🔑 SEPTA INSTITUTIONAL PASSES
Recently, SEPTA announced Key Advantage, their institutional pass program. Drexel University, Penn Medicine, and Wawa are their first participants for the 6 month trial. The passes will be active May 1st. 5th Square co-chair Jon Geeting and our partners at Transit Forward Philadelphia were instrumental in getting the program up and running.
“Institutional pass programs are an important way the Philadelphia region can get more residents back to riding transit, and this is going to be a critical piece of [our] economic recovery as we emerge from COVID-19.” The Inquirer article talks about it in more detail.
🖤 SUPPORTING THE SOSNA TRIANGLES
In honor of local Vision Zero advocate Tanya Seaman, a fundraiser has started to add new artwork to the SOSNA Triangles. These were previously hazardous spots along Grays Ferry Avenue that have been transformed into small public spaces enjoyed by all residents.
We have posthumously published her safer Washington Avenue op-ed on our website. If you want to support her work, donate to the GoFundMe put together with help by 5th Square member Dan McGlone.
🎥 VIDEO: "HOW TO KILL A STROAD"
5th Square volunteer Alex Davis made a mini-documentary on Washington Avenue covering its history and a great overview of what happened. Check it out on YouTube!
We still need your help come election season. Your insights and financial contributions will help hone candidates to advocate for a more sustainable, walkable, and bicycle-friendly Philadelphia!
Become a 5th Square member TODAY
5TH SQUARE IN THE NEWS:
SEPTA TESTIMONY - CONCOURSE CLOSURES
ALEJANDRO A. ALVAREZ / Staff Photographer
2022 WARD ELECTIONS
SURVEYS & EMAIL ACTIONS
SEPTA is redesigning their main website, septa.org, and would like your thoughts about the kind of information you would like from the website and/or transit related apps. Click here for the survey.
Clean Air Council has a campaign to increase funding for sidewalks in the city. If you've encountered some sketchy sidewalks while strolling around your neighborhood, this is a good chance for you to encourage the Streets Department to repair the sidewalks.
WHAT WE'RE READING
🏙️ HOUSING & LAND USE
Axios / Philadelphia region sees "unprecedented" drop in housing inventory
Planetizen / 2021 U.S. Population Growth Slows to Unprecedented Rate
Philadelphia Inquirer / MacKenzie Scott gave $5M to Habitat for Humanity Philadelphia as part of a $436M gift for affordable housing
WHYY / Why GOP state legislators are getting behind Dems’ housing repair proposal
Philadelphia Neighborhoods / Chinatown: City Planning Commission and Residents Discuss Future of Roundhouse Site
🌳 PUBLIC SPACE
Billy Penn / Officials swear they have plans to fix Philly's big illegal dumping problem, but say they need more funding
The Chestnut Hill Local / Limited hours for Hill's pickleball courts as a potential lawsuit looms
CBS Philly / Letter Sent To Kenney Administration Urges Philadelphia Officials To Reconsider Expensive New Rules Over Streeteries
WHYY / Philly’s Black Doctors Consortium receives $3 million in federal funding
EVENTS
Spread the Word USA Book Tour: Black Champions In Cycling
Wed, Mar 30, 2022, 6:00 PM
The Tricycle Cafe & Bicycle Shop
1 Station Avenue
Conshohocken, PA 19428
Desire Discrimination Determination – Black Champions in Cycling is set to make a groundbreaking contribution of knowledge so desperately needed in international cycle racing. Taking on issues regarding access, diversity, inclusion, representation and anti-racism in policy and practice. This book will provide much needed insight and become a seminal reference point for cycling organisations, journalists, commentators, thought leaders and policymakers. Tickets are $20, register online.
Radical Adventure Riders (RAR) Philadelphia: Gear Swap
Saturday, April 2nd from 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
FDR Park Picnic Areas 1-6 (https://goo.gl/maps/n5CyWcRTpoDvjJ2BA)
RAR Philadelphia is a group for femme, trans, women and non-binary cyclists. You can bring used or unwanted (but still usable) gear or bike/camping/backpacking-related clothing to swap, trade, or donate. Anything left over at the end will be donated to the brand new RAR Philadelphia Gear Library for RAR community members to borrow in the future. This is not a yard sale and no monetary transactions are permitted.
This space is intended for folks of marginalized genders only. This is an outdoor event and masks are not required if you are fully vaccinated, but please have a mask handy in case of crowding.
Grays Ferry and Washington Ave Bike Lane Cleanup!
Saturday, April 2nd, 12:00 PM – 6:00 PM EDT
Start at the Fresh Grocer parking lot (3021 Grays Ferry Ave)
Philly Cyclist Clean-up Crew will clean up the bike lanes in South Philly as part of Philadelphia Spring Cleanup. They're starting from grays ferry bridge as far down Washington ave as they can. The city provides shovels brooms bags and gloves. You don't have to be there the whole time.
North Philly: Libraries are Essential Storytime Rally
Wednesday, April 6, 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM EDT
Cecil B. Moore Library Courtyard (2320 Cecil B Moore Ave)
Thu, April 21, 2022, 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM EDT
The Philly Tree Plan is an urban forestry strategic plan that centers the perspectives of Philadelphia residents to bring the benefits of trees to communities that need them the most, in the ways that support them the best. The design team worked in partnership with the City to reach over 8,000 residents using a variety of engagement tools. Leaders of Hinge Collective will share their process for developing strategies that focus on personal narratives at a city-wide scale and how these narratives shape strategic planning. Free. Registration is required.
GRANTS, FELLOWSHIPS, CFPs
The Community Champions Awards & Grants Challenge is an initiative by the City of Philadelphia Office of Community Empowerment and Opportunity to celebrate individuals and community-based organizations that have served communities of color and those with low incomes during the COVID-19 pandemic. Those selected will receive one-time grants or cash assistance. If selected as a finalist, organizations will advance to online public voting. The 10 organizations with the most votes will receive a $20,000 grant. Ten runner-ups will receive $12,500. Entries can be submitted through an online application portal, beginning Monday, March 21. The deadline for entries is Monday, April 11.
The Housing Alliance of Pennsylvania is putting out a call for session proposals for the annual conference Dec 7-9 in Hershey, PA. If you or your organization have a topic you'd like to share in the biggest housing-related conference in PA, submit a proposal! If you have any questions, please reply to this email. Due April 15th.
Zero Waste Microgrant: City funding is available to help you reduce waste at your organization. Any business, nonprofit, or organization based in Philadelphia County can apply for a grant up to $1000 and personalized Waste Coaching. Deadline to apply is April 15, 2022.
The Transportation Undergraduate Research Fellowship (TURF) program is a unique eight-week (June 20 to August 12, 2022) summer fellowship for undergraduates to get experience in transportation research at Portland State University in Portland, Oregon. Students must be currently enrolled in a civil engineering, urban studies and planning, or transportation-related undergraduate degree program at any college or university. Preference will be given to applicants who have a strong interest in transportation and graduate education. Applications are due by April 14th, 2022 at 8:00pm Pacific.
Parks & Rec is now accepting applications for PlayStreets supervisors! This volunteer-led summer meal program is a great way to bring healthy food and safe recreation to children on your block. To apply to be a PlayStreet, call (215) 685-2719 or (215) 685-2720 or email [email protected].
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
Feet First Philly / Steering Committee Member
JOB OPPORTUNITIES
5th Square is Philadelphia's urbanist political action committee.
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