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Ali Velshi Reminds Us of Draconian Restrictions to Immigration a Hundred Years Ago

The MSNBC host and Citizen board member reminds us that we've been here before, restricting immigration and deporting immigrants is dangerous to our future and economy

By Ali Velshi

What’s Behind Philly’s Racial Wealth Gap?

Philadelphia is among a group of cities that received funding to answer that question — and to come up with ways to address it

By Courtney DuChene
Citizen of the Week

Bigga Dre

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

By Abigail Chang

A Time To Weep

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

By James Peterson

Philadelphia Celebrates Juneteenth 2024

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

By Abigail Chang and Lauren McCutcheon
Guest Commentary

The Watermelon and the Flag in Our Upside-Down World

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

By James Peterson
Guest Commentary

50 Completely True Things About Israel and Palestine

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

By Mo Husseini
Excerpt

“You’re In This Fight”

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

By Ali Velshi
Ideas We Should Steal

Climate Resilience Hubs

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?

By Angie Bacha
Guest Commentary

Grow Your Own Black Teacher Pipeline

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

By Matt Reid