Fairhill: Charito Morales Advocates For Those Affected By Opioid Crisis
Activist Charito Morales said she does not affiliate with a specific community organization because it distracts from the issues at hand in the Fairhill neighborhood. Morales is a registered nurse and has been volunteering in the Fairhill community since 1998. She spends some of her time teaching Latino youth at the Providence Center, an education […]
Mill Creek: Groups Collaborate To Build A Stronger Community
Pastor Derrick Long (pictured above), leader of the faith-based nonprofit organization Men of Mill Creek, wants community activism in Philadelphia to live on after he is gone. Young people are the way to do it, he said. “I’m happy young people are here to keep the legacy,” he said to a small crowd of other community […]
Wynnefield: Protests Occur As Philadelphia Names Street After Former Mayor
Former Philadelphia Mayor W. Wilson Goode Sr. was recently honored as protesters rallied against the city naming a street in Goode’s honor on the 2400 block of North 59th Street. Throughout the ceremony, protestors chanted, “The roof, the roof, the roof is on fire. Wilson Goode is a m—-f—ing liar.” The protests were in response […]
Immigration Law: Glancing At History
President Donald Trump’s dedication to enacting a travel ban was finally approved by the Supreme Court on June 26 after the administration’s third revision of the policy finally passed in a 5-4 vote. It may appear that America is in a new era of immigration law, but U.S. presidents have always teetered back and forth […]
Immigration: Symbol Lai Helps Direct The City Of Philadelphia’s Position On Immigration
Symbol Lai (above, far left) is the deputy director in the city’s Office of Immigrant Affairs (OIA), which was formerly known under Mayor Michael Nutter as the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant and Multicultural Affairs. OIA — which adopted its name when Mayor Jim Kenney was elected in 2016 — is designed to provide immigrants support […]
Immigration: The History Of ICE And The Controversy
The United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement, also known as ICE, has recently found itself at the center of national discussions surrounding immigration policy. Locally, Philadelphia’s ICE Field Office, which is the most aggressive in the nation, has found itself under fire from activists while the agency defends its actions. Founding and Structure ICE was […]
Immigration: Shaloo Jose Found Her Second Family At HIAS
Shaloo Jose came to America in January 2005 after her husband decided to take a job overseas. She has since visited other big cities in the United States, but her and her family consider Philadelphia to be “home.” After starting at HIAS as an ordinary volunteer, Jose quickly fell in love with the family-like atmosphere […]
Immigration: Sundrop Carter And The Energy Of The Philadelphia Activist Community
Sundrop Carter of the Pennsylvania Immigration and Citizenship Coalition recently celebrated her five year anniversary with the organization. Now in her third year as the executive director, she enjoys working to infuse the collective thinking of those seeking justice for immigrant communities across the state. What influenced your current focus on immigration? It sounds bad […]
Immigration: Kiera Kenney Connects African And Caribbean Immigrants And Refugees With Health And Social Services
The African Family Health Organization, located on Chestnut Street near 44th Street, works with African and Caribbean refugees to connect them with health and social services around the city. AFAHO’s services include ESL courses, case management programs and helping community members set up and go to doctor’s appointments. Kiera Kenney works as the manager of […]
Bella Vista: An Immigrant Himself, Eugene Desyatnik Now Serves As The Bella Vista Neighbors Association President
Eugene Desyatnik is the president of the Bella Vista Neighbors Association. Desyatnik, a naturalized citizen hailing from the former Soviet Union, has lived in Center City for more than 12 years, recently moving to Bella Vista with his wife and children. The BVNA, a nonprofit organization, helps facilitate various city services to a very diverse […]