Communities & Engagement Reporter @phillyinquirer | prev words @BostonReview @phillymag | he/him | [email protected] đ´ââ ď¸
Joined September 2012
- Tweets1.9K
- Following544
- Followers629
- Likes43.5K
Pinned Tweet
I asked a bunch of Philly teenagers about the public places where they like to hang out - they struggled to name them. We talked about that, plus some of the changes theyâd like to see. inquirer.com/news/teenagers-âŚ
Run clubs are really popular right now. I talked to some people in this one, which is meant for people who are in recovery:
inquirer.com/news/philadelphâŚ
3
267
Truancy is about so much more than students just not wanting to go to school. Weâve spent months talking to students, families and case managers across the city about the real reasons why it happens: inquirer.com/news/inq2/philaâŚ
Yesterday, Sabrina Iglesias and I talked with people living and working around Temple about last weekend's shooting of a Temple police officer. One woman told me she has no choice whether to feel safe or not.
"I have to. When I come out my house, I pray."
inquirer.com/news/temple-polâŚ
These schools have combined budgets of over $6 billion; they're hugely impactful on Philadelphia in positive and negative ways.
But, few students from the city end up going to school there. I talked to some people about why the enrollment number is so low, and why it matters:
Only 14% of the combined first year students from Penn, Temple, Drexel, La Salle and St. Josephâs are from Philadelphia.
@nate_file asks local high school counselors and nonprofit leaders to discuss why. trib.al/Yhl9RB0
I talked with some local faith leaders who are studying how reparations might work in Philly. Listening to them, it really struck me how reparations don't only have to come as huge government checks. That may be the ultimate goal, but people can do this themselves, too
Beginning Monday, more than 80 faith leaders and other congregants from Philadelphia will meet for a four-day course studying reparations for African Americans.
trib.al/j8bCve9
While we pray for good news about Damar Hamlin, his annual drive providing daycares with toys - even before he was drafted - is an inspiration. Here in Philly, I talked with the Eagles' Miles Sanders, Jason Kelce and others working to prevent gun violence.
inquirer.com/eagles/eagles-sâŚ
Over the last few years, Philly has been working on a plan to protect and support the city's urban agriculture - think community gardens, micro farms, bee keepers, and a lot more. The plan is near final, so I talked to some folks about what that means: inquirer.com/news/urban-agriâŚ
Really proud of this Game of Thrones style map we put together - it highlights some of the communities in Philly whose countries are playing in the World Cup. Will not be taking any questions about us jinxing Messi at this time! inquirer.com/soccer/inq2/worâŚ
And s/o to @MassarahMikati for some great reporting and @SamMorrisDesign and the design team for their work, direct any jinx-related grievances to them
1
Hungry dogs run faster!
Despite the rain, Phillies fans were psyched for Game 3.
They talked trash, made predictions, and shared favorite moments with reporter @nate_file ahead of the planned Halloween night #WorldSeries game.
Having a criminal record makes life difficult for so many people in Philly, but free record clearing clinics can help a lot. You can find details for future clinics @ThePromisePHL website! inquirer.com/news/clearing-câŚ
If you live in University City, at least 5 different security patrols watch you almost constantly - Penn and Drexel police, two Philly PD precincts and UC District security. I spoke with Black and Latinx community members about what that feels like: inquirer.com/news/unversity-âŚ
My first piece with the @PhillyInquirer is out! It's about what might be the single most dominant team in sports right now, and how soccer connects Philly's Liberian community inquirer.com/news/liberian-câŚ
This is my first week as a Communities & Engagement reporter at the @PhillyInquirer! Iâll be focused on connecting with and reporting on communities all across Philly, especially ones that have often been portrayed in just one particular light
Having these different conversations about Afrofuturism was really fun, and I'm especially glad we could pay a small tribute to the great Nichelle Nichols along the way.
In a special podcast, former Boston Review Black Voices in the Public Sphere fellow @nate_file talks with @TananariveDue, @RPhillipsBQF, and Celeste Winston about #Afrofuturism. bostonreview.net/articles/suâŚ
I learned so much from having this conversation about digital surveillance with @PaytonCroskey and @Kenia_Hale for @BostonReview. Thereâs no such thing as neutral technology
âWe want to resist the idea that healing has to only be on you, an individual living under the weight of capitalism.â â Kenia Hale of #IdaLab on how alternative digital technologies can be used to promote #BlackLiberation and community bostonreview.net/articles/hoâŚ
2
I went to Detroit and got to meet people doing such genuinely inspiring mutual aid work. If any place can transform our values and show us how to better take care of each other, itâs Detroit
âBlack Detroiters are well aware that we will not be savedâby suburban white folks, by the motor industry, or by the federal government.â
How #Detroitâs mutual aid groups like @DetroitFridge are working to meet the needs of their communities: bostonreview.net/articles/deâŚ
Itâs not surprising coming from the guy who addressed a source as âMr. Editorâ, but man, this framing is straight up insulting, gross and embarrassing
This is why Deshaun Watson, from the beginning, welcomed a police investigation: He felt he knew that the truth would come out. And today, a grand jury did not charge him on any of the criminal complaints.
1
I talked with @MarlonJames5 about his new book, âMoon Witch, Spider Kingâ, taking your mythologies for granted, and why everyone loves watching Succession:
Interviewed by BR fellow @nate_file, novelist @MarlonJames5 discusses his new book (@riverheadbooks), writing realistic Black characters, and why we donât have to let go of the world of make-believe to tell serious stories: bostonreview.net/articles/reâŚ
