It is undeniable that this year has been more difficult than most, for many reasons. Principle among them is the presence of COVID-19 in all our lives, and this week we want to draw attention to Philadelphia's recovery efforts in the wake of this unprecedented pandemic. To learn more about how the city has worked to respond to COVID-19 with an emphasis on equity, supporting vulnerable populations, and protecting public health and safety, click below. 

Penn Updates

For many of us growing up, October 12th was marked on calendars as Columbus Day. Given the brutal and dark history of white colonialism in the Americas, this day has been reclaimed as Indigenous People's Day. Indigenous Peoples’ Day, which takes place on October 12th, honors Native American peoples’ resiliency in the face of violence by European explorers. This year, a petition calling on Penn to recognize Indigenous Peoples' Day as a holiday has garnered over 1,000 signatures from students, faculty, and staff. To read more, click below. 

School District of Philadelphia Updates

What does equity mean and how does, or should, it manifest in our school district? The purpose of the SDP Equity Coalition is to provide the organizational leadership and structure needed to redesign a more equitable school district. The SDP writes: "This includes uprooting policies, deconstructing processes, and eradicating practices that create systems of privilege and power within our school communities and in our workplaces." Click below to read more.