“Tell me about a complicated man,” writes Emily Wilson, the College for Women Class of 1963 Professor in the Humanities and Professor of Classical Studies at the University of Pennsylvania, in her 2017 translation of Homer’s The Odyssey. Wilson’s English translation — the first ever by a woman — is the basis for Christopher Nolan’s … Continue reading The Odyssey is For All of Us

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On July 10th, the City of Philadelphia announced it had selected ReWorld — the corporation that operates the incinerator in Chester, PA — along with Waste Management and Republic Services, to manage the city’s next solid waste contract for at least four years with three years of possible renewals. The contract process has been shaped … Continue reading A Trash Policy That Changes…Nothing

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This year, the United States of America celebrates the 250th anniversary of its founding. The American Revolutionary War was fought between April 1775 and September 1783, though the war for independence wasn’t “formalized” until the next year, when the Second Continental Congress, right here in Philadelphia, passed the Lee Resolution for Independence on July 2, … Continue reading Things to Do This Week For America’s 250th

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For 24 years as a federal prosecutor, I led large-scale investigations and prosecutions involving sophisticated fraud schemes and public corruption. Later, as Philadelphia’s Inspector General, I focused on preventing fraud, corruption, and waste on behalf of the city’s taxpayers. I know firsthand how sophisticated criminal networks and corrupt actors exploit legal and regulatory blind spots. … Continue reading Guest Commentary: Fetterman, Do Your Part To Stop Corruption

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One morning, before arriving at a bus stop in Germantown last November, two brothers, ages 18 and 24, are approached by a police car. The officers roll down a window. “Are you all carrying guns?” they ask.        Listen to the audio edition here: The brothers, trying to get to work, say no. … Continue reading “Why Was I Stopped?”

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I’m writing this as a lifelong Philadelphian who watched the 76ers and Philadelphia Warriors as a kid. I remember Wilt — so I’ve got some bona fides. I grew up cheering for my Sixers against those Knick teams of Frazier and Reed. The rivalries between Philadelphia and New York City teams in sports and civic … Continue reading Guest Commentary: How The Knicks (Yes, the Knicks) are Like Lincoln

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When Lisa Parker talks about peace, it’s infectious. When Parker adds Philadelphia to the mix, peace isn’t just a “rose-tinted glasses” kind of thing; it’s the reality she believes in for this city. “I love Philadelphia,” she says. “It’s hard; it’s broken; it’s political; it’s amazing. It’s all those things, all at the same time. … Continue reading Citizen of the Week: Lisa Parker, Peace Maker

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Philadelphia and Pennsylvania have had a remarkable year — and it’s only July. The city hosted a successful FIFA World Cup, celebrated America’s 250th birthday in style, and welcomed baseball fans from across the country for MLB All-Star Week. Philly was squarely in the spotlight and proved we are competing on the world stage. That … Continue reading Guest Commentary: Keep Shining, Philly

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While some musicians inspire applause, others inspire poetry. When Anthony Webb went to a concert at First Presbyterian Church in Germantown, he did not anticipate jazz-vocalist Ruth Naomi Floyd would inspire him to write poems. But Floyd’s stylings transported Webb so much that he didn’t just create in response, he says, it also made him, … Continue reading Bringing Music to the Masses

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On a recent weekday, 9-year-old Max Cortez of Wynnewood is running and weaving between the wooden posts at Sister Cities Park’s new Playful Learning installation. He’s playing, but when asked one of the questions posted on the installation — What invention would you come up with if you could? — he’s also learning.     … Continue reading Learning through Play

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Despite the oppressive heat and killer air, we are still here, Philly, and we still have things to do. Franklin Square celebrates its birthday this week, and City Hall celebrates Venezuela with a flag-raising ceremony. The Notebook opens at The Academy of Music, Robopocalypse: The Musical! comes to City Winery, Five Finger Death Punch is at Freedom … Continue reading Fun Things to Do in Philly this Week and Weekend

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Warm beeswax melted into layers as middle school students taking part in a program at Roxborough’s Northern Children’s Services carved symbols into wooden panels, experimenting with colors, textures and shapes that held personal meaning. Teaching artist Tremain Smith hadn’t given the tweens and early teens specific instructions as to what their end goal is, only … Continue reading Art for Change: Renewing a Beloved Program for Kids in Crisis

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Every host city of the World Cup faced a similar conundrum less than two months ago: the unenviable task of assembling an ad hoc army of stadium workers, barbacks, security personnel, chambermaids, and other hospitality roles to accommodate world travelers. The World Cup was projected to generate 74,000 temporary local jobs across the country, but … Continue reading Fixing the Prison-to-Temp (Worker) Pipeline

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Philadelphia City Council has a chance in September to improve air quality, reduce environmental injustice, and move the City in a healthier direction. Last week, the City announced plans to award Reworld Sustainable Solutions a contract to burn about one-third of the City’s trash in Chester and Conshohocken. Before the contract can take effect, City … Continue reading Guest Commentary: Philly Trash Doesn’t Have to Burn in Chester

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