By David Sherwin, President at Pivedite
INTRO
This post highlights news articles from February. Review our Question/Action section within the blog to how think about how you can take bold action.
HOMELESSNESS
QUESTION/ACTION:
Should other health care companies create similar programs? What other businesses could create housing programs for the homeless?
- PROBLEM: Approx. 5700 people were homeless in 2018.
- Click for Source:
- SYSTEM CHALLENGE: End homelessness in your community.
- INDIVIDUAL CHALLENGE: End homelessness for 1 person
HUNGER
“3 Cheers: Maria Nieves Gives Helpings Of Hope”. CBS Philly article published on February 27, 2020.
QUESTION/ACTION:
Are you able to get involved at a local food pantry? Does her story inspire you to take action?
- PROBLEM: Approx. 302,685 residents were food insecure from 2015-2017.
- Click for Source:
- SYSTEM CHALLENGE: End hunger in your community.
- INDIVIDUAL CHALLENGE: End hunger for 1 person.
HEALTH
QUESTION/ACTION:
The City of Philadelphia is going to hold public meetings and they want input from the community. Can you contribute to a solution? What can the City of Philadelphia do to ensure hospitals don’t close?
- PROBLEM: 12% of adults were uninsured and approximately 1 in 6 adults reported not having a primary care provider in 2018.
- Click for Source: (go to pg. 3)
- SYSTEM CHALLENGE: Ensure everyone in your community has access to quality health care.
- INDIVIDUAL CHALLENGE: Help 1 person get quality health care.
EDUCATION
QUESTION/ACTION:
Do you or someone you know have an idea for a proposal? Can you spread the word about this event?
- PROBLEM: Approx. 550,000 adults did not have adequate literacy skills in 2018.
- Click for Source:
- SYSTEM CHALLENGE: Ensure everyone in your community has adequate literacy skills.
- INDIVIDUAL CHALLENGE: Ensure 1 adult you know improves their literacy skills.
UNEMPLOYMENT
QUESTION/ACTION:
Do you know someone who could benefit from this? How can we expand these kinds of programs? Do people need to be paid more than $50 per day?
- PROBLEM: Approx. 35,000 people were unemployed in December 2018.
- Click for Source:
- SYSTEM CHALLENGE: End unemployment in your community.
- INDIVIDUAL CHALLENGE: End unemployment for 1 person.
LIVING WAGE
“Guest Opinion: Moderate minimum wage hikes don’t impact employment”. Bucks County Courier Times article published on February 26, 2020.
QUESTION/ACTION:
Can you reach out to your local State Senator or Representative to say you support raising the state’s minimum wage? What other ways can you get involved in this fight?
- PROBLEM: The minimum wage is $7.25 per hour but the wage needed for basic living is $12.64.
- Click for Source:
- SYSTEM CHALLENGE: Make sure everyone in your community or workplace has a living wage.
- INDIVIDUAL CHALLENGE: Help 1 person increase their wage to a living wage.
RENEWABLE ENERGY
QUESTION/ACTION:
Can you attend any of these events? Could any of these events inspire you to take action?
- PROBLEM: Philadelphia does not use 100% renewable energy but has committed to 100% renewable by 2035.
- Click for Source:
- SYSTEM CHALLENGE: Ensure everyone in your community uses 100% renewable energy.
- INDIVIDUAL CHALLENGE: Stop using non-renewable energy.
VIOLENCE
“South Philly residents rally against Philly crime”. Metro article published on February 11, 2020.
QUESTION/ACTION:
Do we need more rallies all over the city? Do leaders respond to these kinds of rallies? Are there ways to make rallies more effective?
- PROBLEM: There were 14,273 violent crimes in Philadelphia in 2018.
- Click for Source: (click on 2018 Crime Stats Report)
- SYSTEM CHALLENGE: End violence in your community.
- INDIVIDUAL CHALLENGE: Stop using violence or get someone you know to stop using violence.
DISCRIMINATION
QUESTION/ACTION:
Do you know someone who could benefit from this service? Does the City of Philadelphia need to do more to promote these kinds of programs?
- 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.
- Click for Source:
- SYSTEM CHALLENGE: End discrimination in your community.
- INDIVIDUAL CHALLENGE: Stop 1 act of discrimination.
VOTING
QUESTION/ACTION:
How can you convince people in your community to vote? What other organizations can help to convince people it is important to vote?
- PROBLEM: 51% of registered voters voted in 2018.
- Click for Source:
- SYSTEM CHALLENGE: Get all eligible voters in your community to vote in every election.
- INDIVIDUAL CHALLENGE: Vote in every election or get 1 person you know who doesn’t vote to vote in every election.