Every June, Philadelphia and the nation celebrates Pride Month. But this year, with the federal government — and even some major local institutions — dialing back on LGBTQIA+ representation, showing up is more important than ever. Luckily, there’s still plenty of things to do for Pride in the city, from the Gayborhood to Germantown, late … Continue reading Your Guide to Philadelphia Pride 2026

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Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence in the summer of 1776 in a building two blocks from Independence Hall. On the night of June 25 of this year — almost 250 years later, to the day — I will stand on the stage of the Academy of Music, less than a mile from that … Continue reading The Citizen Recommends: We The People with Ali Velshi

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When Eli Prosper stands on the side patio of James Logan Elementary School and looks out across the school property, he doesn’t see 2.2 acres of gray pavement. He sees what’s coming next, a plan conceived by Logan third graders and fine-tuned with the help of neighbors: a landscaped green yard with sections for social … Continue reading Investing in Logan Elementary

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Mayor Cherelle Parker wants a $1-per-ride tax on Uber and Lyft to help close the School District of Philadelphia’s $300 million budget deficit. Uber, fighting the proposal with lobbying firms, in-app messaging campaigns, and threats of litigation, has floated a counterproposal: Drop the flat fee and instead raise the existing state-set 1.4 percentage-based tax on … Continue reading Guest Commentary: A Dollar Won’t Do

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Kids need more to do this summer or year-round — beyond your neighborhood rec center? This roundup of free or low-cost specialized youth sport opportunities in Philly will get your kids moving and having fun. Psst: Check out Philadelphia Youth Sports Collaborative here for even more information on free and affordable youth recreation in Philly. … Continue reading A Guide to Free and Affordable Youth Sports in Philadelphia

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Like most utilities Philadelphians rely on — electricity, internet, gas — water is something we pay more attention to when it isn’t working. Where our H2O comes from and how it gets into our faucets are mysteries most of us will likely never care to understand. As long as it’s flowing, we’re good. Until recently, … Continue reading Integrity Icon 2026: Michelle Bailey, Water Whisperer

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Out of control utility bills have become another aspect of our affordability crisis — driven by an industry operating with too little accountability. Utility price increases are well outpacing inflation, even as utility companies are persuading lawmakers to allow them to continue raising prices on consumers. Alli Velshi explains how the unique business model is … Continue reading Listen: Ali Velshi On The Real Reason Your Utilities Prices Are Rising

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In 2022, Katherine Sachs, a trustee of the Philadelphia Museum of Art and a longtime cultural collaborator in the city, felt like something was missing from Philly’s semisesquicentennial planning: art and artists. So Sachs launched ArtPhilly, a collaboration among arts leaders, philanthropists, artists and makers. Now, ArtPhilly is debuting its first citywide festival, What Now: … Continue reading The Citizen Recommends: Art Philly’s What Now Festival

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Among those who might reasonably claim a modicum of credit for the city’s sustained drop in violent crime, we’ve seen practically no victory-lapping take place. If anything, the opposite ethos has taken hold — even as homicides continue to decline, reaching lows unseen since the 1960s — in spheres of public safety these days. “It’s … Continue reading INTEGRITY ICON 2026: Keith Scott, Beef-Squasher Extraordinaire

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Welcome to the 2026 Good Philadelphia Citizen Calendar, full of good things for you to do in Philly, all year long. This calendar is your guide to being a better Philadelphian all year long. Look below for dozens of ways to take part in city life that makes Philly better for all of us: Vote. … Continue reading Good Citizen Calendar, June-December 2026

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Dr. Mandy Manna expects Philly parents to raise an eyebrow when they find out she works in agricultural education. Philadelphia is, after all, a city and — despite what Mayor Parker would like us to believe — we’re not exactly known for being green. Sure, we have our parks and a handful of urban farms, … Continue reading Integrity Icon 2026: Dr. Mandy Manna, Farming Phenom

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For Francis Young, hosting a showroom at last year’s Paris Fashion Week felt surreal, in a dream-come-true way. The founder of the do-good menswear line Paratodo had come a long way since the days when his police officer parents urged him to pursue a more practical profession. Although he still called (and calls) his West … Continue reading Business for Good: Paratodo

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Trash collectors are supposed to cart things away from your house — not show up with items to leave with you. But, then, most trash collectors are not North Philly native Anthony Sweeney. Since he started working for the Streets Department 15 years ago, serving neighborhoods in Northwest Philadelphia, Sweeney says he’s always tried to … Continue reading Integrity Icon 2026: Anthony Sweeney, Sanitation Superhero

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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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Faith Harris was literally born into service: Her family founded Shalom Baptist Church in Olney, where she grew up bearing witness to her family serving people experiencing homelessness and food insecurity, welcoming the community, and carrying out the church’s mission to help others.        Listen to the audio edition here: “I grew up … Continue reading Integrity Icon 2026: Faith Harris, Youth Champion

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