YOUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS ARE NEEDED
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ast week, the editor and publisher of the University City Review and Philadelphia Free Press, Bob Christian, came down with a very bad case of the corona virus, and is currently in the Intensive Care Unit of Jefferson
Hospital. He is receiving excellent and compassionate care and is taking advantage of all the options of medicine and resources available to him to recover from the viral infection. As most of you know, this is such a difficult dis-
ease and each individual responds to it differently. Recovery is slow and painful. Our family has decided that, at this time, our focus has to be on Bob’s health during his recovery period. We will not be publishing for a while,
SERVING THE WEST PHILADELPHIA COMMUNITY
Bob Christian, Editor and Publisher
DECEMBER 02, 2020 but we, of course, are
www.ucreview.com
Black UPenn Students and Alumnae Release Collection of Narratives to Guide Black Undergraduate Women
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he second edition of Climbing Vines: A Collection of Short Stories, featuring 20 narratives from 19 black University of Pennsylvania alumnae and undergraduate women, is now available for purchase on Amazon. The book, which is available in eBook and print formats, details the experiences of the women during their time as undergraduates at the University, spanning class years from the 1990s to the 2010s. The book covers nine topics including: sisterhood, self-love, identity and belonging, importance of diversity in the classroom, mental health and well-
ness, and healing from sexual assault. It includes a foreword from writer, activist, and critic Dr. Salamishah Tillet, C’96. “During my time at Penn I often felt so alone taking on challenges that were very specific to my experience as a black young woman,” said Climbing Vines Founder and Executive Editor Janay Sylvester, C’12. “I found in conversations years later that there were so many synergies between the good and bad of my experiences and those of other black alumnae, across generations. That is why it became my mission to create a digestible archive of our experiences and
make it available for the next generation to light their path.” The book release comes at a time of reflection and fervent calls to action for Penn and many other predominantly white institutions to better the experience of black students and create a more inclusive environment. “Within creating this archive for black undergraduate women, we also wanted to make sure this book is shared with faculty, staff, and community members to provide them with additional insight into the challenges faced by this group. Our hope is that these insights
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Sincerely, Claudia Christian, Associate Publisher, and family ...
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across America can file for Medicare benefits and January 15th is the deadline for enrolling in the Affordable Care Act’s Open Enrollment period. “The pandemic has put us in an unforeseen health crisis. The bad thing is, during this time your benefits will determine what services you can receive, and from which hospitals or specialists you can go to” Roshanna Campbell, an independent broker with SVJ Insurance Advisors stated. “The good thing is you can control your options.” Residents can schedule a
consultation with experienced healthcare insurance agents either by phone or online between now through December 7th. The virtual delivery was modeled after WPCC’s successful PHL Emergency Business Insurance Support Program which created a similar virtual hotline to help small businesses with insurance claims after civil unrest. “In the middle of a pandemic, my role has shifted to not only supporting businesses but the residents our businesses serve” Jabari Jones, President of West Philadelphia Corridor Collaborative said. “By convening private
community challenges.” Residents can call at 1-866985-8572 for help or schedule an appointment at https:// register.insurewithsvj.com About The West Philadelphia Corridor Collaborative The West Philadelphia Corridor Collaborative is the largest business coalition in West Philly with participation from fourteen (14) business associations that represent twelve (12) commercial corridor shopping districts with over 2,000 small businesses represented. To learn more visit http://westphillycc.org
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The eBook & print versions of Climbing Vines: A Collection of Short Stories, 2nd ed. Photo by Climbing Vines/Janay Sylvester
The West Philadelphia Corridor Collaborative announces Virtual Healthcare Enrollment Program free virtual fifteen-minute sector partners, we can solve est Philadelphia’s largest business association today announced a major initiative to ensure that residents can have support in enrolling in Medicare and the Affordable Care Act safely during the pandemic. The West Philadelphia Corridor Collaborative (WPCC) will partner with SVJ Insurance Advisors to create a free virtual hotline to ensure residents have access to help in meeting crucial healthcare deadlines amid the pandemic. December 7th is the absolute latest deadline that seniors
hopeful that we can resume sometime early on in the new year. We want to express how grateful we are to our loyal readers over the years, as well as to our advertisers who make it possible for us to publish both digitally and in print. Your thoughts and prayers for Bob’s recovery are much appreciated.
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AVANT GARDE
More than a year ago on October 2, 2019, my article on AvantGarde Art... Page 3
POLITICS.....................................3 NOTES ON MUSIC..........................7 CRIME.......................................10 CLASSIFIEDS..............................11
