What is the difference between a democracy and a constitutional republic? Are the two terms mutually exclusive? Citizen Board Member and MSNBC host Ali Velshi walks us through the definitions and explains why the more conservative members of our body politic fear your vote.
What this highest-stakes Pennsylvania election is really about
In this episode of Business For Good, we highlight Karla Ballard who raised over $1 million for her app, YING, seeking to replicate the community of helpful neighbors she grew up with in Philadelphia--one task at a time
Damaris Alvarado-Rodriguez is on a mission to provide opportunities for children and adults — including through a new teacher apprenticeship program starting this week
In 1953, Julius and Ethel Rosenberg were executed for espionage against the United States. Citizen Board Member and MSNBC host Ali Velshi explains the strange link between the Rosenbergs and Donald Trump.
Does the Biden administration’s recent winning streak, including the Inflation Reduction and CHIPS and Science Acts, contain an object lesson for Philly?
In this episode of Guest Commentary, Philly’s former district attorney has a three-step plan to get guns off the street — and reduce the record shootings — in Philly
One of the most famous — and famously attacked — climatologists in America is now the founding director of Penn’s new climate change institute. He has a few things to say to those who doubt we can still save the earth
In this episode of #VelshiBannedBookClub, Citizen Board Member and MSNBC host Ali Velshi talks to Laurie Halse Anderson about her book: Speak (one of the most banned books in the country). Labeled by its critics as pornographic, Speak explores assault and consent-based sexuality in a young adult setting. "You would think people would find the educational system...the right place to talk about these things," Anderson said.
There’s been a lot of handwringing over Democrats like Josh Shapiro trying to choose their MAGA general election opponents. But maybe we need a nationwide referendum on Trumpism, once and for all?
The City’s disorganization around Philly’s illegal dumping crisis is as messy as the dumping itself. A reporter who has spent months delving into the disaster calls for a leader we can count on
In a groundbreaking new report, the head of Center City District starkly lays out the problem — and calls for Philadelphia’s next mayor to fully invest in growth
In this episode of #VelshiBannedBookClub, Citizen Board Member and MSNBC host Ali Velshi speaks with Mark Twain scholar, Matthew Seybold, about this iconic (and banned) work of American literature. Seybold says Twain's use of the N-word was not just a product of his time, but purposeful commentary about dehumanization.
Senate candidate John Fetterman’s heckling of Mehmet Oz may entertain the already converted, but it might work against persuading independent voters
A morning commute turned (slightly) tragic for one Philadelphian. She responds with…poetry
On this episode, we profile Suzanne Sheer--the singer, songwriter and Khemist collaborator whose new album, The Blue Hour, is dominating the city's music scene.
In this episode of Ideas We Should Steal, Paris, Portland, Houston and even Detroit are planning neighborhoods where residents can walk or bike to everything they need for a healthy and vibrant life. Is now the time to do the same in Philly?
In this episode of #VelshiBannedBookClub, Citizen Board Member and MSNBC host Ali Velshi speaks with MacArthur Fellow and renowned author Jacqueline Woodson about her multi-award-winning (and banned) book: Brown Girl Dreaming.
The prospect of a $1.3 billion Center City arena can spur equitable growth — if done right. Here, a playbook for an intentional and inclusive deal
In this episode of Generation Change Philly, Laura Boyce doesn’t just advocate for educators in Philadelphia public schools. She teaches them to advocate for themselves, for their students, and for the Philadelphia School District
In this guest commentary, a bystander of the Fourth of July shooting points out a fact of gun violence episodes in America: Most are not mass shootings--they are the everyday terror that plagues communities.
It may seem that our rights have been expanding over the last twenty years, but Citizen Board Member and MSNBC host Ali Velshi explains why this isn't so. The recent Supreme Court rulings are an exclamation point on a long running sentence.
The debate, floated by Council President Darrell Clarke and engaged by Councilmember Jamie Gauthier, is proof that, when it comes to combatting gun violence in Philadelphia, our leaders live in a fact-free zone
Philly’s former District Attorney shows how Larry Krasner’s progressive policies fail to prevent crime — and what we should be doing differently
Recently we at the Citizen held a workshop focused on using personal stories to increase voter turnout. Adam Barbanel-Fried of Changing the Conversation for Progress (CTC) led our group with all the power of an inspirational speaker and showed us how to turn empathy into actual votes. Listen in and learn with us.
In this episode of Ideas We Should Steal, we look to Seattle, which is giving residents cash vouchers to support political candidates. This has increased participation from both voters and candidates. Could we do the same in Philly?
Donald Trump isn't alone in turning the IRS against his political enemies. Citizen Board Member and MSNBC host Ali Velshi sheds light on Nixon's attempt to use tax audits to punish his opponents.
The mayor’s white flag-waving comments this week created a storm of controversy. But did he say anything we didn't already know? And, what of it?
WURD host Charles Ellison chats with Peter Gonzales and Nicole Marcote of The Welcoming Center about Brightly, a co-op franchise expanding to Philadelphia that provides living wages and opportunities to its worker/owners.
In this episode of Generation Change Philly, we highlight Christa Barfield of FarmerJawn and Viva Leaf Tea. She's an irrepressible leader of today’s urban farming movement in the city and builds individual and community health from the ground up.
