Here’s a great opportunity for local block captains to meet other captains, share their experience and better their community organizing and other skills. The annual West and Southwest Philadelphia Block Captains Forum will take place at Philadelphia Boys’ Latin Charter School (55th and Cedar) on Saturday, Aug. 15, and registration for the forum is open through July 27. Several free workshops will be held at the one-day event, including Crime and Safety, Community Organizing 101, Vacant Land Management, and more.

Block captains who are registered with the Philadelphia More Beautiful Committee (PMBC) are encouraged to attend this event and can register for the forum by contacting The Partnership CDC/NAC Office at 215-662-1612 or at 4020 Market St. See the flier below for more information.

The West Philly-based student leadership and public education advocacy group, Philadelphia Student Union (PSU), a highly visible and effective youth organization in the city, is launching a fundraising campaign to help cover rent for a new space.

PSU, which has been around for some 20 years, has been operating without an office for a couple of months. For many years they worked out of a small space at 42nd and Chestnut until they had to move this past spring due to rising rental costs. Previously headquartered at 50th St and Baltimore Avenue, PSU plans to stay in West Philadelphia, with the goal of settling somewhere on the 52nd Street corridor.

PSU members at the #reclaimMLK march on January 19, 2015 (Facebook photo).

PSU is looking to raise $11,000, which will help them cover everything from rent increases to moving costs.

PSU’s mission is to give young people the tools and skills to organize and fight for better public education in the city of Philadelphia. In their new space, PSU intends to continue holding political workshops covering topics from structural racism, school funding and the school-to-prison pipeline. These workshops are open to all high school aged youth. PSU also holds youth-led media literacy programs, which are meant to educate youth on different ways to communicate their message. One of these programs is a radio production program called On Blast, which gives youth an opportunity to portray how they want to be represented in the media.

“Through organizing, media production, and leadership development, PSU gives young people the tools and skills they need to learn how to change the world around them,” said youth media organizer Beth Patel.

The fundraising campaign can be found on IndieGoGo: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/the-philadelphia-student-union-needs-a-home

– Rana Fayez

Friday night jazz at Cedar Park. Photo from Twitter feed of @DrStephenDavis.

Great news for local jazz fans and anyone who enjoys outdoor music and hanging with neighbors. The popular Cedar Park Jazz series, which runs every summer in the park at 49th and Baltimore, has been extended until August 14.

The Broke and Blue Band will perform this Friday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. The two added dates – August 7 and 14 – will feature Dr. Ketchup (Aug. 7) and Clint Washington and Friends (Aug. 14). Side By Soul will take the stage next Friday.

And as if that isn’t enough live jazz … Jake’s Sandwich Board, a restaurant in that new building on 40th Street near Sansom, has announced (Facebook page) that there will be live music every Wednesday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the World’s Largest Parklet (on 40th Street across from Fresh Grocer). Yes, jazz at the parklet is now a thing. Don’t forget that while the parklet fronts a bunch of businesses, you don’t necessarily have to patronize one to sit there. It’s a park, just like any other park.

Jasmine Wright

A Healing For The Community service followed by a candlelight vigil for 27-year-old Jasmine Wright, the woman found dead in her 50th Street apartment last week, will take place tonight, from 7 – 8 p.m. at Monumental Baptist Church, 4948 Locust St.

Wright, who received her master’s degree at Drexel University’s School of Public Health a few weeks ago, was found beaten and strangled in her apartment on the 200 block of S. 50th Street, police said. Her body was found last Thursday afternoon in a bedroom of her third floor apartment after her father had tried to reach her by phone and finally asked the property manager to check on her. Police said she may have been dead for 24 hours. There were no signs of forced entry into the apartment, which made police believe that Jasmine may have known her attacker.

On Saturday, police were questioning a person of interest, reportedly a handyman who had access to Jasmine’s home. No arrests have been made yet.

Originally from New York City, Wright received her bachelor’s degree at Pennsylvania State University. She had lived in West Philly for about two years while she was attending Drexel’s graduate program. Her neighbors described her as a quiet and sweet girl, who mostly kept to herself. Her friends remember her as a funny and caring woman.

With the temperatures in the mid-90’s and heat index into 100’s, the Philadelphia Department of Public Health has issued an Excessive Heat Warning for Philadelphia beginning at noon today. The warning signals the activation of the City’s special summer heat programs, including enhanced daytime outreach for the homeless. The authorities also encourage the public to check on older friends, relatives, and neighbors.

The ‘Heatline’ (215-765-9040) will be in operation from noon through midnight on Sunday and from 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Monday.

In a heat wave, the majority of the victims are older people and those with pre-existing medical conditions, so health officials urge the public to visit older friends, relatives and neighbors to ensure that air conditioners or fans are working, and homes are adequately ventilated. Other groups at risk in the extreme heat include people with chronic medical conditions, pregnant women, small children, those who work in a high heat environment and persons engaged in strenuous physical activity.

People who do not have air conditioning are advised to seek relief from the heat, for at least some part of the day, in shopping malls, movie theaters, senior centers and other air-conditioned public spaces.

Please avoid, as much as possible working or playing in the hot sun or other hot areas, stay hydrated and if you have difficulty breathing or experience any other serious heat stress symptoms seek immediate medical attention.

Also, keep your pets inside and give them plenty of water.

A great weekend is in store for local jazz fans, with a couple of awesome (and free!) events happening in the area. Plus, there will be a free classical jazz concert at a local library on Monday. More details are below.

• The annual Lancaster Avenue Jazz and Arts Fest is returning to Powelton Village on Saturday, July 18. The fest is an all-day fun for the whole family, featuring internationally renowned performers, vendors, food trucks, and children’s activities. The event, organized by People’s Emergency Center and the Producers’ Guild, celebrates the rich history of jazz and the arts in Philadelphia. The lineup includes a wide variety of both international and Philly jazz musicians, including Sonny Fortune, Charlene Holloway Band, Glenn Bryan & Friends, Kimpedro Nu Gruv, and more.

The festival will be held from noon to 7 p.m. at Saunders Park (39th and Powelton Ave). For more information, visit: www.lancasteravejazzfest.com.

• The weekly Summer Jazz series will be held on Friday night in Cedar Park (49th and Baltimore), starting at 6 p.m. This week features Dahi Divine and Friends.

• Charlie X will present a free classical jazz concert at Walnut St West Library (40th and Walnut) on Monday, July 20. This event starts at 6:30 p.m. Refreshments will also be served. The event is sponsored by the Library Friends. You can hear Charlie X at charliex.org.