Tagged Social Justice
Nothing Less Than What We’ve Earned: Black Voices in the Labor Movement
For centuries Black free labor was simply a guarantee. However, there was always an awareness that we were entitled to equity in the profits from the country we worked hard to create. 1850 ushered in the first attempt at a Black labor…
Abortion and Women's Rights 1970: Film Screening and Panel Discussion
On Tuesday, January 21, at 6:00 p.m. the Social Science and History Department will screen Abortion and Women's Rights 1970 , the first documentary made in the U.S. about the struggle for reproductive rights. Following the…
When Your Favorite Creator Does Something Terrible
With the internet at our fingertips, learning about the people who make our media has become much easier. Sometimes, we learn things we wish we could un-learn. The betrayal feels so personal. How can the stories that inspire and comfort…
Power Up! for Civic Awareness with the Free Library
September is Civic Awareness Month — a time to engage with our community, learn more about our civic responsibilities, and participate in initiatives that make a difference. In honor of this month, the Free Library of…
Join Us for the Premiere Screening of “The Command Center to Bring Women Home”
Join your neighbors at the Parkway Central Library on Wednesday, November 30 at 6 p.m. for the FREE Philadelphia premiere screening of the new short hybrid documentary film, “ The Command Center to Bring Women Home…
Empathy Versus Misinformation Wrap-Up
Thank you to everyone who came out to our Empathy Versus Misinformation: Transgender Youth series of panels. There has been a lot of interest in transgender youth in the media, and yet so few easy ways to access reliable answers to…
Free Library Seeking Teen Social Justice Fellows!
Are you between the ages of 14 and 19? Do you have a passion and commitment for social justice? Are you looking for an opportunity where you can learn, serve your community, and develop/demonstrate your leadership skills? Would you like…
Lovett Library's Book Walk Continues the Conversation on Race
If you have been to the Lovett Memorial Library recently, you have likely seen the Black Lives Matter book walk prominently displayed in its park. The idea came from Lisa Browne of Colorful Stories . Following the racial justice…
The Social Justice Symposium Turns Five!
Planning and hosting the Free Library's Social Justice Symposium for young people has become an important tradition at the Philadelphia City Institute Library . We held the first Symposium in 2016 and have scheduled one annually…
Indigenous Peoples' Day Philly
Though I’ve lived in so-called Philadelphia for several years, it was only last year that I learned that Lenapehoking is the name of this place so many of us call home. In learning how to acknowledge the ancestral homeland of the…
Race in the United States: Social Justice Virtual Workshops for Teens
Updated Friday, July 10, 2020 4:59 p.m. "The Social Justice Symposium Teen Planning Committee supports the Concerned Black Workers of the Free Library of Philadelphia ! CBWFLP Response to DEI/Board of Trustees' letter We are…
What is "Public History", Anyway?
On Thursday, February 20 , David W. Young will appear at Parkway Central Library to discuss his book, Battles of Germantown: Effective Public History in America . Many Philadelphia residents are familiar with the annual…
Food Insecurity, English Language Learning, and Community Conversations in North Philadelphia
Edible Alphabet is a free English language learning program offered to adults by the Free Library's Culinary Literacy Center . The mission of the program is to teach English language and literacy skills through hands-on cooking and…
Second Annual Social Justice Symposium Wrap Up
A little over a week ago, on the same day that a hate-fueled gathering was taking place in Charlottesville, Virginia, a group of teenagers was gathering at a small library in Philadelphia to talk about combating hate. The Philadelphia…
Resources for Responding to Hate
As adults, it’s our job to help the children in our lives make sense of the world around them. After the events in Charlottesville this past weekend, and events around the country in recent months, there seems to be more need than…
Love is Love
Looking for something heartfelt and inspiring to read while supporting a worthy cause this Valentine's Day? Check out Love is Love , a 162-page graphic novel from IDW Publishing and DC Comics , honoring the victims, supporting the…
Graphic Novel Memoirs
I love a graphic novel—and even better I love a graphic novel memoir . There is something so much more intimate about reading the words AND pictures when someone shares her story. Or maybe I’m just a slower reader when it…
Social Justice Symposium for Teens – Register Now!
Parkway Central is hosting a Social Justice Symposium for Teens on Monday, August 29th and if you are a high school student who is passionate about your Philadelphia community and care about issues such as racism, inequality, or…
Tackling Tough Topics in Classroom Conversation
How can literacy be used for social change? At the recent International Literacy Association conference in Boston, this question was addressed at an impromptu session for literacy specialists and coaches. Recent tragedies, such as the…
Muhammad Ali's Philly Ties
The world is mourning the death of another larger-than-life pop culture icon, hero, and force of sheer nature: Muhammad Ali . The self-described, but no less true, "Greatest of All Time" may have been a worldwide phenomenon,…
Author Talk | Betrayed: Violence Against Women
In a career that spanned four decades, Meg Groff worked as a legal aid attorney for woman and children victims of domestic violence. Not If I Can Help It: A Family Lawyer’s Battles for Justice for Victims of Domestic Violence and…
Today We Are Possible Exhibit
"Today We Are Possible" is an exploration of the connections between gender and wealth. Photographer Gregory Wright skillfully captures vibrant and intimate portraits depicting the captivating stories of six remarkable…
Ants on a Log Concert
Ants on a Log Tuesday, June 17 at 4:30pm Join the Ants on a Log for an energetic, interactive concert. Their award-winning music focuses on positivity, social justice, and silliness! This program is for families and children…
Ants on a Log Concert
Join us for a Pride Show featuring themes of inclusion, self-expression, community, and allyship. Ants on a Log plays award-winning music for children and other childlike people. Their shows center positivity, social justice, and…
Author Talk: Hope and Struggle in the Policed City
Join us for an author talk with Menika Dirkson, author of Hope and Struggle in the Policed City . Menika Dirkson is a Philadelphia native and an Assistant Professor of African American History at Morgan State University. She received…
Police Accountability For West Philly-Public Safety Meeting
The City of Philadelphia will present data about police use of force and answer questions from residents. How did this meeting come about? On March 20, 2023 plaintiffs reached an unprecedented settlement with the City of…
Author Talk | You Only Get What You’re Organized to Take
4th Floor Skyline Room Rev. Dr Liz Theoharis and Noam Sandweiss-Back in conversation with Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor Join two leading anti-poverty organizers to discuss the largely untold story of the movement to end poverty, led by the…
Bridging Blocks: Transforming Public Transportation in the City
SEPTA serves more than 705,000 riders daily in the Philadelphia region. The regional transportation authority wants to modernize its fleet, but struggles with reduced ridership. Despite receiving record-level funding in recent years,…
Ants on a Log Earth Month Family Concert
The Ants' Earth Month show features themes of climate justice and environmental education. This concert is the perfect way to acknowledge Earth Day which is on April 22. Recommended for kids ages 3-11 and their…
Ants on a Log Earth Month Concert
Celebrate E a r t h M o n t h with a special concert from Ants on a Log on Monday April 28 at 5:30pm! The Ants' Earth Month show features themes of climate justice and environmental education. This concert is the…
The Extraordinary Black Heritage in Philly’s Everyday Places
Heim Center Room 131/132 from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm Join us to culminate the ending of the Black Histories of Philadelphia exhibition with a two hour panel discussion delving into the rich history of everyday Black Philadelphians.…