The city has seen many forms of activism; but here is a solo protest. Jamal Johnson began a hunger strike in January, waiting for Mayor Kenney to declare Philly’s gun violence a public emergency. A crisis.
In early March, the pandemic had just begun to trickle to America. Businesses were open, and masks were not yet recommended. It was early and unclear how the coronavirus would affect our nation. But Germantown Resident Barbara Kigozi felt the effects of the virus before it hit America. Kigozi lost her 81-year-old mother to the virus in England, long before we knew this was a pandemic. Here is Barbara Kigozi, on losing her mother, and interchangeably, the most important thing in her life.
More than 450,000 Americans have died from the coronavirus disease and as the country grieved, other acts were born; a new generation of activism, mutual aid, and a renewed effort to take care of one another. One Germantown resident, born and raised, decided to gather these efforts in one place. That resident is Rasheed Ajamu, better known as Phreedom Jawn on Instagram.
Christa Barfield and Greenwood Philly are raising funds to operate a new greenhouse at FarmerJawn. They call it, “The Vision House,” a place where Barfield is trying a new approach to grow affordable organic produce for families.
A website providing maternal health and resources for Black women is available.
The woman behind Bold, Black & Informed wants to keep voters in-the-know.
Democratic committee members Clarice Thomas and Barbara Kigozi want to make sure their neighbors have all the information they need to vote.
Amirah Cutts and The Germantown Supply Hub will sponsor a book and school supply giveaway this weekend, with hundreds of free books available.
Channel Saunders was forced to move out of her Germantown home after learning her landlord would no longer participate in PHA’s Housing Choice Voucher program.