August 2021 – Page 10 – Broke in Philly

These Philly artists just scored $3 million from Forman Arts Initiative

August 10, 2021

The Citizen reported in early May, FS Investments founder/CEO Michael Forman and his wife, Jennifer Rice, launched Art Works, a partnership between their Forman Arts Initiative, the Philadelphia Foundation and Drexel University, to award $3 million in grants for community-based organizations and emerging artists, primarily those of color and from other underrepresented communities.

Last week, the first cohort of grantees was selected from more than 100 submissions, after being reviewed by a committee including Thom Collins, executive director and president of Barnes Foundation; Jamie Brunson, executive director of First Person Arts; Anne Ishii, executive director of Asian Arts Initiative; art advisor Jaime Frankfurt; artist Pepón Osorio; and Forman, Rice, Pedro Ramos, president and CEO of Philadelphia Foundation, and Maggie Kirk, also of Philadelphia Foundation. | From: The Citizen (Read more.)

Garbage piles dumped near Philadelphia City Hall in Ya Fav Trashman protest

August 6, 2021

Bags of street litter and curbside trash Philadelphia neglected to pick up as scheduled were relocated Wednesday morning… to the front of the Municipal Services Building.

Led by Terrill Haigler of Ya Fav Trashman fame, a cohort of former city employees, volunteers and residents brought the garbage to the Center City plaza to send a message to Mayor Jim Kenney’s administration: You need to do better at cleaning Philly’s neighborhoods. | From: Billy Penn (Read more.)

Philadelphia: No vaccine mandate for city, transit or school employees

August 6, 2021

As government agencies nationwide begin mandating their employees amid coronavirus case surges, Philadelphia officials have no such plans in place — for now.

Mayor Jim Kenney’s administration confirmed it will not yet mandate COVID-19 vaccinations for the city’s 26,800 employees. And no mandates exist for SEPTA’s 9,000-member workforce or the school district’s 18,000 workers, officials confirmed. | From: Billy Penn (Read more.)

Illuminate the Arts sends money to 590 Philly artists

August 5, 2021

Over 500 artists in Philadelphia are each getting a $1,000 check from the city to help them recover from the economic downturn of the pandemic. Fifty-five small- to mid-sized arts organizations will also receive funding ranging from $2,800 – $10,000.| From: WHYY (Read more.)

Pa. coronavirus update: Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia to mandate vaccines for all employees

August 5, 2021

The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia will soon join Penn Medicine and Virtua as major health care networks in the region mandating vaccinations for all employees. | From: WHYY (Read more.)

Proponen nuevos cheques de estímulo de hasta $1,200 mensuales

August 4, 2021

Los cheques serían emitidos a partir del 2023, donde las personas mayores de 18 años recibirían $1,200 mensuales y $600 adicionales por hijo. | From: NBC10/ Telemundo62 (Read more.)

Many Have Yet to Receive Rental Help as Eviction Nears End

August 4, 2021

“If that money doesn’t go to the appropriate places in time, then I think that we are going to see a significant increase in the number of people who lose their homes,” said Vik Patel, an attorney for Community Legal Services. | From: NBC10/ Telemundo62 (Read more.)

More should be done for Black male students in college, educators say

August 3, 2021

Survey reveals Black male students have experienced the most challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. | From: Chalkbeat Philadelphia (Read more.)

Penn. court to allow evidence of racial disparities in funding case

August 3, 2021

With the trial date looming for a landmark school funding case in Pennsylvania, a Commonwealth Court judge ruled Wednesday that attorneys can present some evidence that disparate funding for school districts across the state has a negative impact on Black and Latino students. | From: Chalkbeat Philadelphia (Read more.)

High fares for Regional Rail riders create a ‘tale of two transit systems’ in Philadelphia | Opinion

August 3, 2021

Just take a ride on SEPTA’s Regional Rail in the city, and compare that to the ride on a SEPTA bus. It’s striking how much whiter and more privileged the Regional Rail ridership appears to be. This is not just a tale of geography — wealthy suburban versus lower income inner-city riders

It is no wonder the systems are segregated. One is priced at a relatively affordable $2.00 per trip, the other is simply too expensive for many Philadelphians: The cheapest standard ticket on the Regional Rail is $4.00 per trip. | From: The Philadelphia Inquirer (Read more.)