Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is on Monday, Jan. 15. Here’s a list of events and Day of Service opportunities for local residents. Visit mlkdayofservice.org/volunteer for more volunteer opportunities in Philadelphia.

• MLK Events at Penn

Penn’s MLK Day of Service activities begin with a breakfast for volunteers, and includes a college fair, sprucing up various locations around West Philadelphia, recording audio books to promote literacy and more. It concludes with a candlelight vigil. More details can be found here.

The Day of Service kicks off Penn’s Annual MLK Symposium for Social Change, two weeks worth of events and activities (from panel discussions to film screenings to performances and lectures) that are centered around social justice. For more information, go here.  Continue Reading

On New Year’s Eve (Sunday, Dec. 31), neighbors and guests are invited to the Philadelphia Episcopal Cathedral (38th and Chestnut) for “Watch Night for Racial Justice” – an evening of jazz that will benefit interfaith organization P.O.W.E.R. (Philadelphians Organized to Witness, Empower, and Rebuild).

The event is in response to the alarming increase in racist violence and injustice over the past year. It celebrates the tradition of “Watch Night” which began on New Year’s Eve 1863 in black churches throughout the nation awaiting the announcement of the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1864.  Continue Reading

This holiday season, some West Philly-based community organizations and churches make sure that children from low-income communities have a chance to celebrate and receive gifts.

The Walnut Hill Community Association (WHCA), in partnership with The Enterprise Center Community Development Corporation (TEC-CDC) and other organizations and businesses will host the 4th annual Walnut Hill Holiday Extravaganza on Tuesday afternoon, 3-5 p.m.. This holiday event is held at the Max Paul Park (4610 Market St.), and this year, over 300 neighborhood children are expected to attend.

Walnut Hill families, neighbors and friends have also been invited. A beautifully decorated 10ft Christmas tree will stand tall amidst the festivity. There will be carolers, music, lights, photos, life-size gingerbread house, Santa and gifts for everyone.  Continue Reading

The 9th annual “Big Push” Holiday Concert will take place at the Calvary United Methodist Church at 48th and Baltimore on Sunday, Dec. 17.

The concert will feature a cameo performance by Philly Funk band Breakwater, and all proceeds will be donated to hurricane relief efforts in Puerto Rico.

Other musical guests include: Calvary UMC Choir, Salsa singer Anthony Colon, Latin percussionists Raul & Asaf Berrios, and more. Suggested donation is $20, and there is free admission for children.  Continue Reading

On Sunday, Dec. 17, Kol Tzedek, West Philly’s reconstructionist synagogue, is hosting their annual Hanukkah Party. This year, the party is titled “Rejoice and Resist” and will benefit Kol Tzedek’s Jewish-Muslim solidarity work.

Kol Tzedek, which means Voice for Justice, has been actively participating in many social justice causes and projects in the area. The synagogue is a member of POWER (Philadelphians Organized to Witness, Empower and Rebuild), a consortium of faith communities from across the city. Kol Tzedek members participate in several social justice projects and movements, including the Jewish-Muslim Solidarity Project, whose goal is “to create relationships with local Muslim communities, and to work with them against Islamophobia and discrimination.”  Continue Reading

We’re continuing to post information on how to help those in need during the holidays. Several holiday drives are currently underway, including the Cedar Park Holiday Food Drive, which we wrote about last week.

There are more holiday drives going on in the area:

Socks for Homeless, Seniors, Students

State Rep. James Roebuck and community partners are collecting socks for seniors, homeless people and students in their annual “People for People” sock drive. New socks are being accepted through Dec. 16 at Roebuck’s office, 4712 Baltimore Ave., from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Monday through Friday, and at the Squirrel Hill Sub-Police Station, 4619 Chester Ave., from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Tuesdays. If you have questions, please call Roebuck’s office at 215.724.2227.  Continue Reading