Social Justice

A grassroots Black empowerment activist who has long flown under the mainstream radar is one of the reasons Juneteenth in Philly is the harmonious, artful and joyous celebration it is today

Yes, let’s celebrate our liberation on Juneteenth. But also, let’s remember the history that came before

A holiday with Philly roots includes some of the city's biggest events of the year, from Germantown to West Philadelphia to Southwest and Old City — and then some

On waving symbols, extreme national distress and the regressive swing of the pendulum

In the wake of Citizen stories about the encampments at Penn, several readers forwarded a Palestinian-American’s Medium post about simple truths we would all be wise to remember

How a peaceful march, a misguided cop and a rubber bullet turned Canadian-born (by way of Kenya, South Africa and India) Ali Velshi into a true American. An excerpt from Small Acts of Courage, the MSNBC anchor and Citizen board member’s new memoir, launching May 7, in Philly

When government was slow to help Wilmington, DE residents hit by Hurricane Ida, one woman stepped up with a grassroots disaster response team that is now a permanent fixture. Could a similar program help underserved Philly communities at climate risk?

A donor helped fund a fellowship to bring new teachers of color to a suburban district. Here’s why a local educator thinks it’s an idea worth stealing

A West Philly native turned a life-changing disability into a lifetime of advocacy, speaking up for Philadelphians in need — and encouraging others to speak up for themselves

Odili Donald Odita draws on a unique combination of traditional African art, minimalism, and pop culture influences in his abstract paintings that respond to contemporary social issues. The latest in a series with Forman Arts Initiative