Pivedite’s Call to Action for Philadelphia

By David Sherwin, President at Pivedite

INTRO

This is our first blog post so we are excited to get started. The articles we highlight connect to each of the 10 problems and goals. In addition, we propose a question/action for each article.

HOMELESSNESS

PROBLEM: Approx. 5700 people were homeless in 2018. Source: http://philadelphiaofficeofhomelessservices.org/know-homelessness/

SYSTEM GOAL: End homelessness in your community.

INDIVIDUAL GOAL: End homelessness for 1 person.

ARTICLE INFO/SUMMARY:

NBC Philadelphia article published on Dec 16, 2019. The PA State Government no longer charges homeless people a $20 fee to obtain a birth certificate.

https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/broke-in-philly/homeless-pennsylvania-birth-certificate/2260591/?_osource=db_npd_nbc_wcau_twt_shr

QUESTION/ACTION:

Imagine all of the financial hurdles a homeless person has to endure. Could you pay for something to help someone get out of homelessness?

HUNGER

PROBLEM: Approx. 302,685 residents were food insecure from 2015-2017. Source: https://www.hungerfreeamerica.org/blog/philadelphia-hunger-jumps-22-over-six-years

SYSTEM GOAL: End hunger in your community.

INDIVIDUAL GOAL: End hunger for 1 person.

ARTICLE INFO/SUMMARY:

BillyPenn article published on Dec 23, 2019. Discusses how kids received free lunches during their school’s winter break last year. Stats about food insecurity in Philadelphia are also discussed.

https://billypenn.com/2019/12/23/how-hungry-philly-kids-can-get-free-lunch-over-winter-break/

QUESTION/ACTION:

Imagine all of the different times during the year when someone needs food. Could you help someone who is food insecure connect with the services they need?

HEALTH

PROBLEM: 12% of adults were uninsured and approximately 1 in 6 adults reported not having a primary care provider in 2018. Source: (go to pg. 3) https://www.phila.gov/documents/access-to-primary-care-in-philadelphia/

SYSTEM GOAL: Ensure everyone in your community has access to quality health care.

INDIVIDUAL GOAL: Help 1 person get quality health care.

ARTICLE INFO/SUMMARY:

Philadelphia Business Journal article published on January 28, 2020. A $1 million grant was awarded to Project HOME to focus on health disparities in North Philadelphia.

https://www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia/news/2020/01/28/project-home-ibc-amerihealth-caritas-phila.html

QUESTION/ACTION:

Are there similar efforts in other sections of the city? Do you know anyone who could benefit from this?

EDUCATION

PROBLEM: Approx. 550,000 adults did not have adequate literacy skills in 2018. Source: http://philaliteracy.org/

SYSTEM GOAL: Ensure everyone in your community has adequate literacy skills.

INDIVIDUAL GOAL: Ensure 1 adult you know improves their literacy skills.

ARTICLE INFO/SUMMARY:

Lutheran Settlement House article for January 2020. Update from the Lutheran Settlement House on upcoming adult education classes on Feb 10^th and Feb 11^th.

https://lsheducation.org/adult-education/community-schools/?utm_source=Program+Outreach&utm_campaign=2b3b7d5ad9-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2020_01_16_05_30&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_7e91d23203-2b3b7d5ad9-177079413&fbclid=IwAR0bW5HS77PYkWEzwzRQpZjJPPY7i7oEYOYbmFFGvsCHwALGexYkKKYvaD0

QUESTION/ACTION:

Do you know someone who could benefit from this?

UNEMPLOYMENT

PROBLEM: Approx. 35,000 people were unemployed in December 2018. Source: https://www.philaworks.org/fast-facts-labor-market-december-2018/

SYSTEM GOAL: End unemployment in your community.

INDIVIDUAL GOAL: End unemployment for 1 person.

ARTICLE INFO/SUMMARY:

JEVS Human Services article published on October 2, 2019. Discusses a program at JEVS Human Services that helps recovering drug addicts find work.

https://www.jevshumanservices.org/philly-program-successful-in-helping-people-recovering-from-opioid-addiction-find-jobs/

QUESTION/ACTION:

Think about all of the unemployed people in Philly. How could a decent paying job could turn their life around? Can you help someone on the wrong path find work?

LIVING WAGE

PROBLEM: The minimum wage is $7.25 per hour but the wage needed for basic living is $12.64. Source: https://livingwage.mit.edu/counties/42101

SYSTEM GOAL: Make sure everyone in your community or workplace has a living wage.

INDIVIDUAL GOAL: Help 1 person increase their wage to a living wage.

ARTICLE INFO/SUMMARY:

TribLive article published on Dec 30, 2019. New federal overtime pay rule could increase wages for nearly 61,000 PA workers.

https://triblive.com/news/pennsylvania/new-overtime-rule-affects-61000-in-pennsylvania/

QUESTION/ACTION:

Is more government action needed? What can you do to raise the wages of people in your community?

RENEWABLE ENERGY

PROBLEM: Philadelphia does not use 100% renewable energy but has committed to 100% renewable by 2035. Source: https://philly.curbed.com/2017/6/21/15846138/paris-agreement-philadelphia-climate-change-renewable-energy-clean-power

SYSTEM GOAL: Ensure everyone in your community uses 100% renewable energy.

INDIVIDUAL GOAL: Stop using non-renewable energy.

ARTICLE INFO/SUMMARY:

Green Philly article published on January 28, 2020. Summarizes initiatives the city is taking to hit its 2030 sustainability goals.

https://www.thegreencities.com/news/lets-check-in-how-is-philly-doing-to-cut-50-ghg-emissions-other-ambitious-2030-clean-energy-goals/

QUESTION/ACTION:

Is the city on the right track? Are these initiatives you could support?

VIOLENCE

PROBLEM: There were 14,273 violent crimes in Philadelphia in 2018. Source: (click on 2018 Crime Stats Report) https://www.phillypolice.com/crime-maps-stats/index.html

SYSTEM GOAL: End violence in your community.

INDIVIDUAL GOAL: Stop using violence or get someone you know to stop using violence.

ARTICLE INFO/SUMMARY:

ABC Philadelphia article published on January 15, 2020. Summarizes ideas on how to stop violence in the city.

https://6abc.com/5849743/

QUESTION/ACTION:

Do you have a creative idea to end violence in your community?

DESCRIMINATION

PROBLEM: 45% of African Americans, 18% of Asian Americans, nearly 1 in 5 Latinos, 34% of LGBTQ Americans, and 41% overall say they have been discriminated against in 2017. Source: https://www.rwjf.org/en/library/research/2017/10/discrimination-in-america–experiences-and-views.html

SYSTEM GOAL: End discrimination in your community.

INDIVIDUAL GOAL: Stop 1 act of discrimination.

ARTICLE INFO/SUMMARY:

Next City article published on January 22, 2020. The Philadelphia Office of Diversity and Inclusion is now called the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Projects this department is undertaking are also highlighted.

https://nextcity.org/daily/entry/city-of-philadelphia-makes-equity-a-priority

QUESTION/ACTION:

Is this department doing enough? Is this a department you can support?

VOTING

PROBLEM: 51% of registered voters voted in 2018. Source: https://www.phillytrib.com/news/elections/can-philly-s-high-voter-turnout-be-repeated-in/article_cd7ff3d7-e720-5431-a126-a6c09e944a70.html

SYSTEM GOAL: Get all eligible voters in your community to vote in every election.

INDIVIDUAL GOAL: Vote in every election or get 1 person you know who doesn’t vote to vote in every election.

ARTICLE INFO/SUMMARY:

Philadelphia Inquirer article published on Nov 5, 2019. Provides commentary on the Philly voting scene after the November election last year.

https://www.inquirer.com/politics/election/election-day-2019-philadelphia-voters-turnout-20191105.html

QUESTION/ACTION:

Are you registered to vote? Are the people in your community registered to vote?