Upcoming Events

For planning purposes, mark your calendar for these upcoming press events:

  • February 7 | 7 – 9 p.m. | “Celebrating Kensington” Exhibit —  The Mural Arts Philadelphia Porch Light Program, in partnership with poet Ursala Rucker, will be hosting an evening of art and music to unveil a new exhibit celebrating the Kensington community. The exhibit features photographs by Steven Taylor and artwork by Anthony Carlos Moldben. Contact Caitlin Chase for additional information.
  • February 11, 18, and 25 | 6 p.m. | Black Generational Wealth Series — In honor of Black History Month, the Mayor’s Office of Black Male Engagement is hosting “The Black Generational Wealth Series.” The four-part financial empowerment series will take place weekly throughout the month of February. Contact Lauren Cox for additional information.
  • February 11 | 12 p.m. | Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia’s Mayoral Luncheon —  Mayor Kenney will address members of the business community and discuss important issues impacting the City of Philadelphia as well as his top priorities for 2020. Contact Kevin Lessard for additional information.
  • February 22 | 10 a.m. | #PHLYouthTalks BHM Edition: From Selma to Philadelphia — The Philadelphia Youth Commission hosts its first #PHLYouthTalks of 2020. #PHLYouthTalks were created as a safe space for young people to discuss the most pressing issues of their generation. In honor of Black History Month, the Commission will facilitate a discussion around the impact of students and youth during the Civil Rights Era and help their peers create an action plan for engagement, civic participation, and volunteerism this year. Contact Lauren Cox for additional information.
  • February 22 | 1 p.m. | Black History Month Cultural Fair at Lucien E. Blackwell West Philadelphia Regional Library — In collaboration with the African American Museum of Philadelphia, the second annual Black History Month Cultural Fair will host representatives from Afrocentric cultural institutions around the city who will share information and answer questions about their respective organizations. Contact Kaitlyn Foti for more information.
  • February 26 | PAL Day at City Hall — 2020 marks the 50th anniversary of PAL Day at City Hall. Each year, City leaders are assigned a PAL student for the day and serve as their mentors. Contact Randy Giancaterino for additional information.
  • February 28 | 6 p.m. | Spotlight Series Screening — Throughout February, the Mayor’s Office of Black Male Engagement will share clips from their Spotlight Series 2020: Transformers, a video series aimed at elevating the voices of Black Men in Philadelphia. They will host a special screening of the full series at the African American Museum of Philadelphia to close out Black History Month. Contact Lauren Cox for additional information.

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  • Parks & Rec sites named after notable African Americans — For Black History Month, Philadelphia Parks & Recreation created an interactive map where you can learn more about the numerous PPR sites throughout the city that are named after African Americans. Reach out to Alain Joinville for additional details or to schedule a site visit.
  • Preparation for the 2020 Unity Cup is underway — Information sessions for the 2020 Unity Cup begin on February 23. The Philadelphia International Unity Cup, which started in 2016, is a World Cup-style tournament held over several months. It aims to unite the city’s neighborhoods and celebrates our diverse immigrant communities through soccer. Contact Alain Joinville to learn more.
  • Getaway at the Greenhouse takes over the Fairmount Park Horticulture Center — This February, the Fairmount Park Horticulture Center will be transformed for the first time ever for “Getaway at the Greenhouse,” a pop-up indoor summer oasis. The Greenhouse will be open February 2-10, offering free summer-inspired fun, such as live music, family-friendly activities, food and drink, and more. Contact Alain Joinville for additional details.
  • Bethel Burying Ground exhibit now open in City Hall — Bethel Burying Ground: A Tribute to A Sacred Place is an exhibition in the Art Gallery at City Hall, Room 116. It honors and recognizes the historic significance of the deceased buried at Bethel Burying Ground and the early 19th century free Black community they represented. With contributions from historians and original works by 49 artists from the Philadelphia region, the Office of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy’s gallery has been transformed into a space of reflection. Over 100 church fans created by artists pay tribute to specific individuals, including many children, buried at the site between 1810 and 1864. The exhibition, open through March 13, strives to avenge their memory by showing that their history matters. Contact Carrie Leibrand to learn more.
  • Get Creative PHL info session — Join the Office of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy for a Get Creative PHL Information Session at the Mayfair Theater on Monday, February 27 from 6 to 7 p.m. This session will cover the Arts in Action Grant program area and its initiatives that support cultural programming in Philadelphia’s neighborhood spaces. Learn about current artist opportunities available for visual artists, performers, cultural organizations, and how to apply. Contact Carrie Leibrand for additional details.
  • City launches naming contest for its solar farm — When built, the project will provide 22 percent of the City’s electricity needs. It will power municipal buildings like City Hall, police stations, and recreation centers. But now, this project needs a name! Contact Kelly Cofrancisco to learn more.
  • Philadelphia Water Department 2020 Customer Feedback Survey — The University of Pennsylvania has partnered with the Philadelphia Water Department (PWD) to find out what Philadelphians think about PWD and the services it provides. Topics include the taste of tap water, quality of customer service, billing, and more. Anyone 18 and over can take the survey. Contact Kelly Cofrancisco to learn more.
  • The International Accreditation Service (IAS) awarded re-accreditation to L&I — L&I was awarded for meeting or exceeding standards of quality for government building code agencies. Philadelphia is the largest city in the nation and the only municipality in Pennsylvania to have earned IAS Accreditation. The IAS conducted a thorough evaluation of L&I during a multi-day site visit this month that included interviews with L&I staff and leadership, contractors, engineers, architects, and other stakeholders; “ride-alongs” with inspectors; observation of permitting staff and supervisors at work; and review of L&I records, technology, policies, and procedures. The Department was first accredited in 2013. Reach out to Karen Guss for more information.

Need more story ideas? All City of Philadelphia news releases are archived on our website and check out our blogs. 

Philadelphia Beverage Tax Program Highlights

PHLpreK: As the City’s free, quality pre-K program prepares to expand again next school year, families of children who will be three or four years old on September 1, 2020 are encouraged to sign up now for enrollment updates. Enrollment for the 2020-2021 school year is expected to open officially in June.

Community Schools: Check out all the events coming up at Community Schools in February, including produce stands, adult education classes, fitness workshops, and more.

Rebuild: This month, Rebuild will enroll its second cohort of skilled trades apprentices. The program offers diverse Philadelphians new pathways to membership in a skilled trade union. This group of trainees will work toward apprenticeships in the bricklaying, carpentry, and roofing unions. Contract Maita.Soukup@phila.gov for candidate profiles and update stories from successful recruits.

Have suggestions for content you’d like to see in upcoming tip sheets? Contact deana.gamble@phila.gov with feedback!

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