PhillyVoice: Hannah Kanik - May 26th, 2021 The hundreds of thousands of Pennyslvanians receiving unemployment benefits will soon have to resume their job search requirements in July. The change, which also applies to Philadelphians, will begin July 18, which means individuals collecting unemployment benefits will need to start reopening their job search activity from the week before, July 11. "As more Pennsylvanians become vaccinated and our case count continues to decline, w

Washington Post: Jennifer Miller - May 24, 2021 When William Palmer was 17, he put on a ski mask and tried to rob a man — a crime that landed him in prison for three decades. Now 49, he stood in a San Rafael, Calif., rehearsal hall practicing his original one-man play. The scene took place in a drugstore, and it revisited the moment that changed his life. “Why do you need to purchase a ski mask?” Palmer asked, staring at an imaginary version of his teenage self. “You’re in Ca

The Marshall Project: Abd'Allah Lateef - May 13, 2021 On the morning of Feb. 11, 2021, while residents of Philadelphia braced themselves for a winter storm, 83-year-old Joe Ligon prepared to take his first steps into the streets where he was arrested nearly seven decades earlier. After participating in a spree of robberies and assaults that resulted in two deaths, Joe was convicted of murder in 1953, at age 15. At 16, he was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole

Note: PRC encourages the use of person first language whenever possible in referring to people with justice involvement, and people in general. To learn more, click here. NPR: Claudia Grisales - May 20, 2021 In an effort to reduce crime among formerly incarcerated individuals, a bipartisan group of Senate and House lawmakers are joining forces to introduce legislation Thursday to create new resource centers to help ex-prisoners get a new start. Sens. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., a

Read the full report In Philadelphia and nationwide, fines and fees in the criminal legal system burden low-income families and communities of color. The high cost of communication from prison prevents family connectedness, increases the risk of recidivism, and creates additional challenges for those returning home. Court costs impose financial barriers that can lead to reincarceration. The City of Philadelphia is working towards a safer and more equitable city by removing ba

Do you enjoy interacting and engaging with your community? Are you passionate about promoting public health through conversations, sharing resources, and providing support? Are you interested in professional development opportunities? If so, apply to be a Philly Counts Ambassador! Philly Counts Ambassadors will participate in a paid, ten-week organizing and workforce development program. Ambassadors will work in priority neighborhoods throughout Philadelphia, as identified by

Do you want to help grassroots community groups get the funding they need to create real change in the Philadelphia region? Are you known for inspiring and motivating volunteers? Are you a strong facilitator who loves working with groups? Are you a strong project manager with impeccable attention to detail? Bread & Roses Community Fund is the leading funder of grassroots organizing for racial, social, and economic justice in the Philadelphia area. We bring together a communit

Inside Out provides college classes in prisons and jails involving campus-based students and incarcerated students learning together. During COVID, we have expanded this approach to college to include individuals who had been in prison or jail and are now out. The classes are held virtually through Zoom.

Most Philadelphia families qualify for a new monthly payment from the federal government of $250 or $300 per child starting as soon as July 2021! Find out what you need to do to receive the new Child Tax Credit payment. Spoiler alert: It's EASY! ➡️ phila.gov/childtaxcredit Don’t leave money on the table, Philly! Families with children could get $250 or $300 per child monthly thanks to the expanded Child Tax Credit. It’s easy: just file your taxes, even if you don’t normally f