SKCP Virtual Community Meeting

NAC Community Meeting (Virtual)
Monday, August 31st
1pm - 2pm

There will be a virtual community meeting this coming Monday at 1 pm to 2 pm. Just like other meetings, we will be discussing COVID-19 updates, Census and Voter information, programs, and services to help families, and we’ll hear from community partners with updates for the neighborhood.

If you are a neighbor or community partner who would like to be on the agenda, please email me. To RSVP, please visit our Facebook event page by using this link —> http://ow.ly/jtk550B7liq. This link obtains both the link to the Zoom meeting and the access code & password.

Come to the Food Distribution!! A Census Numerator will be present during the food distribution to help filling the questionnaire and answer any questions

You’ve got 5 weeks left to be counted in the 2020 Census and shape America’s next decade
Michaelle Bond, Philadelphia Inquirer

The deadline to fill out the 2020 Census is approaching. Every 10 years, the United States counts how many people are in the country. That count is then used to determine things like how many seats in the House each state gets. The data are also used by federal agencies to determine funding for specific states and communities. An undercount can mean that your community loses vital services. Over the next five weeks, community groups and local officials will keep holding small outreach events where residents can complete the census on tablets. City employees, community volunteers, and college students will keep hanging census information on doorknobs and calling residents to prod them to complete the questionnaire. Volunteers will keep passing out information with free masks and meals.

Read more here.

FREE FOOD PICKUP

Volunteers will be appreciated!!
Call 215-427.3463
Please leave message

Free Food Distribution in Philadelphia

Free food distribution for Philadelphia residents has been extended through fall, the city announced.

The program, which has distributed nearly half a million grocery boxes this year, will switch to a once-a-week schedule on Thursdays. Volunteers are still needed to help pack. Find pickup sites at phila.gov/food. [@phillymayor/Volunteer Match/phila.gov]

Student meal sites
https://www.phila.gov/food/?mc_cid=d6072e6335&mc_eid=05f0ec617a#/

To find a children and youth lunch site near you,
text “FOOD” or “COMIDA” to 877-877.

Additional summer meals for children and youth can also be found at the Coalition Against Hunger. [http://www.hungercoalition.org/summermeals]

We Are Philadelphia's Covid-19 Contact Tracing Team. Please, Answer The Call

Click here for How does contact tracing work for COVID-19?

Contact Tracing: Health Commissioner Dr. Thomas Farley introduced the Department of Public Health’s contact tracing program. The Department has posted a webpage on this new contact tracing program.

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Pennsylvanians reminded of Importance of contact tracing, advised of possible scams.

The Pennsylvania departments of Health and Aging today warned Pennsylvanians about contact tracing scams and emphasized the need to stay alert as COVID-19 remains a threat in our communities. Scams might include a caller asking for someone’s Social Security number or payment for tracing services – neither of which are ever a component of a contact tracing inquiry.
“Contact-tracing is vital in the state’s efforts to stop the spread of COVID-19 and we want Pennsylvanians to be confident that if they receive a call from a contact-tracer that the call is legitimate,” Sec. of Health Dr. Rachel Levine said. “If someone is unsure and would like to verify if the caller does in fact work in contact tracing, they can call the PA Department of Health at 1-877-PA HEALTH (1-877-724-3258) to verify.”

More about what a contact tracer will ask and will not ask clicking here.

Purchase a #MaskUpPHL Mask and Support the Black Doctor’s COVID-19 Consortium.

When the City’s #MaskUpPHL campaign started running, many residents asked how they could participate. Today, the City announced that Philadelphians can proudly declare that they never back down, and just how much they love their neighbors, by wearing masks printed to look just like those seen on SEPTA buses, in newspaper ads, and online.
The printer, Minuteman Press, will donate a portion of the proceeds from every mask sale to support the work of the Black Doctor’s COVID-19 Consortium, which is providing free testing in Philadelphia. To purchase a mask, support a worthy cause, and do your part to prevent the spread of COVID, residents should visit the link #MaskUpPHL

JOIN the Philadelphia Millennial Advisory Committee for a virtual town hall on police reform.

Wednesday, September 2, 2020 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM

The Millennial Advisory Committee (MAC) invites you to join our next virtual Millennial Town Hall addressing the multitude of issues raised by the Black Lives Matter movement, including police violence and institutional racism in our society. Since its inception, MAC has hosted an annual town hall to engage millennials on important issues to our generation. During this watershed moment in history, our goal is to provide a virtual venue to engage, educate and listen to millennials around the city about these critical issues.
Mark your calendar, come with your questions, and register at the link below to make sure your voice is heard.

MAC Town Hall Registration

Everything you need to know about voting by mail, or in person, in Pennsylvania

Jonathan Lai, Philadelphia Inquirer.

A lot has changed since the last time Pennsylvania voted in a presidential election, and we know there’s a lot of information out there (some less reliable than others).
We’re here to help.
Every Pennsylvania voter is now allowed to vote by mail, and we’ll help you navigate that. Want to vote in person? There are some changes you should know about, and we’ll help you figure those out, too.
One thing to keep in mind: Things are changing fast, and there are several lawsuits about how we’ll vote and how those votes will be counted. So make sure to check back for updates

Click here for some straightforward answers to common questions.

Ceiba Organizes Roundtable Discussion with Election Officials on Voting Rights of Spanish Speakers in PA.

On Tuesday, August 25, 2020, at noon, Ceiba, All Voting Is Local, and the Lawyer’s Committee on Civil Rights Under Law, are convening a roundtable discussion, with election officials to talk about Section 203 of The Voting Rights Act. This federal law requires the counties of Berks, Lehigh, and Philadelphia to provide access to all their electoral processes and materials to Spanish speaking voters.

The roundtable discussion will be streamed via Facebook Live: https://www.facebook.com/AllVotingIsLocal

Ceiba organiza mesa redonda con funcionarios electorales sobre los derechos de los votantes de habla hispana en Pennsylvania.



El martes 25 de agosto de 2020, al mediodía, las organizaciones sin fines de lucro Ceiba, All Voting Is Local (Todo Voto es Local), y el Lawyer's Committee for Civil Rights Under Law (Comité de Abogados de Derechos Civiles Bajo la Ley), convocaron una mesa redonda con funcionarios electorales para hablar sobre la Sección 203 de la Ley de Derechos Electorales. Dicha ley federal requiere que los condados de Berks, Lehigh y Filadelfia brinden acceso a todos sus procesos y materiales electorales para los votantes de habla hispana.

La mesa redonda se transmitirá a través de Facebook Live: https://www.facebook.com/AllVotingIsLocal

Housing Expo: COVID-19 Awareness, Prevention and Programs Series

Zoom and Online Town Hall hosted by State Senator Sharif Street
Thursday, August 27th
6:00 PM

Join State Senator Sharif Street, Congressman Dwight Evans and State Representatives Malcolm Kenyatta on Thursday, August 27 at 6:00 PM for a webinar to hear about resources to help with rent and mortgage payments.
In addition, there will be a discussion from industry professionals about first time home buying assistance and mortgage foreclosure prevention led by the Affordable Housing Center of Pennsylvania.
Finally, Community Legal Services will provide information about how renters can appeal evictions and how homeowners can apply for tax relief programs offered by the city including the process to enter into payment agreements for arrears.

To register, please click here.

This event will be live-streamed on facebook and at www.senatorsharifstreet.com/live.

UPDATE!! Trash Pickup News.

Trash: One to two days behind

• Put out trash one day after your regular collection day.

• Residents should expect delays. We will provide updates if this changes.

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Recycling: Multiple days behind

• Put out recycling one day after your regular collection day.

• Residents should expect delays. We will provide updates if this changes.

• If cardboard or other materials get wet, they become contaminated and cannot be recycled. Learn more about what to recycle.

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When and how to report missed collections: We know it’s frustrating to leave trash and recycling in front of your house after your collection day. Thank you for your patience. We’re working hard to get to your block!

• Report trash that’s three or more days late.

• Report recycling that’s five or more days late.

• To report, call 3-1-1 or submit a request online.

APPLY NOW! OPEN until AUGUST 31

More details click here.

PHLpreK offers free, quality pre-K. Sign up today!

The City of Philadelphia’s free, quality pre-k program is now enrolling for the 2020-2021 school year, at over 130 locations throughout the city.

Enrolling is as easy as 1-2-3:
1- Visit PHLpreK.org or call 844-PHL-PREK to find a program near you
2- Contact the program of your preference
3- Provide proof of age and residency, and complete the PHLpreK application

Find a program and sign up today!

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FACE is here to assist families in navigating the School District, and we are proud to offer opportunities for families to actively take part in their children’s academic lives.
More here.

Need to register your student for school, this fall?
We will be opening registration for all grades K-12, on August 17.

More information coming soon! Learn more about the District’s updated reopening plan.

View the 2020-2021 Academic Calendar.

Stay Up To Date! SIGN UP FOR EMAIL UPDATES

Why can't I recycle that?

Let's talk about Philly's recycling system.

Online Live Stream
Friday, August 21th
12:00 PM — 1:30 PM

Philadelphia has a waste problem. Recycling is CONFUSING, between what can go in recycling bins - and can't, if the contents are ACTUALLY being recycled and why this happens. Join Green Philly with experts in Philadelphia's recycling system to understand why this system is broken, how we got here, and what innovations we need for a clean city.

More details and to register click here.

Citywide NAC COVID-19 Newsletter

NEW!!!


Thanks to Stasia Monteiro (HACE) and Rasheed Davis (South Kensington Community Partners).

View here the newsletter

SKCP COMMUNITY ZONING VIRTUAL MEETING

Wednesday, August 26th at 6.30 pm.

To register for the meeting click here.

You may also sign up by calling South Kensington Community Partners’ office at 215-427-3463 and leaving a message with your name and number. SKCP will provide reasonable accommodation to any neighbor that requests additional assistance with joining the meeting or otherwise submitting feedback on the project.

The sites to be discussed at the meeting are the following:

• 1327 N 4th Street, view here the plans.

• 1705 N American Street, view here the plans.

• 1700-30 N. Howard Street, view here the plans.

• 1819 Waterloo Street, view here the plans. 

Click here to view the details for each site.

We will have limited time for questions during the virtual meeting. To ensure your question is answered, please review project materials in advance of the meeting and submit any questions to rco@southkensingtoncommunity.org and include the project name in the email subject line.

GRIEVING IS HARD AND NO ONE SHOULD HAVE TO DO IT ALONE.

Do you or your loved ones feel lonely, stressed, sad, angry, or confused? Do you miss your friends and routines?

Philly HopeLine is a free helpline sponsored by Uplift Center for Grieving Children and the School District of Philadelphia. It is staffed by Masters’s level clinicians from Uplift, and is open to all School District of Philadelphia students & families.

Service is available in both English and Spanish.
Hours of Operation:
Monday – Friday: 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Holidays: 12 p.m. – 4 p.m.

SEPTA trains and buses have great airflow — which means less coronavirus risk for riders

Along with mask-wearing, health officials say ventilation is key to avoiding infection.
Michaela Winberg, BillyPenn

Airflow matters when it comes to preventing the spread of coronavirus. Turns out SEPTA cars are a pretty safe place to be, relative to other indoor spaces. Philly’s transit authority is stocked with vehicles that are capable of ventilating frequently. New air refreshes cars on both the Broad Street Line and Market-Frankford Line every 2 to 3 minutes — and there are similar rates across the system: on buses, Regional Rail and trolley cars.
In general, public transit has proven itself low-risk for transmission in cities all over the world. With solid ventilation, there’s reason to feel comfortable riding SEPTA, health officials say, so long as you’re also wearing a mask and keeping your distance.
It works like this: Vents at the top of all SEPTA’s subway cars are constantly pushing air in and out in tandem with the natural movement of the vehicle. The train’s airflow is always in flux, leading to a full exchange of air every 2 to 3 minutes, agency officials estimate.
SEPTA’s other transit lines boast similar systems. On buses, there’s a hatch at the top of the vehicle that can be opened in good weather to increase airflow. An added bonus: Even more air circulates when the doors open and close.

Read here.

PPD Citywide Crime Prevention and Violence Reduction Action Plan

Commissioner Danielle M. Outlaw

This action plan will indeed serve to strengthen and more fully commit all efforts to our three organizational pillars: Organizational Excellence, Crime Prevention and Violence Reduction, and Community Engagement and Inclusion. It reflects a holistic and collaborative approach to addressing violent crime, and abides within the framework of the City’s overarching Roadmap to Safer Communities.

Click here for PPD Commissioner Outlaw's June 26th Press Statement regarding this Action Plan. View [pdf] the Action Plan here.

City launches program to provide free internet access to 35,000 families.

Lauren Wiley, The Notebook

The city and the Philadelphia School District are tackling the digital divide with the launch of PHLConnectED, a $17 million program to offer free Comcast Internet Essentials service to 35,000 families of K-12 students for two years.

The program will be paid for by public funds and private donors. Officials said Comcast is contributing $7 million to the effort. The city will use $2 million in local CARES Act funding, $1 million from the William Penn Foundation, and additional grants from the Neubauer Family Foundation, the Philadelphia School Partnership, and others. The School District and a number of charter schools also are investing in the project. So far, $11 million has been raised. The city hopes to secure the funding to extend the program beyond two years. Mark Wheeler, Philadelphia’s chief information officer, said this effort addresses “an immediate need,” adding that the city is engaged in a longer-term effort to bridge the digital divide with the goal “to address the needs of all households beyond K-12 and make it permanent.”

More here.