Philadelphia Free Press - Digital Edition 09-09-2020

Homeless set to decamp today, with a little “help” from their municipal friends

By Christopher Doyle

The city announced last Monday that people living he homeless encampat the encampment on the ment on the Parkway is Benjamin Franklin Parkway, set to be put to an end formally named the James Wednesday, but the hardship Talib-Dean Camp after a late experienced by camp residents encampment organizer, would is far from over – and among have to clear the area by 9:00 advocates’ most pressing con- a.m. on Sept. 9. People living cerns is whether the city will at two affiliated encampments use physical force to clear the – one by the Philadelphia camp some have called home Museum of Art and another for almost three months. just outside the Ridge Avenue

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headquarters of the Philadelphia Housing Authority – also must leave their camps at that time. Mayor Jim Kenney said in a press release accompanying the eviction notice that clearing the encampments was necessary to protect “the health and safety of all involved.”

Sterling Johnson, an encampment organizer, said that he feared the city would resort Homeless man waves goodbye.

Center City Philadelphia's Community Newspaper

to violence if people remained in the camps past the eviction deadline.

“I’m sure they’ll violently do it,” Johnson said. “It’s happened many, many times over the years.”

The city has already cleared two other homeless encampments since the COVID-19 pandemic hit Philadelphia in March – one at the Philadelphia International Airport and another at the Pennsylvania Convention Center.

Philadelphia Housing Action, which is the coalition of and sisters who work against progressive groups organizhuman trafficking, Sister Coll ing the encampments, held a was able to meet Pope Francis demonstration outside Kenney’s home Sunday to protest in 2019 during Talitha Kum’s against the impending evictenth anniversary conference tion. in Rome.

Kenney, on his part, has said The conference included a general meeting with the pon- that he hoped residents would “voluntarily decamp and avail tiff that Sister Coll assumed themselves of the beneficial would be more ‘greet from a services being offered” by the distance’ experience than an city. Officials have been seemup close and personal meethowever, about ing. Nevertheless, in a surprise ingly reticent, X turnaround the meeting found any plans for clearing the ...camps if people do not volunher exchanging a few words and shaking hands with Pope tarily decamp.

A city spokesperson could Francis, thanks to a translator not be reached for comment nun who stood at the pope’s on whether force would be side. used to clear the encampment.

In September, 2018, Sister The city has issued an evicColl was awarded the Pro Ectwice before to resiclesia et Pontifical, the highest tion orderPage x continued on page 4 dents at the Parkway camp, which was established in midX June, in part as a Black Lives ...

Matter-inspired protest for affordable housing. The first order, issued July 10, was postMcCarthy, Ph.D., Executive poned to allow for the mayor Director of Fairmount Park to try negotiating with camp Conservancy. “We hope this exciting new gateway offers a organizers directly. The secplace for both reflection and inspiration from the athletes continued on page 2 who paved a path for future generations.”

FINE ART In collaboration with local Every year agency Little Giant Creative Sunshine Art(LGC), the Conservancy installed a series of informative ist Magazine asks thoupanels on a pergola structure sands of artto celebrate the Boxers’ Trail, Philadelphia Parks and Recists to select reation Department’s boxing the best art... programs across the city, and Page 6 Philadelphia’s rich boxing hisPOLITICS ....................................3 tory.

FUNDRAISER...............................5 “On behalf of the Frazier family, we want to thank you NOTES ON MUSIC .........................7

September 9, 2020

City Safari: Philadelphia Angel of the Dawn heals victims of human

By Thom Nickels generally nuns wear traditiontrafficking Contributing Editor al habits while ‘Sisters” tend

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Sister Kathleen Coll, SSJ

ister Kathleen Coll, SSJ, has been in religious life for several decades. She has been an inner-city teaching sister in Baltimore and Philadelphia and has worked as the Social Justice Coordinator for the Sisters of Saint Joseph. Her social justice work was the springboard for her work against human sexual trafficking.

During a recent phone interview with Sister Coll, I asked her if there was any part of the social justice world that felt out of alignment with her primary vocation as a Catholic nun. (The word ‘nun’ here may be a misnomer because

to lean towards secular clothing or heavily modified habits.

Sister Coll belongs to the latter category).

“The issues that I worked on came out of official Catholic Social teachings,” Sister Coll said. “I didn’t feel that it was radical work. It felt like this was who I am. It was work I did on certain issues and that I tried to update our sisters on, like the death penalty, human rights and then human trafficking when that began to surface.”

As a board member of the US Catholic Sisters Against Human Trafficking and a member of Talitha Kum, an international group of nuns

Boxers’ Trail Gateway honors legendary Philadelphia boxers New Signage Tells Neighborhood Stories

By Haywood Brewster Staff Reporter

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airmount Park Conservancy and the Strawberry Mansion community gathered last Wednesday in East Fairmount Park to dedicate a modern monument to local boxing greats. The Boxers’ Trail Gateway at Dauphin and Greenland Drives, an underutilized structure, has been revitalized and improved to honor Philadelphia’s legendFrazier, Jr., son of Joe Frazier, helps dedicatennew gateway. Photos courtesy of Fairmount ary boxers, including favorite Joe Park Conservancy. son Smokin’ Joe Frazier.

“We’re honored to be able to Trail in Fairmount Park with Strawberry Mansion and boxshare the story of the Boxers’ the help of our friends in the ing communities,” said Maura

continued on page 8

CLASSIFIEDS .............................11

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neither he nor his Philadelphia Housing Action continued from page 1 colleagues were given advanced notice of the ond, issued Aug. 17, was city’s eviction order. postponed in response to “We’re pretty sura petition for injunction prised at what [the city] ďŹ led in federal court by announced [last] Moncamp residents. A U.S. day, because we were in district judge denied that negotiations with them,â€? injunction petition on Johnson said. “We were Aug. 25, clearing the way in the middle of coordifor Wednesday’s evicnating a meeting with tion.

[City Council members Johnson said that Brooks and Gauthier].�

Councilmembers Kendra Brooks and Jamie Gauthier had been mediating talks between city oďŹƒcials and Philadelphia Housing Action leaders for two weeks when the city posted its latest eviction notice.

The freshmen councilmembers told The Philadelphia Free Press after the Aug. 25 court ruling that they were still hopeful a “peaceful resoChicken • Turkey • Beef Goat • Lamb Chops • Rabbit lutionâ€? could be reached.

Honey Turkey Ham They even expressed Ribs (Beef & Pork) some positivity after the Bacon (Turkey, Beef, Pork) latest eviction notice was Sausage (Turkey, Beef, Pork) Fresh posted, saying that they Steaks • Eggs would “continue to work towards a comprehensive agreement.â€?

Despite the current potential for hostility, the We accept EBT/Credit Cards city has tried to accomcontinued on page 10

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SEPTEMBER 09, 2020 • PHILLYFREEPRESS.COM • UCREVIEW.COM • 3

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218 South 45th Philadelphia, PA Street, 19104 Philadelphia, PA 19104 Tel (215) 222-2846 Tel (215)222-2846 Fax (215) 222-2378 Fax (215)222-2378 Email

World Honey Bee Day – Another Reminder that 40 % of Insect Species monitoring alone. are conducted every day, Now Threatened With Extinction Since 2010, there has many are missing two

By Kathleen Rogers and Dr. Anne Bowser

at the local or global scale.

And without our help, professional researchorld Honey ers can’t speak strongly Bee Day came enough to advocate for and went, but the policies we need to it wasn’t a celebration: reverse current trends. over 40% of insect speOne obvious solution to cies are threatened with both challenges is citizen extinction. Thanks to sci- science, which brings the ence, we know exactly public into the research why: habitat loss, polluprocess. Through crowdtion from pesticides, inva- sourcing, citizen science sive species, and climate leads to more data, inchange all play a sigcluding from places that nificant role. But because professional researchers professional scientists cannot always access. Citonly have so much time, izen science also provides they cannot always collect an opportunity for the all of the data needed to people who contribute to understand where difresearch to advocate to ferent species are or how drive direct change, letpopulations are changing ting their voice be heard

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through direct actions that can solve global problems.

Estimates of the number of people who engage in citizen science vary wildly but conservatively tens of millions of students and adults do some form of citizen science every year. Citizen science happens in schools, in informal education settings like museums, through corporate social responsibility expeditions, and in people’s backyards. So, too, the economic value of citizen science projects is uncertain, with some estimates calculating the value in the billions of dollars for biodiversity

been a significant rise in the number of peer reviewed publications that mention citizen science. But the impact of citizen science reaches far beyond the production of data. It is a powerful form of experiential learning for everyone, children and adults alike. It also supports an enhanced scientific literacy among different public community members. Engaging people in citizen science and making research data open also democratizes science, which can increase belief and trust in science.

But while thousands of citizen science projects

key elements: first, providing access to comprehensive open source data, and second, providing pathways for participants to engage their governments through civic action. Without these two elements, citizen science misses an important opportunity to advance scientific research and limits the potential to deepen the public’s engagement at the intersection of science and public policy.

A new citizen science project, Earth Challenge 2020—led by Earth Day Network, the Wilson Center, and the U.S. Department of State—takes continued on page 9

Eligible Unemployed Workers Will Start Receiving Extra $300 Weekly Benefit As Early As Monday, September 14

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arrisburg, PA – Department of Labor & Industry (L&I) Secretary Jerry Oleksiak today reminded unemployment compensation claimants who apply and qualify for the federal Lost Wages Assistance (LWA) program that they will begin receiving the extra $300 weekly benefit as early as September 14, 2020.

L&I announced on Friday that Pennsylvania finished implementing the LWA program several weeks ahead of schedule.

Under federal guidelines for the LWA program, only individuals who are fully or partially unemployed due to COVID-19 disruptions may apply for this benefit.

To qualify for the extra $300, the LWA program also requires that eligible individuals must have a benefit rate and dependence allowance totaling

$100 or more per week in benefits, and must receive a benefit payment for each week from one of the following qualifying programs: • Regular Unemployment Compensation (UC); • Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC); • Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA); • Pennsylvania Extended Benefits (EB); • Shared Work or ShortTime Compensation (STC); and • Trade Readjustment Allowances (TRA).

Individuals receiving benefits from these programs, with the exception of PUA and Shared Work, will need to apply for LWA by certifying one time only that their unemployment is due to COVID-19. PUA claimants do not have to apply

because they previously certified they were unemployed due to COVID-19 and will receive payments automatically.

Employers in a SharedWork program must provide the required certification on behalf of all participating employees.

Claimants who need to complete the certification process should visit www.uc.pa.gov/ certand log in using their PIN as if they are filing a biweekly claim. Select the “Complete LWA Certification” button and fill out the certification.

Again, this certification only needs to be done once.

LWA payments will be made in one lump sum for the previous claim weeks below: • August 1, 2020; • August 8, 2020; • August 15, 2020; • August 22, 2020; and

• August 29, 2020.

Individuals who may qualify for LWA but have not yet received payment for an approved week from a qualifying program should still apply as soon as possible.

At the time benefits are paid from a qualifying program to an individual for any of the approved dates, the LWA payment will follow one week later if the individual has already completed the LWA certification.

The temporary LWA program runs through December or until the federal funding is depleted. Pennsylvania will make public announcements when the final payment date is known.

For updates on the LWA program, visit www.uc.pa.gov or follow L&I on Facebook or Twitter.

CITY

editor@pressreview.net Email newsdesk@pressreview.net editor@pressreview.net graphics@pressreview.net graphics@pressreview.net Editor & Publisher Editor Publisher Robert& Christian Robert Christian Associate Publisher Assistant Editor Claudia Christian Jack Firneno Bookkeeping Associate Publisher Alexandra Christian Claudia Christian Graphic Designers Bookkeeping Kelly Kusumoto Tina Davis Kasia Gadek Graphic Designers Contributing Writers Kasia Gadek Bob Behr Kelly Kusumoto Haywood Brewster Marc Holmes III Contributing Writers Richard Lord Dea Mallin Nicole Contosta Thom Bob Nickels Behr David HaywoodTraub Brewster Napoleon F. Kingcade Columnists Nathan Lerner JohnMallin Lane Dea Henry Lazarus Thom Nickels Tim Legnani Contributing Editor Paulina Malek Thom Nickels Columnists Correspondent Jennifer Jones Nicole JohnContosta Lane Nathaniel Lee Henry Lazarus KamSales Williams Claudia Christian Sales Claudia Social Christian Media Tim Legnani Kelly Kusumoto Social Media Kelly Kusumoto

Mary Allegra Tribute The University City Arts League will be dedicating the “Mary Allegra Studio” and unveiling a plaque with her photo and 25 of the plays she adapted and directed at the Arts League from 1985 to 1992.

Zoom presentation

Saturday September 12 , 2 - 3:30 P.M. There will be a video, speakers, and an opportunity for people to share memories.

Please spread the word!

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Frank Allegra, (215) 519 9350, utestpreps@comcast.net

4 • PHILLYFREEPRESS.COM • UCREVIEW.COM • SEPTEMBER 09, 2020

ANGEL

the Philadelphia-based Dawn’s Place, founded continued from page 1 in 2006. Dawn’s Place is a year-long therapeutic honor a pope can bestow program offering housing, trauma-informed on an individual. That recovery services and award ceremony took vocational training to place in the Cathedral normalize the lives of Basilica of SS Peter and Paul with then Archbish- women survivors of commercial sexual exop Chaput presiding. ploitation or sex traffickSister Coll was honored by Pope Francis for ing.

Sister Coll’s work her role as mastermind with Dawn’s Place takes behind the founding of

place under the radar, so it’s unlikely you’ll find photos of her on the job in the pages of CatholicPhilly,com. Not only is her work not highly publicized but the physical location of Dawn’s Place is not advertised.

The reason for that secrecy, Sister Coll explained, has to do with the fact that the women coming out of that life are the victims of trauma.

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“Human trafficking Great Rates has been around a long time. There has been awareness raised around it at the end of the 1900s.

At least that’s when I became aware of it,” Sister Coll said.

Sister Coll has no opinion about the existence of 5500 Sansom Street (at 55th Street) underground tunnels but she did say that human trafficking is a global epidemic.

Caring for the victims of human sexual trafficking is something that seems to come naturally for her, although she admits that when she was the Justice Coordinator for the Sisters of Saint Joseph she tended to think of sex trafficking as hapTo cover local stories and community pening only in foreign meetings in Center City and University City. countries, or the bringing Please send resume & cover letter to Bob of women from foreign countries to the United Christian, Editor at editor@pressreview.net States, or Americans going over to foreign and

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third world countries and using women.

The umbrella term, human trafficking, has expanded in recent years to include labor trafficking, child organ trafficking and child bride trafficking. Allyss Flores in ‘Trafficking Awareness,’ states that organ trafficking is underreported but no less widespread.

Flores writes that sometimes an organ trafficker will kidnap someone by physical force or coercion and before the victim realizes what’s happening, “they wake up in a bathtub with poorly done stitches on their side. They find out later that they are short a kidney.”

Sister Coll’s work at Dawn’s Place is with women 18 years old and older who have survived commercial sex exploitation or sex trafficking.

Survival, in this case, almost always means bearing the brunt of psychological scars and then being able to go forward in life in spite of them.

“The majority of the women we have here were sexually abused as children by family members or friends of the family,” Sister Coll said.

“They were afraid to tell an adult about it or the adult told them to keep quiet, or in some way the adult worked continuously to put them down.

These children then pushed the trauma back down inside them.”

The buried hurt and pain had the effect of causing many of these children to leave home as soon as they were able, Sister Coll explained. “So they’re out on the street and it’s not long before they are picked up by a pimp who begins as a fatherly or romantic figure who then brings them to the arena of trafficking,” The psychological problems that plague these women are deep, especially when compounded with drug and alcohol addictions, which is more often the case than not.

“Many of the women are addicted to drugs and alcohol and they are working against that.

And just as addicts, as they say, ‘fall off the wagon,’ we do have women who go back to the life. We don’t have locks on the door from the inside so they can always leave.”

The women who do leave the program early often leave because of their addiction. “In most cases the trafficker has provided drugs for them so the women know where they can find them,” Sister Coll said.

Dawn’s Place does not do addiction counseling but women who need help in this area are sent to another facility.

The women involved in sex trafficking come from many different neighborhoods and social backgrounds. They may hail from Bryn Mawr, Chestnut Hill, Kensington or Bridesburg, so there’s no specific geographical profile.

“We have a number of women from the suburbs, and over the years we have had about 20 foreign born or international women here. Right now we have one woman who has been in the US for a long time but the rest are US citizens.

Dawn’s Place currently has six women enrolled in the program and one woman in the after program.”

The programs at Dawn’s Place encourage women to accept independence. As both a shelter and a full time therapeutic program, Dawn’s Place also offers an after program where there is a continuation of trauma therapy.“Trauma doesn’t go away in a year, so we offer it if they want it,” Sister Coll said.

Sister Coll finds it unbelievable that so many women will accept a lifestyle that casts them as a pawn for sex traffickers.

She mentions poverty and joblessness as two inducements to this form of bondage although she says that each case is different, and that the women in the United States who consent to this way of life do so for reasons that are slightly different than women from third world countries.

“Human sexual trafficking is going on right under our noses and we don’t even recognize it,” she said, adding that it is impossible to estimate how many women might be involved in this lifestyle.

“These women have had their human rights taken away from them, and this life is being forced on them.”

When she spoke to Pope Francis in 2018

she told the pope about Dawn’s Place and then asked for his prayers.

The papal award in 2018 heralded many other public speaking opportunities for the human trafficking activist, although Sister Coll said that she was always making the speaking rounds extolling the good works of Dawn’s Place.

“All the women I’ve met so far have been very grateful for Dawn’s Place, even if they left us.

Even women in prison tell other women in prison that Dawn’s Place was the only place where they felt that they were loved.”

How do women trapped in the sex trafficking underworld find out about Dawn’s Place?

Sister Coll told me that Dawn’s Place staff members sometimes go over to Kensington Avenue, a well known sexual marketplace, and contact the women working under the Frankford Market El. “We have two full time staff members who are graduates of our program. Both of them came to use from Kensington Avenue by way of the jails.” Sister Coll said that even women who have dropped out of the program retain good memories of it and pass on the good word to the inmates in women’s prisons.

I could not help asking Sister Coll about the sex worker rights movement spreading in different cities, where open demonstrations calling for the decriminalization of prostitution, like Center City’s infamous Slut March, where participant sex workers and their supporters announce how proud they are to be able to sell their bodies for sex while making it known that they do not see themselves as victims at all.

Sister Coll’s attitude regarding the proud sex workers was non-judgmental but nevertheless pointed.

“People believe that everyone who has been a victim and survived commercial sex exploitation has wanted it, has wanted to be a victim.

Sex workers would fight against any laws against trafficking or sex work so in that way they are working against us.”

continued on page 6

SEPTEMBER 09, 2020 • PHILLYFREEPRESS.COM • UCREVIEW.COM • 5

Use your next road trip to become a more civic-minded family

By Quint Studer

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abor Day has just past, and so has that long-awaited road trip, for many families. If you’re wondering how to keep the kids occupied during the next long drive you plan (besides video games and bickering!), here’s a thought: Why not listen to a podcast from one of America’s thought leaders on building stronger communities? (Editor’s Note: you don’t have to wait for a car trip!)

Sound a little farfetched? It isn’t. Learning what goes into creating great cities and towns is fascinating for people of all ages.

There’s a movement right now toward localism and creating thriving places where people want to be. Creating a great community is a job best done by citizens— and civic-mindedness starts early. Why not take advantage of having the whole family together in one place, and make your road trip a fun, educational experience?

Another point to consider: School has been a bit, well, disrupted in 2020. Many parents are worried about what their kids might be losing, education-wise.

It won’t hurt them to learn about, say, the link between human connection and happiness…or why walkable cities beat car-centric ones…or how to build an urban forest.

(See? Fascinating!)

All this is why I created the Civic-Minded Family Series. It’s a spinoff of CivicCon (short for “Civic Conversations”), Pensacola, Florida’s speaker series designed to improve the civic IQ of citizens. CivicCon brings in some of the nation’s top thinkers and experts to educate people on issues they need to know in order to lay the groundwork for change inside the community.

Here are a few lectures you and your kids might enjoy listening to or even watching (well… not the driver) on an upcoming road trip: Andrew Davis Leveraging What’s

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by Connecting People Having spent roughly a decade doing research and urban experiments for his book Happy City: Transforming Our Lives Through Urban Design, award-winning author and urbanist Charles Montgomery says simple human connection is the key to making people—and cities—happier. Learn how government officials, developers, and urban planners can create environments that boost citizens’ social connection, community engagement, health, and general well-being. www.thehappycity.com Chuck Marohn What Makes America’s Strongest Towns Stand Out? Chuck Marohn is the founder and president of Strong Towns, host of the Strong Towns Podcast, and the author of several books, including Strong Towns: A BottomUp Revolution to Rebuild American Prosperity. He will change the way you think about growth and development and talk about the ways we can make the lowest-cost,

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highest-returning investments in our community. www.strongtowns.org James Fallows What Successful Communities Are Doing Right James Fallows served as former President Jimmy Carter’s chief speech writer and is an awardwinning author and a decades-long correspondent for The Atlantic. He spent years traveling the country in a singleengine prop plane. He says even though many Americans are worried about the direction of the country, local communities are getting things done: finding money to innovate their schools, investing in businesses and policies to revitalize their downtowns, and building better places for people of all different experiences and backgrounds. www.ourtownsbook. com Jeff Speck How to Create a Walkable City Jeff Speck is a city planner, urban designer, creator of the Governors’ Institute on Community Design, and former director of design at the National Endowment for the Arts. He advocates internationally for more walkable cities and argues that cities function best as a collection of small neighborhoods, each with their own places to live, work, shop, worship, and go to school. www.jeffspeck.com Peter Kageyama Does Your City Grab You by the Heart?

Peter Kageyama is the author of For the Love of Cities: The Love Affair Between People and Their Places and Love Where You Live: Creating Emocontinued on page 8

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6 • PHILLYFREEPRESS.COM • UCREVIEW.COM • SEPTEMBER 09, 2020

ANGEL continued from page 4

Dawn’s Place, as a physical facility, opened in 2009 when a religious congregation no longer in existence donated their house to the program.

“It took two years and we had no money but after two years we opened and our first group of women numbered about five. One was from Central America who was brought to us from ICE.” Sister Coll, who lives in a convent with four

others sisters and where her days are spent in work, prayer and meditation, adds that Dawn’s Place is not supported by the government and depends entirely on donations.

“I’m always saying to folks, we do not get government funding. We exist on donations, appeals and foundations.

We struggle financially, but it’s an important struggle.”

(Contributions to Dawn’s Place may be made through (www. ahomefordawn.org.)

The Rittenhouse Square Fine Art Show named #1 Best Fine Art Show in America

E

very year Sunshine Artist Magazine asks thousands of artists to select the best art festivals in the country.

The Rittenhouse Square Fine Arts Association is proud to announce that the June Rittenhouse Square Fine Arts Show (RSFAS) was voted the #1 top show among art shows all across the United States.

“We’re extremely honored to be selected #1. Our artists and our loyal art patrons inspire us to do our very best to share the transformative power of original, quality artwork. It’s deeply gratifying to be recognized in this way,” says Sandra Sedmak Engel, professional artist and Rittenhouse Square Fine Arts Association Board of Directors Chair. The board of directors, which is entirely comprised

of participating artists, runs the show with the help of volunteers in the community.

This year, due to COVID-19, the show will be virtual, with 101 artists from all over the U.S. and Canada showing their original artwork online, September 10-13. Artwork will be available for purchase throughout the weekend on the RSFAS online gallery at www. rittenhousesquareart. com. Special artists’ appearances, such as art technique demonstrations, artist interviews, interactive art sessions, and video conferencing with individual artists

by Zoom will occur virtually throughout

The Rittenhouse Square Fine Art Show was proclaimed the #1 best fine art show in the country by Sunshine Artist magazine.

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the event. Art patrons will experience the live events throughout the show, Sept. 10-13, by visiting the RSFAS website – www.rittenhousesquareart.com, Facebook –@rittenhouseart – and Instagram @ rittenhousesquareart.

The September Rittenhouse Square Fine Arts Show was also honored with the ranking of #4 among thousands of art shows. The complete list of the top 200 shows can be viewed in the September 2020 issue of Sunshine Artist Magazine.

For more information, please contact Steve Oliver, RSFAA Executive Director 610-299-1343; info@rittenhousesquareart.com

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SEPTEMBER 09, 2020 • PHILLYFREEPRESS.COM • UCREVIEW.COM • 7

gether in Creativity. “Romeo and Juliette” is the subject on Sept. 11, 18, 25 via Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. 215-496-9722 or info@phillyshakespeare.org  The Philadelphia Chamber Orchestra’s new series Musical Jewel Box kicks off its season on September 13 at 4 p.m., presenting young violinist Bella Hristova in a performance of Mozart concertos plus conversations on the group’s YouTube channel. Ms. Hristova is in partnership with Young Concert Artists Inc.  The 24th Annual Phila.

Fringe Festival runs this year from Sept. 10 to Oct. 4 with more than 125 performances of featuring storytelling, films, visual art, circus-like acrobatic stunts and more, most of it online. Opening night at 7 p.m. will be a ticketed live premiere by choreographer/director/ writer David Gordon in his first new screen work in some 20 years, a virtual performance of 30+ Phila. artists working remotely.

Streaming free as of Sept. 11. A full Festival brochure is available online at fringearts.com or 215-413-1318.  Girls in Tech’s annual conference is set for Sept. 9 at 1 p.m., a non-profit dedicated to achieving gender equality in the tech world. Poppy Northcroft, a former engineer for NASA’s Apollo Program is among the speakers. girlsintech.org/ conference.  BalletX continues its series of pre-recorded and live performances that also offer classes for all ages and all degrees of skill. lectures, chats with choreographers and members of the BalletX company. Especially appealing and convenient

interviews with survivors, emergency medical workers and victims’ families.

9/11memorial.org/learn/ resources/oral-histories.  Something rare and wonderful comes our way on September 13 at 8 p.m., MCC Theater’s annual benefit gala “Miscast” normally not viewable on line, with Broadway stars of all persuasions performing show hits which they would never have been hired to do, such as Raul Esparza and Lin-Manuel Miranda singing the Anita/Maria duet “A Boy Like That” from “West Side Story,” Katrina Lenz in “If I Were a Rich Man” from “Fiddler on the Roof” and such other stars as Jonathan Groff, Jennifer Holliday, local boy Leslie Odom, Jr. Heather Headley and many more in this live-streamed, star-studded free stunner. youtube.com/mcctheater.  And as always we end our recommendations with the Met Opera’s free nightly streaming of full-length sumptuous operatic DVD’s with the world greatest opera stars in amazing productions, 7:30 p.m. each evening and avail-

able until 6:30 p.m. the following day: Sept. 9, Berlioz’s “The Damnation of Faust” with Curtis’s John Relyea; Sept. 10, Massenet’s “Cendrillon” starring AVA alumna Joyce DiDonato; Sept. 11, Bizet’s “The Pearl Fishers” with Diana Damrau, www.penncampushairsalon.com

O

pera superstar mezzo soprano Joyce DiDonato, a graduate of the Academy of Vocal Arts, chats with soprano superstar Christine Goerke on Sept. 9 at 2 p.m., a conversation between divas about opera and the changes the pandemic has brought to it, and what lies ahead and how we are all connected to each other by music. Information at 212-870-7492.

This Zoom event will also provide a preview of Ms. DiDonato’s Sept. 12 concert of “alluring and acrobatic arias” with piano and chamber ensemble, live from a castle on the Rhine, a part of the Met Opera’s new ticketed concert programs. 1:30 p.m. metopera.org.  Live opera is only a short hop away and Amici Opera Co. is the producer in their 22nd season. Verdi’s beloved “Aida” will be performed by young operatic voices with piano accompaniment and in costume, sung in Italian, Sept. 13 at 3 p.m., Sept. 19 at 4 p.m. Redeemer UMC, 1128 Cottman Ave. 215224-0257. Social distancing is guaranteed, hand sanitizer will be available, bring your own mask !  Philadelphia Shakespeare Theatre has many months of treats in store with each month being devoted to a different Shakespearean play, featuring founder/Artistic Director Carmen Khan chatting and wielding her decades of experience in pushing this lively company to the fore among local classical troupes and also delving into the transformative powers of the Bard’s portfolio.

Scenes from past productions will be offered in programs of virtual education with the motto: To-

is their Sunday morning highlights reel of Dance@Home. balletx. org.  Also, on September 9, at 8 p.m., a chance to revel in country music with singer Margo Price performing live from Nashville with hits from her third studio album, “That’s How Rumors Get Started”. Ticketed. fans. com.  The Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History’ Virtual Science Cafe has experts on hand to show what asteroids and fossil records can teach us. September 10 at 5 p.m., naturalhistory.si.edu/events.  On September 11, a date never to be forgotten in our nation’s history, two programs of note: at 7:55 a.m., a streaming performance of “Table of Silence Project 9/11” by the Buglisi Dance Theater and Lincoln Center with non-profit Dance/NYC. Choreography by Jacqulyn Buglisi. lincolncenter. org/lincoln-center-athome.  Also, on September 11, available all day long, viewers can browse the 9/11’s Museums Oral Histories, a collection of documents and recorded

Matthew Polenzani and Mariusz Kwiecien; Sept.

12, Berlioz’s “Les Troyens” starring AVA’s Bryan Hymel; Sept. 13. Massenet’s “Werther” with Lisette Oropesa and Jonas Kaufmann. metopera. org. 

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BOXERS

careers of Bennie Briscoe, Joe Frazier, Bernard continued from page 1 Hopkins, and Matthew Saad Muhammad and for this honor and recog- provide a map of the nition,” said Joe Frazier, Boxers’ Trail. Other panels include tips on funJr. “I truly believe it is damental boxing moves never too late to do the demonstrated by amaright thing and as usual teur boxers from Athletic God is right on time.

Our father never made it Rec’s boxing gym as well about himself and the ac- as the creed of Joe Fraknowledgement of these zier’s gym.

With support from Art other illustrious Philadelphia boxers is also the Place America, the Conservancy and LGC colright thing to do.” laborated with the StrawThe original gateway berry Mansion comat Dauphin and Greenland drives was installed munity, the local boxing community, and family in 2008. Now, the newand- improved gateway members of the boxers to features custom lettering creatively tell the story of the Boxers’ Trail. reading, “Boxers’ Trail” “Little Giant Creative’s and a “shadow boxer” work is driven by a desilhouette. The panels sire to represent cities highlight the boxing

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with the nuance they deserve. Philadelphia is steeped in stories, many of which are still waiting to be told,” said Meegan Denenberg, co-founder of Little Giant Creative.

“We’re proud to lend our creative lens to tell this particular story with Fairmount Conservancy — to mount an interactive, compelling tribute to one of the world’s greatest fighters and the city’s wider integral boxing legacy.”

The Boxers’ Trail is a 3.8-mile trail with wooded and paved paths that winds through East Fairmount Park, creating unique views overlooking the Schuylkill River and providing access points to Fairmount Park for neighboring communities.

Deeply tied to Philadelphia’s boxing culture, the Boxers’ Trail is a place that many Philadelphia boxers, including Smokin’ Joe Frazier, have used as part of their training regimes. Legend has it that when Muhammad Ali wanted to challenge Joe Frazier, he came to the Boxers’ Trail because he knew that’s where he would find

Frazier.

The dedication of the Boxers’ Trail Gateway comes three weeks before the annual Boxers’ Trail 5K Walk and Run hosted

by Philadelphia Parks & Recreation with the support of Philly Races.

This year the annual race is going virtual. Participants are encouraged to run or walk the trail from September 19-26, 2020.

Registration is $20 and proceeds support youth programs at Mander Playground in the Straw-

berry Mansion neighborhood. Residents of Strawberry Mansion can connect with Philadelphia Parks & Recreation at PPRstewardship@ phila.gov for discount information. Learn more at boxerstrail5k.com.

PA FORWARD

signer if they do not meet minimum credit requirements. A creditworthy co-signer may also increase an applicant’s chances for approval and could result in a lower interest rate.

PHEAA is the lender and servicer for the program, with a line of credit provided by the PA Treasury and tax-exempt allocation from DCED, making PA Forward Pennsylvania’s student loan program.

As with all of PHEAA’s business activities, the money earned through the program supports the Agency’s public service mission. This includes nearly $1 billion that has been allocated to fund student aid programs and services for Pennsylvania residents over the last 10 years – helping to fund grant awards for more than 825,000 students with financial need.

To help students make more informed choices about their higher education funding plan and prevent unnecessary or excessive borrowing, PHEAA offers MySmartBorrowing.org. This free resource helps users understand how different career, school, and financial decisions made during the college-planning process can influence the total cost of their education and their ability to repay any student loans after graduation.

To learn more about PA Forward loans and submit an application, please visit PHEAA.org/ PA-Forward.

For more information on finding financial aid

to help fund postsecondary education, including tips, deadlines, and free financial aid workshops, visit PHEAA on Facebook at www.facebook. com/pheaa.aid or visit PHEAA.org. You can also view helpful financial aid planning videos at youtube.com/PHEAAStudentAid. About PHEAA Created in 1963 by the Pennsylvania General Assembly, the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) has evolved into one of the nation’s leading student aid organizations. Today PHEAA is a national provider of student financial services, serving millions of students and thousands of schools through its loan guaranty, loan servicing, financial aid processing, outreach, and other student aid programs.

PHEAA’s earnings are used to support its public service mission and to pay its operating costs, including administration of the PA State Grant and other state-funded student aid programs. As the only major federal loan servicer with a nonprofit public service mission, PHEAA devotes its energy and resources to help ease the financial burden of higher education for its primary stakeholders – Pennsylvania students and families.

PHEAA conducts its student loan servicing operations nationally as FedLoan Servicing and American Education Services (AES). PHEAA operates its digital technology division as Avereo.

and in fact, inspired a local Chalk Art Festival continued from page 5 in downtown Pensacola tionally Engaging Places. less than three months later.

The senior fellow with the Alliance for Innova- www.fortheloveofcities. com tion inspires the audiLysistrata “Lyssa” ence with his passionate Hall stories of how grassroots Great Cities Have Great community change has Urban Trees made life better and Lysistrata “Lyssa” Hall happier for people in is the founder of Cloud cities across the counHall Creative Solutions try. His examples are in Phoenix, Arizona, and simple and achievable,

she has worked with many communities on tree ordinances and tree plans. She was instrumental as a planner and arborist in the green infrastructure around the light rail corridor in Phoenix. Here, she shares the importance of urban forests and strategies for growing them.

The best part of listening to these lectures is

continued from page 2

payment under new terms and conditions.

More than 2,800 borrowers took advantage of the PA Forward Student Loan Program and its benefits during the program’s first year, borrowing more than $40 million.

Program benefits include no application or origination fees, no prepayment penalties, multiple flexible repayment options, a .50% interest rate reduction as a graduation benefit for undergraduate and graduate loans, a .25% interest rate reduction upon enrollment in Direct Debit, and a biweekly payment option to promote positive repayment habits.

Earlier this year, existing PA Forward Student Loan Undergraduate, Graduate, and Parent Loan customers also received a permanent .98% interest rate reduction.

This means PA Forward Undergraduate and Graduate Loan borrowers were able to reduce their existing interest rate by 1.73% when combined with the program’s graduation and direct debit benefits, and PA Forward Parent Loan borrowers were able to reduce their interest rate in total by 1.23%, when combined with the program’s direct debit benefits.

While the PA Forward Student Loan Program does not require a co-signer if you have reached the age of majority in your state, applicants may benefit from a creditworthy co-

ROAD TRIP

continued on page 9

SEPTEMBER 09, 2020 • PHILLYFREEPRESS.COM • UCREVIEW.COM • 9

ROAD TRIP continued from page 8

the discussions you and your kids will have afterward.

It’s a lot of fun to apply what you’ve learned to the cities and towns you pass through on your trip. People tell me that after listening to a couple of these lectures, their kids really enjoy pointing out big parking lots that could be put to better use, or commenting on how walkable a downtown is with all the shade trees.

Kids really do love to learn. Even younger ones grasp more than you think they will. And it’s great to know they’re learning something that will benefit us all in the future.

About the Author: Quint Studer is the author of Building a Vibrant Community: How Citizen-Powered Change Is Reshaping America and founder of Pensacola’s Studer Community Institute. For more information, visit www. vibrantcommunityblueprint.com and www. studeri.org.

NOTES ON MUSIC singing the Anita/Maria

duet “A Boy Like That” continued from page 7 from “West Side Story,” Katrina Lenz in “If I Were a Rich Man” from On September 11, a “Fiddler on the Roof” date never to be forgotten in our nation’s histo- and such other stars as ry, two programs of note: Jonathan Groff, Jennifer Holliday, local boy Leslie at 7:55 a.m., a streaming Odom, Jr. Heather Headperformance of “Table ley and many more in this of Silence Project 9/11” by the Buglisi Dance The- live-streamed, star-studded free stunner. youater and Lincoln Center tube.com/mcctheater.  with non-profit Dance/ And as always we end NYC. Choreography by Jacqulyn Buglisi. lincoln- our recommendations center.org/lincoln-center- with the Met Opera’s free nightly streaming at-home.  Also, on September 11, of full-length sumptuous operatic DVD’s available all day long, with the world greatest viewers can browse the opera stars in amazing 9/11’s Museums Oral productions, 7:30 p.m.

Histories, a collection of documents and recorded each evening and availinterviews with survivors, able until 6:30 p.m. the emergency medical work- following day: Sept. 9, ers and victims’ families. Berlioz’s “The Damnation of Faust” with Cur9/11memorial.org/learn/ resources/oral-histories. tis’s John Relyea; Sept. 10, Massenet’s “Cendrillon”  starring AVA alumna Something rare and Joyce DiDonato; Sept. 11, wonderful comes our Bizet’s “The Pearl Fishway on September 13 at ers” with Diana Dam8 p.m., MCC Theater’s annual benefit gala “Mis- rau, Matthew Polenzani cast” normally not view- and Mariusz Kwiecien; able on line, with Broad- Sept. 12, Berlioz’s “Les Troyens” starring AVA’s way stars of all persuaBryan Hymel; Sept. 13. sions performing show Massenet’s “Werther” hits which they would never have been hired to with Lisette Oropesa and do, such as Raul Esparza Jonas Kaufmann. metopand Lin-Manuel Miranda era.org. 

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OP-ED

continued from page 3

a step forward to address both of those issues. First, while some citizen science data is open source, it is not easily accessible to everyone in one place.

One solution is creating the Citizen Science Cloud, a one-stop-shop for citizen science data collected from a wide range of projects. Professional researchers can take advantage of open APIs, while everyday people can use data visualization and mapping tools to see what’s happening in their own communities.

Second, the Earth Challenge mobile app (available in the Apple and Google Play stores) directly links science to action, an opportunity to use technology and data to drive change that is unique in the citizen science world. Once a user contributes data, whether taking a photo of a bee or classifying photos of plastic in the environment, they can take country-specific civic engagement actions, such as signing petitions, that are focused on impacting

current policy decisionmaking processed at their national level. To address bee declines, for example, participants can petition their governments to ban certain pesticides, address agricultural practices that are decimating bee populations, or create habitats for bees and other pollinators. Guiding citizen scientists down the pathway of civic action builds a deeper relationship between critically important data and its natural outgrowth, strong science-based policy.

Citizen science projects, if created with solid hypotheses and engaging technologies, can aid professional scientists who are interested in acquiring more data and support global monitoring against targets like the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Engaging the public broadly in citizen science can also lead to stronger knowledge and deeper trust in science. Adding a civic action component to citizen science initiatives will build a broader, more diverse, and more active global community of ordinary people who will take action to save their

communities and the planet. Well-constructed citizen science, supported by open data and civic action, is a powerful force for the change our planet needs.

Kathleen Rogers is President of Earth Day Network. The first Earth Day on April 22, 1970, activated 20 million Americans from all walks of life and is widely credited with launching the modern environmental movement.

EDN, the world’s largest recruiter to the environmental movement, now works year-round with tens of thousands of partners in 192 countries.

Dr. Anne Bowser is the Director of Innovation at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, a quasi-government think tank. and the official memorial to President Woodrow Wilson. Her research explores how new advances in science and technology can lead to positive social and environmental outcomes.

Outside the Wilson Center, Anne has formal advisory roles with the National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence and the United Nation’s Environment Programme.

W W W . W I S D U M B P O D C A S T . C O M MUSIC | TECHNOLOGY | PARENTHOOD | CULTURE | TRAVEL | GAMING | BUSINESS | LIFESTYLE | LOS ANGELES | NEW YORK | PHILADELPHIA | SAN ANTONIO | MEN’S HEALTH | PHOTOGRAPHY | VIDEOGRAPHY | LITERATURE | KNOWLEDGE

Two long-time friends and musicians talk about music, life, society, technology and so much more in this podcast aimed at trying to understand why we get dumber as we get wiser.

L I S T E N

O N :

10 • PHILLYFREEPRESS.COM • UCREVIEW.COM • SEPTEMBER 09, 2020

HOMELESS

they would use these transfers to “work with continued from page 2 members of Philadelphia Housing Action” modate the demands of to create a community encampment organizers. land trust, a corporaAlready, the city has tion which ensures trust promised to launch a properties remain affordnew Rapid Rehousing able for people with low Program and establish a incomes.

“Tiny Homes Village,” Johnson said that this a campus of miniature, planned transfer would but habitable houses not ensure the creation for people experiencing of a community land homelessness. trust that would be effecThe Philadelphia tive in providing camp Housing Authority, a residents immediate and state agency not fully permanent affordable under the control of city housing. government, likewise A source involved in responded to activists’ the negotiations said that demands. It announced a the disposition process moratorium on market- through which the city value sales of PHA prop- and PHA must transfer erties that would last as properties is too restricmany as nine months tive to allow for them to and pledged to conduct be immediately convertan independent study of ed into the permanent PHA sales practices in affordable housing that that time. And like cities activists are demanding. and agencies across the Addressing the city’s country, the PHA said it commitments to Philawould reform its police delphia Housing Acforce. tion generally, Johnson The city also reported said they could help that 111 people from some unhoused people, the camps have entered especially those with into shelters, residential disabilities. But overall, treatment sites, or the Johnson said that the city’s COVID Prevention city’s promises failed to Spaces, for at least some remove the structural period of time. obstacles to housing that A critical issue still keep Philadelphians in keeping Philadelphia homelessness.

Housing Action and the “We’re talking about city from an agreement people who are not disis a promised transfer abled, that go to work of vacant city and PHA every day, but might properties to affordable have some kind of barhousing nonprofits. The rier [to housing] like a city and housing author- criminal record or a preity have said they would vious eviction record,” put as many as 300 of Johnson said. “There are these vacant properno choices for them in ties up for transfer via the housing market.” a “Community Choice He also pointed to the Registration Program.” need to prevent further Officials specified that rent hikes, especially in

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gentrifying neighborhoods.

According to a 2016 Federal Reserve study, Philadelphia lost 23,628 affordable housing units available at a rental rate below $750 per month between 2000 and 2014, with affordable housing loss being particularly drastic in neighborhoods undergoing gentrification. And in 2016, more than half of Philadelphia renters were considered cost burdened, meaning

they pay more than 30% of their income on housing.

Johnson added that many of the city’s promises require people to subscribe to different programs that he said can degrade a person’s sense of independence.

“All these benefits that they’ve given, those are good for certain people, but there are a lot of people that just don’t want to be in an institution,” Johnson said. “There’s

something about just having autonomy and having belief in yourself and knowing that you can actually create something.”

“That’s what the most important part of this protest.”

Johnson said this need for both housing and freedom is closely tied to the calls for racial and social justice that have rung out across the country this summer. He said if the city does not work

to help to address these inequities, it will only pave the way to more hurt and unrest.

“From everything that has happened, from all the protests, from all the rioting, I think that, at the end of this, nothing has been learned, absolutely nothing has been learned about what actually needs to be done,” Johnson said. “The only thing that you’re going to get is more violence.”

REVERIE

evening belonged to Jahzeer Terrell, whose Lysander was convincing and engaging. Not only did Terrell handle Shakespeare’s poetry extremely well, but his facial gestures added emotional heft, something important in a Zoom presentation. Lysander’s beloved, Hermia, was nicely handled

by Lorenza Bernasconi, though her performance was not quite as compelling as Terrell’s. (This owes something, no doubt, to the fact that Lysander is simply more dynamic in the text.)

Fred Andersen was compelling in the small role of Hermia’s father, who sets off the main action by harshly forbidding these two young lovers to be together.

Linc Millard’s Demetrius was not as assured or engaging as Terrell’s Lysander, but still commendable. The strength of Julienne Marié’s Helena was already noted above.

Kirsten Quinn took on the double roles of Hippolyta, queen of the Amazons, and fairy queen Titania, while Ellie Borzilleri doubled as Duke Theseus and Oberon, king of the fairies.

(This doubling of royal roles is a frequently employed strategy in productions of the Dream.)

Quinn’s Titania was admirable, as was Borzilleri’s Oberon. The two were able to capture convincingly the feel of a relationship gone deeply sour and in need of resuscitation. Indeed, in this rendition, we had the sense that Titania’s and Oberon’s squabble over possession of the Indian boy is a serious matter worthy of a royal clash.

Quinn and Borzilleri were not as strong in the guise of the mortal rul-

ers, but still carried off the assignment suitably.

(To be honest, Theseus and Hippolyta are arguably the two dullest characters in this play, and it’s a challenge for any actors to make much of them.)

Rudy Caporaso served up a supremely campy Puck. Flouncing about, often punctuating a line with the swing of a cocktail in his hand, this Puck was a brash figure who commanded the scene whenever he appeared. An interesting take on the character, but I don’t think I’ll be adding this performance to my list of favorite Pucks.

Neill Hartley handled most of Bottom’s lines with a smidgeon of gravitas. But does gravitas – even just a smidgeon - mix well with the frenzied elements essential to this character? What Hartley gave us was a rather subdued Bottom. Paired with Ruth Fischer’s unexpectedly patient Petra Quince, the parry-and-thrust of ham actor and fraught director was decidedly downbeat, which drained most of the humor from the wonderful scene where Quince assigns roles for a performance at the royal wedding.

The other “rude mechanicals” were, however, rendered nicely by Alexia Correa as Snout, Giacomo Fizzano as Flute, David B. Thomas as Starling, and Susan Moses as Snug. This team (with a more fitting Bottom from Neill Hartley) made the chaotic performance of the amateur players at the nuptials’ celebration much more successful than the assignment-ofroles scene.

Solid support also came from those serving in Titania’s fairy court, with Roxy Geers as

Peaseblossom, Juliana Luber as Moth, Shannon Cleary as Mustardseed, and Danielle Coates as Cobweb.

Ellie Borzilleri actually had a triple role in this production, music director being the third. Unfortunately, some of the show’s musical decisions were questionable. For instance, when Titania starts to nod off before Puck drizzles the love drops in her eyes, the queen’s entourage sings “Mr. Sandman”, a 1950s favorite. This worked nicely at the beginning, but it had served its purpose by the second stanza. It continued on until the end of the song – 24 bars too long.

An even more distracting musical decision was to conclude the evening with the cast joining together for a rendition of “I Only Want To Be With You” (Dusty Springfield’s first hit record). This came AFTER Puck’s perfect closing speech. Leaving aside the question of whether the song’s lyrics are actually in harmony with Shakespeare’s tale, we can ask why they would want to undermine the finality of Puck’s speech with such a number. The REV troupe would have been better advised to heed Duke Theseus’ plea to the ‘rude mechanical” players: “No epilogue, I pray you, for your play needs no excuse.”

Still, it takes more than pandemic distancing measures, irksome technical problems, and inappropriate musical intrusions to rob A Midsummer Night’s Dream of its enchantment. REV Theatre’s Dream was a welcome presentation that relieved the theatrical drought of these days. A big salute to them for that.

continued from page 9

stages) and screen. The most recent one was this past weekend, when the REV Theatre Company, a Philly-based troupe took it on. Fighting against the limitations imposed by pandemic precautions, as well as nonbiological challenges, the REV (under the direction of Rosey Hay) still managed to capture much of the magic of this delightful play.

The gremlins were clearly afoot that evening. (Or was it maybe … the aggrieved spirits of cemetery residents who had failed all their tests on Shakespeare back in high school?)

Whatever the cause (and the more prosaicminded may blame it on faulty Wifi ), the production was beset with a good many technical issues. Before the first lines could be uttered, some of the cast had to be steered indoors because the connections were so poor. And those who managed to stay in the open air at times fell victim to technical disruptions. Julienne Marié, whose Helena was one of the evening’s standouts, suffered unduly from these glitches.

The screen sometimes froze during Marié’s speeches, while at other times, her lines simply faded out. These dropouts even happened during an important moment when Helena was berating the other three young lovers for what she believes was their mocking of her.

Despite such problems, this production managed a fairly enjoyable Dream. The cast was solid, with no seriously weak links. The best performance of the

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