Philly Ukrainian community shares stories two years into war
As Russia’s war with Ukraine enters its third year this month, Philadelphia’s Ukrainian community continues to live with a dual reality: living in a welcoming local community that’s at times shadowed by a larger political bureaucracy holding up crucial aid to Ukraine.
A new Philly-produced documentary, ‘Beyond the Statistics,’ which will be screened next on March 3 at Jenkintown’s Ukrainian Educational and Cultural Center, aims to humanize the voices of newly arrived Ukrainians. Continue reading…
Life and art blend in theatrical look at gun violence in Philly
“Zooman and the Sign” by the Negro Ensemble Company takes a theatrical look at gun violence in Philly, but captures the reality of communities in fear of both police and those committing violence. “Retaliation is real,” says director Phyllis Yvonne Stickney. However, “we’ve become too comfortable with fear. Fear has become our bedfellow.”
The same dynamic plays out in “Zooman,” which was first written in 1979 but remains as relevant today as it did then. Stickney hopes the dramatization helps build a bridge over fear and anger, allowing viewers to engage in the power of “collective witness.” Continue reading…
RECAP: What else happened?
$ = paywalled
• Pennsylvania-based “election integrity” investigator is the source of false and flawed election claims gaining traction across the country and presidential campaign. [Spotlight PA/Votebeat]
• Pa. State Police recruitment saw an uptick, with 40% of its most recent round of applications coming from people who only qualified after Gov. Shapiro waived the college credit requirement. [South Philly Review]
• Democrat Jim Prokopiak defeated Republican Candace Cabanas in the race for the 140th District Tuesday, cementing Democratic control over the Pennsylvania House. [WHYY]
• Penn Engineering is now offering a new bachelors degree program in AI, making it the first Ivy League university to do so. [6ABC]
• Philly’s newest co-working space, MYB Hub North, is designed for Black and brown founders. [Technical.ly]
• Opera Philadelphia’s 2024-2025 season will open with the delayed American premiere of “The Listeners,” but the fate of Festival O is still up in the air. [WHYY]
Weekly brief on gun violence prevention (with PCGVR)
We publish this report each week in partnership with the Philadelphia Center for Gun Violence Reporting.• A Lehigh professor and former photojournalist is teaming up with a Temple trauma surgeon and Columbia epidemiologist to analyze how gun violence reporting can harm survivors and communities. [Lehigh University]
• A new report found the largest disparity in firearm homicides was in the 18-to-24 age group, where Black residents had a firearm mortality rate of 58.78 per 100,000 people, compared with 3.1 per 100,000 for white residents. [The Grio]
• Health and journalism experts explored the gaps, go-to resources, and facts and myths about firearms and firearm ownership in a webinar last week. [PCGVR]
By the numbers in Philadelphia
- 17: Shooting victims recorded last week, vs. 14 the week prior. [PCGVR]
- 114: Shooting victims as of February 12 were down 42% vs. the previous year. [PCGVR]
- 35: Year-to-date homicides, down 31% vs. last year’s pace; the same as five years ago [Philly Police]
MAYOR WATCH
Mayor Parker officiates the first wedding of Valentine’s Day in Philly at Love Park, which kicks off a day of shopping, speed-dating, live music, and more in the park. (11 a.m.)
The mayor also extended the deadline to submit applications to join the Board of Education. The new deadline is now Friday, February 23 at 11:59 p.m. A list of 27 candidates for the nine seats will be announced on March 12 and members of the public can sign up online to join public comment beginning March 4.
ON THE CALENDAR
❤️ An evening of music inspired by lovers’ dances awaits at Philadelphia Orchestra’s Valentine’s Day concert. Tickets start at $29. (7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 14)
🎭 The Blue Heaven Comedy Festival hits FringeArts for a long weekend of laughs about Catholic guilt, a clown workshop, and more. Tickets start at $15. (Thursday to Sunday, Feb. 15 to 18)
💃🏼 It’s Freaky Friday over at Without A Cue Productions, which will perform Nugent’s Follies with dancing, acrobatics, comedy and light dessert throughout. Tickets are $38. (8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 16)
Catch up on the previous week
Receive Billy Penn’s free daily roundup in your inbox every morning. Sign up here!
