Pivedite’s Call to Action for Philadelphia

By David Sherwin, President at Pivedite

INTRO

This post highlights recent news articles on initiatives to address the 10 problems we are challenging you to end. Review our question/action section to think about how you can get involved.  

HOMELESSNESS

“Graffiti-removal company hires only homeless or formerly incarcerated workers”. Philadelphia Inquirer article published on February 11, 2020.

https://www.inquirer.com/life/graffiti-removal-experts-todd-kelley-20200211.html

QUESTION/ACTION:

What other paying jobs do you think homeless people could do? Are there other companies that should hire the homeless? How could you get a homeless person a job?

• PROBLEM: Approx. 5700 people were homeless in 2018. Source: http://philadelphiaofficeofhomelessservices.org/know-homelessness/
• SYSTEM CHALLENGE: End homelessness in your community.
• INDIVIDUAL CHALLENGE: End homelessness for 1 person

HUNGER

“Two student advocates launched Free Food @ Temple to decrease campus waste and help hungry students find a meal.” The Philadelphia Citizen article published on Feb 10, 2020.

https://thephiladelphiacitizen.org/temple-slack-channel-fights-campus-hunger/

QUESTION/ACTION:

Do you know a college student at Temple University who could benefit from this? Could this service be used on other campuses? Imagine if there was a city-wide service like this.

• 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 CHALLENGE: End hunger in your community.
• INDIVIDUAL CHALLENGE: End hunger for 1 person.

HEALTH

“Need to make a doctor’s appointment? Jefferson’s new chatbots will meet you at the ‘front door”.  Philadelphia Business Journal article published on February 7, 2020.

https://www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia/news/2020/02/07/need-to-make-a-doctor-s-appointment-jeffersons-new.html

QUESTION/ACTION:

Does this service just help people who already have access to health care? Could this service help more people access health care? Should other hospitals use this service?

• 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 CHALLENGE: Ensure everyone in your community has access to quality health care.
• INDIVIDUAL CHALLENGE: Help 1 person get quality health care.

EDUCATION

“Center for Literacy opens doors to jobs and education”. Generocity article published on October 1, 2019.

https://generocity.org/philly/2019/10/01/center-for-literacy-opens-doors-to-jobs-and-education/

QUESTION/ACTION:

Do you know someone who could use these services? Are there similar services in your community?

• PROBLEM: Approx. 550,000 adults did not have adequate literacy skills in 2018. Source: http://philaliteracy.org/
• SYSTEM CHALLENGE: Ensure everyone in your community has adequate literacy skills.
• INDIVIDUAL CHALLENGE: Ensure 1 adult you know improves their literacy skills.

UNEMPLOYMENT

“City and Welcoming Center Kick Off Immigrant Workforce Initiative.” City of Philadelphia article Published on January 22, 2020.

https://www.phila.gov/2020-01-22-city-and-welcoming-center-kickoff-immigrant-workforce-initiative/

QUESTION/ACTION:

Does the City of Philadelphia need to do more to help immigrants find work? Do you think this will help low skilled immigrant workers? Do you know an immigrant who needs work? 

• PROBLEM: Approx. 35,000 people were unemployed in December 2018. Source: https://www.philaworks.org/fast-facts-labor-market-december-2018/
• SYSTEM CHALLENGE: End unemployment in your community.
• INDIVIDUAL CHALLENGE: End unemployment for 1 person.

LIVING WAGE

“Wolf renews call for $15/hr. minimum wage. GOP isn’t interested”. Pennsylvania Capital-Star article published on January 28, 2020.

https://www.penncapital-star.com/working-the-economy/wolf-renews-call-for-15-hr-minimum-wage-gop-isnt-interested/?fbclid=IwAR3OMKdjgLbzT8B6B5gQ9Q8SPfwnoMOY8Cq1CZ71874rSuGUzLi0OMCvZao

QUESTION/ACTION:

Is the Governor doing enough to raise wages? Should the PA State Legislature be doing more to help raise wages? Is it ok for the minimum wage to be lower in PA compared to other states?

• 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 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

“Power Purchase Agreement For Local Philly Solar Project For City-Owned Buildings; Generates Green Jobs”. Green Philly article published on February 11, 2020.

https://www.thegreencities.com/energy/power-purchase-agreement-for-local-philly-solar-project-for-city-owned-buildings-generates-green-jobs/

QUESTION/ACTION:

Should the city be giving incentives to private business to use solar? Can you help the City of Philadelphia expand its solar power efforts?

• 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 CHALLENGE: Ensure everyone in your community uses 100% renewable energy.
• INDIVIDUAL CHALLENGE: Stop using non-renewable energy.

VIOLENCE

“Danielle Outlaw talks about race, crime and the homicide rate on her third day in office”. The Philadelphia Tribune article published on February 14, 2020.

https://www.phillytrib.com/news/local_news/danielle-outlaw-talks-about-race-crime-and-the-homicide-rate/article_f9bc9b8c-4e05-11ea-81c6-4f781367bde3.html

QUESTION/ACTION:

Does the new Philadelphia Police Commissioner need to develop new strategies to stop violence? Does she need to expand upon existing initiatives? What can you do to help the new Police Commissioner?

• 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 CHALLENGE: End violence in your community.
• INDIVIDUAL CHALLENGE: Stop using violence or get someone you know to stop using violence.

DISCRIMINATION

“Filing Discrimination Complaints in Philadelphia”. City of Philadelphia article published on February 5, 2020.

https://www.phila.gov/2020-02-05-filing-discrimination-complaints-in-philadelphia/

QUESTION/ACTION:

Do you know someone who should use this service? Does the City of Philadelphia need to do more to let people know about this service?

• 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 CHALLENGE: End discrimination in your community.
• INDIVIDUAL CHALLENGE: Stop 1 act of discrimination.

VOTING

“Pennsylvania launches online application for mail-in ballots.” Associated Press article published on February 11, 2020.

https://apnews.com/1371980fb7fe327179bbf30dae7f649f

QUESTION/ACTION:

Can you help spread the word about this initiative? Do you know someone who needs a mail-in ballot?

• 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 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.