PHILADELPHIA — The City of Philadelphia’s Millennial Advisory Committee (MAC) is hosting today, Wednesday, September 2, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. a virtual town hall focused on police reform and issues championed by the Black Lives Matter movement and combating institutional and structural racism.
Since its founding in 2017, MAC has organized annual town halls to engage and activate Philadelphia’s millennials on issues of importance to this generation. During this watershed moment in the movement for racial justice, MAC is providing a virtual venue to connect youth with City and State policymakers working to advance a police reform agenda, and with Mayor Kenney and Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw, who will discuss addressing institutional racism and key components of the City’s Pathways to Reform, Transformation and Reconciliation initiative.
“This conversation cannot happen soon enough,” said Jeanette Bavwidinsi, Director of the Mayor’s Office of Youth Engagement. “Millennials in this city are determined to have Philadelphia be a national model for reform, justice, and real change.”
Today’s town hall will consist of two panels. On the first panel, Kevin Harden, Jr. Esq., will moderate a discussion with State Senator Sharif Street, State Representative Joanna McClinton, and Councilmembers Katherine Gilmore Richardson and Isaiah Thomas. The conversation will focus on the police reform agenda started in the aftermath of George Floyd’s death, the legislation already passed, and how voters can help advance police reform at the ballot box during the general election. The second panel will feature a discussion with Mayor Kenney and Commissioner Outlaw.
“We are at an inflection point in our nation and city’s history, a point that we have gotten to in large part due to the tireless advocacy of young, mostly BIPOC people, who have set the table for a reckoning on our history and the social structures that continue to oppress and marginalize people. As a convener, MAC is proud to amplify the voices and the work of our peers in the interest of effecting positive change and to create a space for us to learn and engage with one another. We hope you will join us for this important conversation,” said Nicole Allen White, MAC Chair.
Members of the public can register online here: bit/ly/MACTownhall. The event will also be livestreamed on facebook.com/PHLMillennial.
About the Philadelphia Millennial Advisory Committee: MAC serves as the voice of Philadelphia’s millennial population within City government. We convene millennials from around the city to share resources and information in order to spark civic engagement. We advocate on behalf of millennials on issues relevant to our generation. In everything we do we amplify and center those who have historically been—and continue to be—excluded or oppressed by our social and economic systems, including but not limited to BIPOC; immigrants; women; and LGBTQ+ and gender non-conforming Philadelphia millennials. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram at @PHLMillennial.