigong Lecture on the benefits of a regular Qigong practice.
Comedy for Peace
Comedy for Peace is an incredible comedy show with Muslim and Jewish comedians, founded in March of 2019 in New York City. Comedy For Peace is an accessible, funny, fun, and meaningful show that brings diverse, Interfaith communities together with the belief that we can make a difference through the art of comedy.
Local Hero Spotlight
Members can nominate a local hero for recognition on their local LoveJustice.com city page!
Anyone and everyone can make an impact, and at LoveJustice we believe that they deserve to be recognized for their good, necessary work!
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Volunteer Opportunities
Philly in Action!
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