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P.O.W.E.R.

What is P.O.W.E.R.?
P.O.W.E.R. (Philadelphians Organized to Witness, Empower and Rebuild) is a local faith-based community organizing group that includes about 35 congregations from across socio-economic, cultural, religious and neighborhood lines. We are the local Philadelphia chapter of a national organization called PICO. Through interfaith relationships we hope to make lasting, effective change in our community.

"A Lively Library in Every School" Launch
October 23 at 5:30pm
Rodeph Shalom, Leyv-Ha-Ir and Saint Paul's are hosting an event to launch our ALLIES (A Lively Library in Every School) project and partnership with Spring Garden Elementary School. Date: October 23, 2012 Time: 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm Location: Congregation Rodeph Shalom 615 North Broad Street Honored Guest: Laureal Robinson, Principal Spring Garden Elementary Light refreshments will be served You are invited to celebrate the launch of ALLIES. Come:  meet others who believe that a library is critical to student success in public schools  learn about the project and meet the Principal of our first partner school.  discover ways to participate in the variety of activities. There is something for everyone. Why is reading important? A child's reading skills are important to their success in school and work. In addition, reading can be a fun and imaginative activity for children, which opens doors to all kinds of new worlds for them. Reading and writing are important ways we use language to communicate.
Please RSVP by October 16th to Manya Monson at edu@rodephshalom.org
 

What is PICO?
PICO is an acronym that stands for People Improving Communities through Organizing. They are a national non-profit network with affiliates in most major cities across the US to support the work of faith-based community organizing.

Faith-Based Community Organizing is a method of working with faith communities to address the problems and concerns of their communities, and in turn, vitalize and strengthen the life of congregations. 

Rodeph Shalom is one of 35 congregations from every section of Philadelphia who have joined together to transform the social and economic policies that are impacting our families and neighborhoods.

We will be promoting a bold vision for change to our city leaders in the areas of education, jobs, housing, public safety and healthcare access. 

Rabbi Freedman interview with Brian Hickey on Newsworks about P.O.W.E.R. 

For more information contact our co-chairs, Mara Lipshutz: mfl2122@gmail.com  215-983-6891 or Rachel Blake: rachel.blake@gmail.com, 215-983-6891 

There are many paths to a more just world, and faith-based community organizing is one of them. Other paths include direct service, in which people respond to the immediate and often urgent physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of others. Another path is advocacy or activism, where people act and to speak on behalf of others who are suffering from great injustices and social ills.
PICO’s path to building a more just world involves teaching people of faith how to build and exercise their own power to address the root causes of the problems they face. In PICO, this struggle for justice is rooted in our faith.