September is a busy month for Philly DSA, with an upcoming Medicare for All canvass, labor solidarity actions, a rebooted Night School, and an exciting discussion co-hosted with 350 Philadelphia, where we’ll talk about howmovements like DSA and unions can band together to fight for a Green NewDeal.
September is a busy month for Philly DSA, with an upcoming Medicare for All canvass, labor solidarity actions, a rebooted Night School, and an exciting discussion co-hosted with 350 Philadelphia, where we’ll talk about howmovements like DSA and unions can band together to fight for a Green NewDeal. We’ll be rounding out the month with a Kristin Seale canvass on September 29th, as we gear up for weekly canvasses in advance of the November election. If every one of our members dedicated just one Saturday to canvassing for this incredible socialist candidate, there’s no way she could lose! Dedicate a weekend and help us keep up the momentum by sending another democratic socialist into office.
Philly DSA also has a new website! Visit www.phillydsa.com to see upcoming events, an archive of resolutions and learn about how members can get plugged into ongoing initiatives and campaigns. The website update was a long time coming and was made possible entirely by member volunteers. The site is also a work in progress and will be updated and edited accordingly. We will add more pages and features and will solicit member feedback for potential improvements. A special thanks is owed to Tyler Re, Tommy Hansen and Daniel Sandberg. If you see them at a DSA function or even just around town be sure to thank them!
Saturday, September 15 | 12:00 pm | West Kensington Ministry | 2140 N Hancock St
If you're a new member of Philly DSA or are thinking about joining, come to our upcoming New Member Orientation! Our Local chapter continues to grow and as new members join these orientations help make clear what it means to be a member of a democratic-socialist, dues funded, volunteer run, membership organization.
There will be time to chat informally with other new members, meet committee persons and campaign organizers, as well as hear speakers cover major topics:
Orientation meetings will take place monthly going forward to supplement general meetings with more informal space for becoming familiar with the organization.
Please contact Peterson Goodwyn via [email protected] if you have any questions.
Saturday, September 15 | 12:00 pm | Rittenhouse Square
All out to Joseph Neubauer's home in Rittenhouse Square! Neubauer is the retired CEO of Aramark and a board member of Oreo and Fig Newton giant Mondelez-Nabisco. As a board member, Joseph has voted to eliminate 110,000 pensions for US workers, move jobs to Mexico for $1/hour, and boost the CEO's pay to $60 million/year. Now, workers have launched a global campaign against the company—and are calling on Philly DSA members for solidarity.
Planning to join? Send RSVPs to James Cersonsky, at [email protected].
Sunday, September 16 | 12:00 pm | Campbell Square | 2535 E Allegheny Ave
The national consensus around Medicare for All is growing, with 85% of Democrats and 52% of Republicans in support. Join us as we hit the streets of North Philly and help the spread the word about why the United States needs Medicare for All.
MILLIONS IN OUR COUNTRY HAVE NO HEALTHCARE AT ALL. Those who are insured have seen steady increases in costs and decreases in care. Increased premiums go to multi-million dollar CEO salaries, lawyers, lobbyists, and advertising rather than actual care and services. We need a single, universal system with comprehensive coverage that is free at the point of service.
A Single Payer/Medicare for All system is the only answer. No deductibles, no premiums and no co-pays. It’s time to put the health of working-class people before the profits of insurance companies.
If you want to make this vision a reality come canvass with DSA! Whether this is your first time organizing or you’re a veteran canvasser, join us for a short training and then hit the streets! And if canvassing isn’t within your ability, reach out to the Canvassing Committee. There are plenty of other ways to get involved!
Please contact [email protected] with any questions about the canvass or how to get involved!
Tuesday, September 18 | 7:00 pm | Bennett Hall 3340 Walnut Street | Room 231
We're excited to announce that Night School will be resuming this fall!
We'll begin the Night School by asking that ever-elusive question: What is Democratic Socialism?
Though the word socialism has returned to the public vocabulary in recent years, there remains much debate about what the term actually means. There are many forms of socialism, each making different theoretical and political claims.
Join us to discuss democratic socialism and what DSA wants to accomplish as an organization.
Reading List:
The Philly DSA Night School is intended as a forum for discussing thinkers, "-isms," and current trends in socialist politics. All meetings are free and open to the public, and are designed for all people regardless of previous experience.
New members are welcome!
Please contact Jarek Ervin at [email protected] with questions!
Wednesday, September 19 | 7:00 pm | West Kensington Ministry | 2140 N Hancock St
At the last general meeting, the local voted to the table voting on the temporary harassment grievance policy until the local could convene and weigh in and make adjustments to the content. If you have questions or just want to learn more about the temporary harassment grievance policy please join us at this hearing.
Thursday, September 20th | 7:00 pm | City CoHo | 2401 Walnut St, Suite 102
Across the country, many climate activists, labor organizers, socialists, progressives, and candidates for public office are calling for a Green New Deal. They envision a massive public investment program that:
Join 350 Philadelphia and Philly DSA for a conversation about these exciting developments around the country, with guest speaker Daniel Aldana Cohen. Facebook event is here.
Thursday, September 20 | 6:00 PM | Philadelphia Irish Pub (2007 Walnut)
Join the Philly DSA Social Committee for a Happy Hour in Center City! DSA Happy Hours are a space for our chapter's members and anyone interested in or curious about DSA to hang out and get to know each other better in an informal setting.
If you're new to DSA, heard about us on the news, curious about what we're up to, or a long-time member who just wants to hang out, stop by! We'll be hanging out starting at 6:00, and then take the walk of a few blocks to City CoHo for A Green New Deal at 7:00
Saturday, September 29| 1:00 pm | 521 N Monroe St, Media, PA
We're less than 100 days away from the general election on November 6th! Philly DSA is knocking doors to make sure that our fellow member, Kristin Seale, wins her seat in the PA State Assembly this fall.
If you have any questions or would like to organize a carpool, reach out to[email protected].
At our July General Meeting, Philly DSA voted to join the Our City Our Schools Coalition and to enact an Ad-Hoc Committee to coordinate our chapter’s participation in the coalition’s fight for education justice in Philadelphia. The Philly DSA OCOS Coordinating Committee had their inaugural meeting and strategy session on Sept. 5. Look for more soon on the next meeting and upcoming actions. Email Seth Kulick and Kate Cairns at[email protected] for further info.
Monday, September 24 | 7:30 pm | Chapterhouse Coffee | 620 S. 9th Street
The Marxism Reading Group will be meeting to discuss G.A. Cohen's Marx's Theory of History: A Defense. Please contact [email protected] if you are interested in joining. New participants are welcome!
Calling all college students! Philly DSA is happy to announce our participation in the national YDSA Fall Campus Organizing Drive. Do you want to connect with your school’s chapter or build a new one? We can help you! There will be an informational meeting on Sunday, September 30th at 2 PM at Temple University in Gladfelter Hall Room 413. We will have plenty of information, DSA swag, good company, food, drinks, and more, so invite your friends! If you have any questions please direct them to [email protected].
Canvassing Committee
Monday, September 17 | 7:00 PM | UPenn Bookstore | 3601 Walnut St
Recent Minutes
Social Committee
Tuesday, September 18 | 7:00 PM | Chapterhouse Cafe (620 S 9th St)
Local Initiative/ Local Action Committee
Monday, September 24 | 7-9 pm
Outreach Committee
TBD | 7-9pm | DIYRE | 4244 Lancaster Ave
Political Education Committee
TBD | Email Jarek Irving, PolEd Chair at [email protected]
Electoral Evaluation Committee Meeting
TBD | Email Alex Nagle, EEC Chair at [email protected]
Thursday, September 13 | 7-9PM | PA BMWED, 241 N. 7th St, Suite 299
The Steering Committee administers the affairs of the Local and oversees the implementation of the decisions of the General Meetings; it may also create policy in-between Local Conventions. Steering Committee meetings are open to all Philly DSA members, although only Steering Committee members have voting privileges.
Recent minutes
As a membership organization, we are only as strong as members are active, participating and mobilized. Philly DSA is committed to making all aspects of its work available and accessible to all members. If you require any accommodations or resources in order to participate, please reach out via [email protected]. The more we understand about the needs of our chapter, the stronger of an organization we can become.
Philly DSA is seeking members interested in becoming parliamentarians to help run our General Meetings and other official business meetings of the local. Candidates should be comfortable with public speaking and facilitation and have a willingness to learn the basics of Robert’s Rules of Order, which are used to administer large meetings of the DSA at the national level and local level in Philadelphia. If you are interested, please fill out this brief application here.
Philly DSA has only just started receiving funding from the National DSA, so local dues are crucial to the health of our chapter. They support our campaign work and cover everyday operating costs like meeting space, web hosting, and communication tools. Local dues can be paid in the form of quarterly donations of $10, $20, $30, or $50; a custom amount can also be arranged. Getting our finances in order lets us plan ahead to effectively implement the kinds of political activities that we decide on as a local. If we can get even 50% of our Philly membership paying local dues, we will be on a path to really shake things up! Please sign up here to contribute quarterly. For a one-time donation, please click here. Thank you for your support!
Help fund Philly DSA's independent electoral campaigns by contributing to our PAC. Contributions made to Philly DSA PAC go toward expenditures on printed materials, venue rental fees for joint fundraisers with candidates, and other expenses critical to these campaigns' success.
Philly DSA PAC is a political committee connected to Philly DSA. We have this PAC because PA election law requires all coordinated expenditures made to influence the outcomes of elections to be paid from a separate segregated fund (the PAC), not our chapter's general treasury. Contributions to this fund are not redundant with local dues since only individuals can contribute to this fund while our main chapter bank account cannot.
Link to the PAC can be found here: http://dues-phillydsa.nationbuilder.com/pac
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