Unity in the community: Chinatown edition

The 2015 Mid-Autumn Festival offered a grand time for Greater Philadelphia as an array of Asian-American cultural expressions flooded the streets of Chinatown with music, art, dance and an abundance of love. It is not only an opportunity to share and celebrate heritage, but also a chance for younger residents to rise and practice their organizational and leadership skills.

The 2015 Moon Festival on which the event is based comes on Sept. 27, but the local celebration came a little earlier, given the historic World Meeting of Families and the papal visit in Philadelphia.

PCHR Commissioner Wei Chen, who also serves as a youth organizer for Asian Americans United, was one of the lead organizers. He promised a great event, and he and his team members certainly delivered.

PCHR Commissioner Wei Chen and Deputy Director Pamela Gwaltney take a moment to celebrate during the 2015 Mid-Autumn Festival in Chinatown.

Glimpsing a diverse world via German eyes

As one of the oldest municipal civil rights agencies in the United States, PCHR often is a magnet for international visitors who also are in public service. Last Friday, a delegation from Germany joined a long list of scholars that have popped by the offices to get a better sense of how this agency works in balancing protection of the rights of all in such a diverse society.

The German visitors – whose positions range from university settings to halls of government – spent a couple of hours exchanging insights with PCHR staff and commissioners last Friday. It was a diverse assembly, indeed.

Turkish-born Muhterem Aras, one of the first elected officials in Germany of an immigrant background, is the first Muslim woman in the state parliament of Baden-Wurttemberg. Homaira Mansury, an Afghani immigrant, is a city council member in Wurzburg and an official in the German Social Democratic Party. Serkan Salman, born to Turkish parents, is a law enforcement official and dispute resolution expert from Berlin who also lectures on intercultural competency at the Berlin Academy of Public Administration. Sebastian Johna is a project manager and trainer at the renowned Goethe Institut, where educators and others from abroad study the German language, culture and heritage.

Having toured Washington, D.C., the visitors soaked up insights and experiences in Philadelphia before heading to New York.

“It’s always exhilarating to hear from people who are engaged in this same kind of work elsewhere, especially as they seek to learn from us and give us greater perspective on what is happening on the ground in their own countries, in ways that are far deeper than what we typically read or see in the news,” said PCHR Executive Director Rue Landau. “It was a great way to cap the week.”

Gaining a global perspective (back row, l-r) PCHR Commissioner Alfredo Calderon, Deputy Director Pamela Gwaltney, Homaira Mansury of Wurzburg, Germany, Deputy Director Randy Duque, Commissioners Rebecca T. Alpert, Wei Chen, Regina Austin and Marshall E. Freeman and Sebastian Johna of the Goethe Institut.
(front row, l-r) PCHR Executive Director Rue Landau, Muhterem Aras, German Green Party member of the Baden-Wurttemberg Parliament, and Serkan Salman, detective chief superintendent for the Office of Intercultural Issues, State Criminal Investigations Office in Berlin.

ADA 25 in Philly

PCHR joined hundreds from across the city and region on Saturday to commemorate a special independence day — marking the 25th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

From a resource fair in the courtyard at City Hall to an expansive disability pride march through Center City to stirring speeches, those gathered came to both celebrate achievement and outline the challenges that remain. PCHR aids in protecting the rights of those with disabilities through the city’s Fair Practices Ordinance, helping to prevent discrimination in housing, property, employment and public accommodations.

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Among the organizers of the day’s festivities was PCHR Chair Thomas H. Earle, who also heads Liberty Resources Inc., a leader in disability rights and advocacy work in Pennsylvania.

Securing Our Future: Young people speak on leading change in community-police relations

On Wednesday, some 200 young people and those who advocate for them converged at the Pennsylvania Convention Center to discuss the real and perceived problems they see in community-police relations. The initiative — Securing Our Future: Re-imagining Philadelphia’s Community-Police Relations — came together through the work of PCHR, the Philadelphia Police Advisory Commission, My Brother’s Keeper Philadelphia and the Mayor’s Office on Immigrant and Multicultural Affairs.

In a half-day of moderated discussions and brainstorming, the participants — largely aged 16 to 24 — gathered in groups and exchanged experiences and ideas for improvement. Their thoughts were captured and compiled for a report to be presented to members of the Nutter Administration and the Philadelphia Police Department.

As conversation on reforming police policies in wake of local and national controversies continue, these young people are aiming to make their feelings and voices known. An elected set of ambassadors will continue the dialogue at a formal City Hall presentation and group discussion with representatives of the Philadelphia Police Department.

Updates can be found with the hashtag #SecureOurFuture. All photos courtesy of Bill Z. Foster Photography.

PCHR Executive Director Rue Landau offers greetings to the hundreds assembled at the Pennsylvania Convention Center.

PCHR Deputy Director Randy Duque helped set the tone for the afternoon.

More than 200 young Philadelphians and their advocates hashed out their experiences and ideas in candid conversations on improving community-police relations.

PCHR Commissioner Wei Chen (r.) listens to an intense dialogue.

PCHR Commissioner Saadiq Jabbar Garner makes a key point during a table discussion.

Students and staff from the Jubilee School join U.S. Attorney Robert Reed, City Council Majority Leader Curtis Jones Jr., Police Advisory Commission Executive Director Kelvyn Anderson and Deputy Police Commissioner Kevin J. Bethel for a popcorn break.

Brandon Brown, member of the Mayor’s Commission on African American Males, moderates a table discussion.

Ricardo Calderon of Aspira helps to moderate a discussion.

One attendee captures his reflections on paper.

Securing Our Future organizers (l-r) My Brother’s Keeper Philadelphia Christine Piven, Mayor’s Office on Immigrant and Multicultural Affairs Executive Director Jennifer Rodriguez, Philadelphia Police Advisory Commission Executive Director Kelvyn Anderson and PCHR’s Deputy Director Randy Duque and Executive Director Rue Landau.

PCHR expands by two — officially

All sworn in! Wei Chen and Shalimar Thomas officially join the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations today after taking the oath of office from the Hon. Ida K. Chen.

Wei Chen and Shalimar Thomas take the oath of office from the Hon. Ida K. Chen as Commissioner Marshall Freeman looks on.

The Hon. Ida K. Chen adds her signature to certify the newest commissioners.

PCHR announces new members

PHILADELPHIA, February 9, 2015 – Today the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations expanded its ranks by two, adding an area businesswoman and a civil rights and youth advocate.

The swearing in of Shalimar Thomas and Wei Chen on Friday will round out the commission’s complement, bringing it to a full nine members. The Hon. Ida K. Chen will administer the oath of office.

 

Wei Chen

Shalimar Thomas

Thomas, founder of a boutique public relations firm, leads the African-American Chamber of Commerce of PA, NJ and DE as its executive director. Her chief responsibilities lie in education about and advocacy on behalf of expanded development and opportunities for black-owned businesses in the region. Thomas is engaged in a number of charitable activities related to the advancement of families and entrepreneurs, including the board of New Media Technology Charter School and the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Inc. – Pennsylvania chapter.

Wei Chen rose to prominence as a South Philadelphia High School student turned activist after racial strife between African-American and immigrant Asian students boiled into bullying and violence. His voice helped elevated the cause of an unheard and long suffering student population. The recipient of a Peace First Prize fellowship, he serves as a youth organizers for Asian Americans United and on the board of Victim/Witness Services of South Philadelphia.

“We are excited to bring these commissioners aboard, to add their perspective into the mix as we explore ways to widen our reach and deepen our footprint,” said Rue Landau, PCHR executive director. “The mayor has appointed two dedicated people who speak to and deliver viewpoints from valued constituencies whose input will help refine the work we do.”

This spring, PCHR will launch an initiative examining the socioeconomic impact of cyclical change in a Philadelphia that is redeveloping rapidly. In April, the agency will host the 2015 PCHR Awards, spotlighting individuals and organizations positively impacting civil rights, human relations and quality of life in Philadelphia.

PCHR is the agency charged with diffusing inter-group conflict within the city and ensuring fair dealings in employment, housing, public accommodations and real estate, as outlined in the city’s Fair Practices Ordinance, Philadelphia’s guiding civil rights legislation.

Learn more by calling (215) 686-4670 or visiting www.phila.gov/humanrelations.

 

PCHR celebrates America, Philadelphia’s civil rights history

PCHR and the Farmer family joined Mayor Michael A. Nutter and dozens of dignitaries to celebrate and kick off the latest exhibit at the Philadelphia International Airport as part of the 2014 Wawa Welcome America! festivities.

Civil Rights in Philadelphia: 50th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 opened on July 2, the day President Lyndon B. Johnson signed this life-changing legislation.

PCHR Commissioners Saadiq Garner, Alfredo Calderon and Chairman Thomas Earle, with PCHR Executive Director Rue Landau, Mayor Michael A. Nutter and members of Clarence Farmer Sr.’s family, including great-grandson Christopher Woodard Jr., granddaughter Helen Farmer , niece, the Hon. Carolyn Nichols, Christopher Woodard Sr., granddaughter Dr. Nicole Farmer Woodard, great-granddaughter Morgan Woodard, and Commissioner Marshall E. Freeman. Photo courtesy of Jim McWilliams Photography.

The exhibit pays homage to Philadelphia’s extensive and historic role in the struggle for civil and human rights, as well as highlights its continued legacy. From pushing for the rights of people of color and women to ensuring dignity and fair treatment for LGBT people, Philadelphia has been on the forefront since the nation’s founding,

PCHR Commissioner Marshall Freeman, PCHR Executive Director Rue Landau, Philadelphia Gay News publisher and legendary LGBT advocate Mark Segal, PCHR Chair Thomas Earle and Commissioners Alfredo Calderon and Saadiq Garner celebrate the city’s LGBT history at the latest Philadelphia Airport photo exhibit, Civil Rights in Philadelphia: 50th Anniversary of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Members of the late Clarence Farmer Sr.’s family – niece, the Hon. Carolyn Nichols, granddaughter, Dr. Nicole Farmer Woodard, holding great-granddaughter, Morgan, and granddaughter, Helen Farmer, pose by his photo, one of those featured in Civil Rights in Philadelphia: 50th Anniversary of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 at the Philadelphia International Airport.

That story is documented in a series of archival and contemporary photographs in Terminal A in the airport. One of the featured shots is of iconic former PCHR Chair Clarence Farmer Sr., who died earlier this year.

His niece, the Hon. Carolyn H. Nichols, granddaughters, Dr. Nicole Farmer Woodard and Helen Farmer, and great-grandchildren, Chris Woodard Jr. and Morgan, helped commemorate his contributions to the continued effort of making Philadelphia a city welcome for all.

PCHR Commissioner Marshall Freeman, PCHR Executive Director Rue Landau, youth organizer Wei Chen, PCHR Chair Thomas Earle and Commissioners Alfredo Calderon and Saadiq Garner celebrate the city’s role in securing and maintaining rights for all. Chen was a student leader when Asian-American students protested bullying and brutality at the hands of their classmates at South Philadelphia High School in 2009.

Others recognized for their contributions to advancing the work of civil and human rights include Mark Segal, longtime LGBT activist and publisher of the decorated Philadelphia Gay News; Wei Chen, a youth organizer who was instrumental in the South Philadelphia High School student response to bullying of Asian students; and Sister Mary Scullion and Joan Dawson McConnon, founders of Project HOME.

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