On Saturday around 30 people gathered at the intersection of School House Lane and Germantown Avenue to oppose institutionalized white supremacy and the presidency of Donald Trump. Holding signs in support of the Black Lives Matter movement and against fascism, protestors encouraged passing traffic to honk.

Germantown Friends School and Brandywine Peace Community, a social justice and anti war group, sponsored the protest.

Robert M. Smith, a member of Brandywine, said the protest had three messages. “We are here saying one, stop white supremacy, that we as white people have to own that, two, resist and refuse fascism. Lastly, we’re here to say [vote out] Donald Trump.”

Following the death of George Floyd, a global protest movement has formed with demonstrations against racial violence taking place daily.

The Germantown demonstration was one of several protests that took place across Philadelphia on Saturday.

Germantown resident Dietra Tucker did not realize the protest was taking place until she saw demonstrators, but she agreed with their message.

“The country is in a very dangerous place right now,” Tucker said. “I don’t agree at all with Trump, not because I’m black, just because his beliefs [are] blatantly racist.”

Pastor Bob Coombe, lead pastor of First United Methodist Church of Germantown, said he came to oppose racial injustice and examine his own “white privilege”.

“I came to support Black Lives Matter and advocate for the changes in the laws, [to make them fair], especially for Black and brown people,” Coombe said.

Germantown demonstrators protest white supremacy was originally published in Germantown Info Hub on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

When George Floyd’s name was added to the long list of un-armed African-Americans killed by police, images of his death and of protests against police violence, flooded social media.

We spoke with Licensed Professional Counselor Cassandra Bolding about mental health during stressful and unpredictable times.

Nichole Currie: For communities of color that experience both generational trauma and the daily trauma of racist violence, what are some ways to cope with what is going on?

Cassandra Bolding: A big part of it is the acknowledgment of it. As Black and Brown people, that’s one of the things that we have difficulty with. Did that really happen? Is that how it was meant? And so, for many people, it’s very challenging. They dismiss it, or they suppress it or minimize it themselves. In terms of coping, what happens is that many people cope in maladaptive ways. You see an increase in alcohol consumption or use of other substances, an increase of people binge eating, or using other means, like gambling or sex or shopping, to cope. Feel the feelings. [That’s] what I’ve been encouraging many people to do, because these are things that they’ve felt that they had to suppress, or felt that they didn’t have the right or the cause to feel.

NC: Some people who do not have lived experiences of racial discrimination and injustice in America are trying to grasp what is going on. People want to connect, but are not sure what to do. How can people extend support to friends and allies without overstepping?

CB: From personal experience, there have been people, colleagues, and such, that have reached out and have just extended their concern for me in terms of my mental-emotional well being. They asked if I needed anything as far as resources or support for some of the other things that I’m involved in.

NC: Information is flooding social media, news outlets, and conversation. While people want to be informed, it can be overwhelming and triggering. How can they balance being informed citizens and their mental health?

CB: Giving yourself a time frame. Say okay, I’m gonna sit and review this for 10 minutes or 15 minutes. Have parameters around what you’re taking in and how much of it you’re taking in. I can check in with myself to see, ‘hey, am I ready to review this email and access this information?’ Then, do something very intentional to take care of yourself. So it’s reviewing what’s happening with the protests or reading information that’s associated with it, and being able to say, ‘okay, well how am I going to take care of myself after.’

NC: Self-reflection is a topic for groups that are acknowledging their privilege, be it education, race, class, wealth, etc. What are healthy ways to reflect on privilege without disturbing mental health?

CB: It’s a matter of acknowledgement and not being critical. You know the roles that people who have that privilege have played to further oppress people. I think that’s the challenge for them, being able to navigate that. Being able to acknowledge where they have privilege and being able to acknowledge ways that they can make modifications to how they move about the world with that privilege.

I can speak as a black woman who is educated and who has her own business. There’s a certain level of privilege that goes with that, right? Being able to acknowledge that and understand there are certain experiences that people who don’t have the same level of privilege who are black, experience in the same way.

NC: How can you explain to youth what is going on?

Bolding: I’m sure as most parents do, I gave my [my kids] the information, you know. I gave them books and resources and directed them in terms of where to go to educate themselves and obtain information relevant to them being Black in America, and what [that means].

One of the hardest conversations I’ve had to have, hands down, was after the Trayvon Martin verdict with my daughter, her best friend, my son and his friend, because they watched and they watched with me. And, you know, they watched evidence, we discussed it, I gave him space to process what they were feeling; their anger, sadness, fear, confusion. And you know, they had a safe space to be able to do that.

Mental Health Q&A: Staying strong in challenging times. was originally published in Germantown Info Hub on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Last Saturday, Northwest Philadelphia neighbors gathered at Joseph E. Coleman library for a street clean-up along the Germantown business corridor.

Germantown United CDC and the Nu Sigma Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc. organized the clean-up in response to damages to businesses that followed protests against the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Vincent Costello of Nu Sigma said Germantown wasn’t their first clean-up since the protests began. Their organization also helped clean 52nd Street in West Philadelphia.

“We’re just going to keep it going until we get everything back to at least some type of normalcy,” Costello said.

About 50 neighbors lined up west of the Coleman library entrance to check-in. Most people arrived with brooms and face masks. After checking in and recieving materials; trash grabber tools, gloves and trash bags, volunteers spread out up and down Chelten Avenue in.

Justina Barrett is a Mt. Airy resident but said cleaning up in Germantown was where she felt she needed to be.

“A lot of white people are looking to do things, and I acknowledge that,” Barrett said. “Cleaning up is like the tiniest thing I could do with my time when I literally had nothing else to do today.”

Costello said the clean-up is an opportunity for people to be involved. “I think that one of the biggest misconceptions about movements is that you have to [make these grand gestures] to show you’re in support of a movement. But every small part of a movement is supportive of the movement, from cleanups, to donating money behind the scenes, to actually impacting policy.”

Neighbors participate in business corridor clean-up was originally published in Germantown Info Hub on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Today Philadelphia moves forward with voting and extends mail-in ballots by a week.

Registered voters can expect to vote at their polling locations, for Germantown: Mastery Pickett Charter School, Lingelbach School, Lonnie Young Recreation Center and Happy Hollow Recreation Center according to The Inquirer.

For mail-in ballots, Gov. Tom Wolf issued an executive order that will allow voters to return their ballots by 8 p.m.on June 9.

“I can’t do anything about the election day, but I am extending the time to actually get votes in,” Wolf said at a Philadelphia news conference. “So if you vote and the vote gets in by next Tuesday… it’ll count. An extra seven days.”

If Philadelphia should be put under curfew today, voters will not be affected. The polls will still close at 8p.m., and anyone in line by 8 p.m. will be allowed to cast their vote.

Initially the city postponed the primary election to today, June 2, due to the effects of the coronavirus COVID-19. Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and four other counties are the only PA areas to be allowed to submit mail-in ballots with the new deadline.

Election day for in-person voting; extension for mail-in ballots was originally published in Germantown Info Hub on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Rosita C. Youngblood presided over the seat for 26 years, serving 15 terms. The following democratic candidates are lining up to replace Youngblood: Bernard A. Williams, Darisha K. Parker, Fareed Abdullah, Nikki Bagby, and Supreme Divine Dow.

Regardless of who takes the position, community members like Floyd J. Anderson is looking for his neighborhood to be restored to an area that reaps more benefits and resources. Anderson has lived in Germantown for 36 years and recalls the neighborhood participating in more activities in the past.

“When I first moved to Germantown, a lot of things going on were positive,” Anderson said. “But a lot of things started in the 90s with violence; it seemed like no one cared anymore.”

The democratic state rep will be selected in the June 2nd primary, and the position entails many responsibilities. Committee of Seventy Policy Director, Patrick Christmas, said those who hold district seats can be very influential in the communities they serve.

“These elected officials are supposed to be the ones who are closest to the constituents, closest to the people,” Christmas said. “These seats are significant, even though there are great many of them, the legislature has a tremendous amount of power.”

The PA state representatives operate in the lower chamber of the Pennsylvania general assembly, alongside the Pennsylvania State Senate. Each representative has the legislative authority and responsibility to pass bills on public policy, and set goals for state spending, and raising and lowering taxes.They form the legislative branch of the Pennsylvania state government and work alongside the governor of Pennsylvania to create laws and establish a state budget, alongside the PA State senate.

“They write the laws that the state lives under, so this is a very significant ruling body in our state,” said Kerry Sautner, Vice President of Voter Services with the League of Women Voters. “It is essential to a representative republic for the people to choose individuals they believe will best represent their communities’ interests when developing these laws.”

As this position is directly representative of the community it serves, Anderson hopes the selected candidate will not cease engagement after being elected.

“If you’re in a place of power, no one’s gonna trust you if they don’t know who you are,” Anderson said. “Because anybody can put a flyer out there and say what they’re gonna do.”

Today the Germantown Info Hub and G’town Radio will host their second call-in radio show with candidates for the 198th legislative district seat. Bernard A. Williams and Fareed Abduhlah will discuss their platforms at 5 p.m. on 92.9 FM, or you can listen online at www.bit.ly/ListenGtown. Residents can call in their questions for candidates at 215–609–4301 or email your questions in advance: Gtown.infohub@gmail.com.

ICYMI: Last week, the Info Hub spoke with Darisha K. Parker and Supreme Divine Dow about their platforms.

State rep election approaching for Germantown was originally published in Germantown Info Hub on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

A new COVID-19 test site map will help Philadelphia residents locate free coronavirus testing.

The map lists about 49 sites across the city. Test sites in Germantown are located at the Philadelphia Department of Public Health Center 9, 131 E. Chelten Avenue and Abbottsford-Falls Family Practice and Counseling Network, 4700 Wissahickon Avenue, Building D.

As of Monday, May 25, Philadelphia had performed over 85,000 COVID-19 tests. Initially, testing was for first responders, healthcare workers and patients who were directly referred by health care providers.

James Garrow, Philadelphia Department of Health Communications Director, said the the requirements have shifted. Testing is available for anyone with a new onset cough, shortness of breath or two of the following symptoms: fever, chills, muscle pain, sore throat and new loss of taste or smell.

“People who are looking to get tested should call ahead to find out what the best time would be to visit,” Garrow said in an email. Both Germantown sites require patients to schedule an appointment for COVID-19 testing. Garrow said centers will not ask for insurance or proof of citizenship to complete a test. Test results will be reported in a couple of days.

Emily Nichols, Executive Director for the Family Practice and Counseling Network, said her office jumped at the chance to provide free COVID-19 testing without the need for insurance.

“Our health centers are [located in areas with] very vulnerable populations,” Nichols said. “So, people with lower access to health care, high rates of trauma, high rates of substance use and behavioral health concerns, [and] lack of social service resources.”

In addition, Nichols said her office is providing a free, pop-up test site every Thursday at Abbotsford Homes, 3226 McMichael Street, in East Falls from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

For more information contact Philadelphia Department of Public Health Center 9 at (215) 685–2933, Abbottsford-Falls Family Practice and Counseling at (215) 843–9720. For information about the Abbottsford Homes pop-up site, call 267–597–3604.

The Germantown Info Hub is one of 21 news organizations producing Broke in Philly, a collaborative reporting project on solutions to poverty and the city’s push toward economic justice. See all of our reporting at brokeinphilly.org. A collaborative reporting project on solutions to poverty and the city’s push towards economic justice.

Free COVID-19 testing available in Germantown was originally published in Germantown Info Hub on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

On Thursday, May 21, co-researcher for the Germantown Info Hub Letrell Crittenden spoke with Supreme Dow and Darisha Parker, candidates for the Pennsylvania House 198th district seat, a legislative district serving Germantown, East Falls and several other nearby neighborhoods.

Crittenden discussed each democratic candidates post-pandemic plans if selected for office, their campaign effort and how to tackle hyperlocal issues like trash, gentrification or youth assistance.

Additionally, the Info Hub touched base with local businesses since the last radio show in April. Miles Butler and Jeff Podlogar spoke with Crittenden about their business, Germantown Expresso Bar.

The expresso bar is closed and all their baristas are on unemployment. Podlogar said the pandemic effects have been interesting, but the coffee shop owners are selling coffee by the pound to hyperlocal neighbors. Butler said it is beneficial but is only bringing in a fraction of what shop usually makes in sales.

“That’s been been going nowhere near what our operations were,” Butler said. “To give you an idea of what April was as a month, what we did in sales over the whole month was about what a little under a week would be.”

The Germantown Info Hub, in partnership with G’town Radio, will continue to host community call-in discussions during the coronavirus outbreak. To suggest a topic, email us at Gtown.infohub@gmail.com and follow #Gtowninfohubradio.

If you’d like to listen to previous Info Hub radio call-in episodes, visit their YouTube channel.

Germantown Info Hub radio hour: 198th district state rep candidates was originally published in Germantown Info Hub on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

A Mount Airy couple is helping neighborhood residents access fresh produce without visiting the grocery store.

Jessica Rights, her husband, Nicholas Freeman, and volunteers pack more than 30 cardboard boxes in a van twice a week; each box filled with an assortment of 20 fresh fruits and vegetables, a pint of rice, dairy and eggs, or tofu for vegan families.

The $25 fresh produce boxes are part of the Mount Airy Groceries initiative, which grew because neighbors weren’t having luck with grocery store delivery or shopping apps like Instacart. “One day a lot of my neighbors were saying that they’re orders for food were two and sometimes even three weeks out,” Rights said, “and one of my neighbors was upset because she waited two weeks for groceries.”

According to the Food & Drug Administration, there are no nationwide food shortages, but it is common to find grocery stores temporarily out of items because of the pandemic. Grocery shopping has become a hassle for some residents in Mount Airy, according to Rights.

In response, Rights collected money from close neighbors’ equaling a few hundred dollars. She bought wholesale produce, skipping the grocery store altogether.

After her neighbors received their food, they asked her to do it again. Rights and Freeman connected with her friend George Drakopoulos, owner of Cafe Malelani in Mount Airy, to use his space to pack produce boxes. Drakopoulos connected her with other low-cost food distributors, including North Philadelphia’s Restaurant Depot, just south of Germantown.

“When you shop there, you buy in bulk,” Drakopoulos said. “You get it cheaper and you get restaurant quality at restaurant prices. You don’t need a ton of memberships, you just need a tax ID [number] so it kind of saved us money.”

Aside from purchasing produce boxes, neighbors can also donate a box on the organization website. Rights is approached by neighbors who can’t always afford the boxes. She said that even people who are receiving donated food are not getting fresh produce.

“I mean, they’re getting food and it’s sustaining them,” Rights said, “but it’s not always the kind of stuff that’s healthy for you.”

Several organizations purchase or receive box donations for their programs. For example, Samantha Siegel purchases boxes for her mini food pantry on Rittenhouse Street in Germantown and 70 boxes are donated to Interfaith Hospitality Networks weekly.

Mt.Airy skips grocery store to get fresh food was originally published in Germantown Info Hub on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

All registered voters in Pennsylvanian can vote by mail in the upcoming primary. Due to the COVID-19 emergency restrictions, city and state officials, including Governor Tom Wolf, and City Commissioner Omar Sabir, are strongly encouraging all Pennsylvanians to use mail-in ballots.

You can submit an online request for a mail-in absentee ballot or “no excuse” ballot at the Vote PA website. Once your request is approved, a ballot for the June 2nd primary will be mailed back to you with a postage paid return envelope. If you cannot request a mail-in ballot online, you can request one in person at the Philadelphia County Board of Elections, Room 142, City Hall, 1400 John F. Kennedy Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19107.

Requests for mail-in ballots (online or in person) must be received by the Philadelphia County Board of Elections by Monday, May 26, at 5 p.m. Completed mail-in ballots must be received by June 2 by 8p.m. You can find information on deadlines for active military at the website of the Philadelphia City Commissioners.

If your request for a mail-in ballot is not approved by May 26, you cannot vote in the June primary by mail. You will have to vote at the polls. Check the status of your mail-in ballot request here.

If you go to the polls.

While going to your local polling place is the traditional form of voting, the number of polling places has significantly decreased. Philadelphia residents will see a drastic reduction (over 75%) in polling locations due to the coronavirus pandemic.

“The 2020 primary will represent a tectonic shift in how Pennsylvanians vote,” David Thornburgh, President and CEO of the Committee of Seventy said in a press release. “Unprecedented numbers of voters will vote by mail. Voters who vote in person will experience longer lines. All of us will be concerned about the health risks.”

Only 190 polls will be open in Philadelphia. Germantown has four locations: Mastery Pickett Charter School at 5700 Wayne Ave.,Lingelbach School at 6340 Wayne Ave.,Lonnie Young Recreation Center at 1100 E Chelten Ave., and Happy Hollow Recreation Center at 4800 Wayne Avenue, according to The Inquirer.

You can find your polling location at PA Voter Services website. You must vote at your assigned location. Polls will open Tuesday, June 2, at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. Voters may get in line before 7 a.m. to vote and anyone who is in line before 8 p.m. will be allowed to vote.

City Commissioner Sabir said that the plan to decrease polling place numbers due to the ongoing emergency considered social distancing requirements, and the fact that many poll workers are elderly and potentially more vulnerable to the virus and that past locations like nursing homes and fire departments, were now out of the question.

“So it’s a logistical challenge that’s going on, we had to do it, it wasn’t like our choice,” Sabir said during the G-town Radio and Germantown Info Hub call-in show. “I like voting in person, I love it. But at the end of the day, you know, these are the cards that were dealt to us.”

Here’s how to vote in the June 2nd primary was originally published in Germantown Info Hub on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

On Thursday, May 14, Germantown Info Hub co-researcher Letrell Crittenden spoke with Philadelphia City Commissioner Omar Sabir about voter registration and voting in the June 2 primary election and restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Election day is not gonna look like any election you’ve ever seen,” Sabir said.

Sabir urged Germantown voters to request a mail-in ballot online. Data shows that there are areas in Philadelphia with very few requests for mail-in ballots, while neighborhoods like Center City have had a comparatively high number of requests.

“The fifth and eighth ward are two of the largest Center City wards and as of May 12th they’ve applied for 9000 mail-in [ballots]”, Sabir said. He said that in comparison, the 50th ward in the northwest, a community comprised mostly of “black and brown” residents, only submitted “1700 applications.”

While the push is on to get registered Philadelphians to vote by mail in the primary, there is still the the option to vote in-person. But due to the pandemic, Philadelphia will see an over a 75% decrease in polling locations.

The Germantown Info Hub, in partnership with G’town Radio, will continue to host community call-in discussions during the coronavirus outbreak. To suggest a topic, email us at Gtown.infohub@gmail.com and follow #Gtowninfohubradio.

Germantown Info Hub radio hour: Making your vote count in the primary was originally published in Germantown Info Hub on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.