poverty
There’s a Solution for Lifting People Out of Poverty In Philadelphia. Why Don’t We Try It?
A few weeks ago, the U.S. Census Bureau released a new set of figures about poverty in America. Unfortunately, the takeaway was one that’s all […]
The I-95 Rebuild Was Local Politics at Its Best
Here’s something you don’t hear often: Politicians recently did something remarkable at rapid speed, with efficiency and determination. The astounding reopening of I-95 in Northeast […]
Philly Influencer Wallo’s Viral Poverty Porn Isn’t the Charitable Flex He Thinks It Is
This past Thanksgiving, while many of us were getting our family feasts together, Black social media sensation Wallo took to Instagram offering to take “15 […]
After a Decade of Cringe, Why Are We Still Doing Dîner en Blanc?
Yes, I know you’ve probably heard a thousand times why Dîner en Blanc in Philadelphia is one of the stupidest events of all time. Not […]
Philly Needs a Much Bolder Approach to Gun Violence. Here Are Three Big Ideas
As we witness the worst gun violence the city has seen in more than 50 years, Mayor Jim Kenney has committed to spending just 0.67 […]
For 40 Years, Philly Mayors Have Promised to End Poverty. For 40 Years, I’ve Watched Them Fail.
There are so many poor folk in Philadelphia that in March, City Council President Darrell L. Clarke announced a plan that would lift 100,000 of […]
Don’t Expect Philly’s New Police Commissioner to Magically Fix the City for Us
After more than a month of anticipation, newly appointed Philadelphia Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw began her first day on the job early Monday morning. After […]
The Opioid Crisis Is Worsening Homelessness in Philly. Solving the Problem Is a Matter of Survival
It’s another perfectly shitty day to be homeless in Philadelphia. Cold, wet and pitiless. T.S. Eliot famously said that April is the cruelest month, but […]
Can This Charismatic Pastor Rally Philly Around Its Most Intractable Problem?
Almost four years ago, I met Bill Golderer for the first time, and like many people who meet Bill Golderer, I felt moved. I can’t […]
Want Philly to Stop Being Written Off as “Killadelphia”? Get Serious About Poverty.
From Friday through Sunday this Father’s Day weekend, there were 22 shootings, 32 victims, and six homicides in Philadelphia. Amid these multiple tragedies, more Philadelphians […]
Only 2.5 Percent of Philly Businesses Are Black-Owned. The City Must Act.
In recent years, there’s been a lot of discussion about how Black millennials might be able to close the generational wealth gap in our community. […]
Philly, We’re Officially Living in an Apartheid State
Since moving to Philadelphia nearly a decade ago, I’ve never understood why people have embraced the term “majority-minority” as a way of describing the city. […]
The Moral Case for Why We Must Repeal Philadelphia’s Soda Tax
“The Philadelphia beverage tax — I know it has people angry about it, but it’s like Obamacare,” Mayor Jim Kenney told a crowd of Black […]
City Council Should Ban Cashless Stores, Because Philly Can’t Afford Them
City Council has finally produced a practical idea this year that simultaneously looks out for the poor and makes life easier for the rest of […]
I Love My Job: United Way CEO Bill Golderer Sets the Record Straight on Poverty in Philly
Bill Golderer, the visionary behind some of Philadelphia’s most impactful organizations, from Broad Street Ministry to Rooster Soup Co., is now at the helm of […]