Hi everyone. May has been a really big month and I am so happy to have you here. Please read up on why The Platia believes that mutual aid and information will save the world and message me if you have thoughts and want to chat about it!
I was out at two conferences over the past two weeks, discussing service journalism and what the community really needs: not talking heads that show crime stats, but ways for everyone to be empowered. A lot of discussions made me – a notorious cynic – feel positive.
I also got a call from the city updating me on my Right To Know request over the encampment called Camp Chloe behind Walmart in Penn's Landing. The people who were living there had good reasons to not enter the shelter system, and since my initial report, I've found more information that points to the blatant mistreatment of our fellow citizens without due process. As that RTK info comes through, I will share it with you.
Here are the mutual aid events, volunteer opportunities and ways to give back this week. Tell me if you attend any of them.
📅 Philly Mutual Aid — Day by Day
Thurs, May 28 – Grocery Distribution at Prevention Point
On the last Thursday of the month, you can help distribute groceries to over 85 families in Kensington. Reach out to Amira at acason@ppponline.org to be assigned a shift. For the other Prevention Point programs, sign up at ppponline.org/services/volunteering.
Fri, May 29 – First Aid Training at The Wooden Shoe Bookstore (6-9 p.m.)
Join the Philly Action Ready Coalition for a first aid class. No experience is required, and you will not get a certificate, just basic info to help your community. Sign up here: https://woodenshoebooks.org/index.php/events
Sat, May 30 – Rooted Futures at the Village of Arts and Humanities
This is a ticketed event that will go towards the future of The Village, which supports equitable futures for artists. Brunch and other food will be served, and you can enjoy music and art. More here: https://www.instagram.com/p/DYsk2bnlHTX/
Sun, May 31 – Public Health Supplies at Zine Fest (3 p.m. to 5 p.m.)
Visit Zine Fest at Clark Park from 3-5 p.m. to talk to Sepas about public health supplies and what you can do to help. They’ll be giving out COVID tests, safe sex items and wound care kits. Read more here: https://www.instagram.com/p/DYxOMxJFfp6/
Sun, May 31 – Rewilding Philly Presents Kensington Field Day (1 p.m. to 4 p.m.)
Join the community at 2717 Jasper Street for free food music and discussion about public spaces. Read more here: https://www.instagram.com/p/DYpOAlqnKNx
Mon, June 1 – Coffee Talk at Iffy Books
At The Platia we believe sitting down over coffee is a way to bridge differences. Iffy Books offers a free coffee session, to meet new friends and discuss challenges across the city. Find out more here: https://iffybooks.net/series/coffee-talk/
Tues, June 2 – Gather Cookbook Donations for Books Through Bars
This West Philly-based mutual aid organization collects books to send to incarcerated folks, and they frequently have specific requests. This week they need cookbooks, so spend your day looking through your shelves, and coordinating with family and friends to gather a few for donation. You can drop them off with BtB and sign up for one of their donation processing workshops. Find out more here: https://www.instagram.com/p/DYxYJe6mmZJ/
Wed, June 3 – Walk Ludwig from Street Tails.
Ludwig has been looking for a family for over 400 days. While he’s settling into his foster home, reach out to take him for a walk. So many folks in the community have stepped in to provide him walks and snacks, he belongs to all of us now. Reach out to Street Tails here: https://www.instagram.com/p/DY0slEDjD_0/
Thurs, June 4 – Philly Food Rescue Pickups
Use the free Philly Food Rescue app to volunteer to pick up surplus food from grocery stores, restaurants, and farmers markets and deliver it to community fridges and pantries. You should have your own vehicle and be able to pick up boxes, but you can also pick smaller donations if heavy boxes are a problem. Download the app and sign up to begin: https://www.sharefoodprogram.org/our-programs/philly-food-rescue/
Fri, June 5 – South Philly Punks With Lunch Picnic
Join us on Fridays for a mutual aid picnic. We’ll give produce out to the community, swap books, make hot dogs and listen to music. If you are a beginner to mutual aid, reach out and I will meet you here. We meet around 1:30 p.m. for a 2 p.m. distro. Reply directly to this email and I will coordinate with you.
Sun, June 7 – Homies Helping Homies Food and Bike Repair (10 a.m.)
Homies Helping Homies will be distributing food and household items starting at 10 a.m. with bike repair work happening around 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m at Wharton Square Park. Read more here: https://www.instagram.com/p/DYxMZaFOUEx
One Small Thing You Can Do... Go Out This Week
If you're stir crazy for happy hour, and want to put money back in the community, FCM Hospitality group, which owns a handful of bars across the city, has a rainbow-themed bar crawl benefiting the Delaware Valley Fund, supporting the challenges of LGBTQ+ citizens in Pennsylvania, Delaware and New Jersey. The drinks are kitschy: a green Ecto Cooler with pear vodka and melon liquor at Concourse Dance Bar, the Out To Sea with blueberry vodka, blue curacao and lemonade at Dolphin Tavern, a Liquid Persuasion gin and purple butterfly pea tea cocktail, the Margarita Negra at either Rosy’s location, and pink Hibiscus Lemonade with vodka at any Parks on Tap location. Find their locations on Instagram.
You can also pay-it-forward by attending the Anti-ICE Supper Club by Roads and Kingdoms, with two dates: June 1 at Honeysuckle and June 4 at Post Haste. Net proceeds from both dinners go directly to Juntos.
Finally, May 28th through 31st is the St. George Greek Festival in Center City at 8th and Locust. The Platia is based on the way Greek villages communicate over problems in the town square with a meal, and the Greek community is infamous for inviting everyone in - as long as you eat. So find the nearest yiayia, grab a Greek coffee and make new friends. Read more here: https://www.instagram.com/p/DWC1BFAjeo6/
Thanks for reading. Let me know if this was helpful. Every "thumbs up" helps!
Annemarie