Philly Thrive

Philly Thrive We won back our from Philly's largest oil refinery, now it's our

Philadelphians are taking action for clean air, climate justice, and the right to breathe. We’re defending our communities and our future against the largest fossil fuel refinery on the East Coast. We oppose Philadelphia becoming a toxic fossil fuel “energy hub” - we need a transition to an economy that serves people and planet. We envision a just transition to climate jobs, clean energy, and healthy communities.

03/10/2025

Want to learn how to use a computer, and get a computer while you’re at it? Come to our HQ computer class on Saturdays at 11. Info session this week, our first round of computer distribution next week. Must come to info session to get a computer!

03/06/2025

After enduring 150+ years of pollution from the oil refinery, the last thing the Grays Ferry community needs is to be priced out of our homes - just for some billionaire corporation’s greed. We REFUSE to let HRP Group push us out of our own neighborhoods - and we need you to stand with us.

To get involved: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSce-oU41hYe3uMcGRNLeRR-kZGdbHLIRtRZed80p83f69Aa9Q/viewform here it is

03/03/2025

Getting a little fancy because this campaign launch was one for the record books! Philadelphia’s not ready for this Renter’s United x Philly Thrive collaboration. This budget season, we are winning $10 million for green home repairs through PEA’s Built to Last and $10 million to start a proactive rental inspection program through L&I. Councilmembers O’Rourke, Gauthier, and Landau all stand with us - will you? Learn more at phillythrive.org/housing_justice_campaign

02/25/2025

People are losing their homes left and right. Whether they are being forced out of their home or not being able to fight back against the rising rent prices, residents are saying goodbye to their home without knowing what to do. Philly thrive is here to help them with this. On February 27th, from 6-7:30pm, we will be hosting an open panel to inform these residents about their rights, and how they can keep their home how they have it. We will provide food, information, and there will be speakers there to answer any questions or concerns. This a youth-led panel, here to bring you insights and rights about your home.

02/14/2025

🚨 URGENT CALL TO ACTION 🚨

The most important report about soil clean up at the old South Philly oil refinery just dropped and it's EXTREMELY CONCERNING.

This is the most important public comment period related to contamination at the site - and we're calling on YOU to step up and help protect our communities!

Go to bit.ly/refinery2 to take action before SUNDAY FEBRUARY 16, the public comment deadline.

02/06/2025

Why do we care about flooding in Grays Ferry? When someone’s basement floods, it may feel random. But it’s part of a pattern of urban flooding. This happens when our storm management system can’t handle all the rain that runs across the city’s paved surface.

Here’s an article we are learning from. Some definitions:
Impervious: can’t absorb water (think, roads instead of forests)
Infrastructure: like pipes and sewers - the physical structures needed for the operation of society.
Bellwether District’s plan to pave over the site: a flooding threat to nearby communities!

Source: https://www.nrdc.org/bio/anna-weber/what-urban-flooding

01/31/2025

Thanks to P.O.C. on EcoWURD for bringing us onto her show this morning!

01/28/2025

We need your input: where should we put murals in Grays Ferry? Philly Thrive is working on a mural project to highlight the history of Grays Ferry and the people that make this neighborhood so special. Come to our event on Saturday! We will talk about the project and places in the neighborhood that are important to us. We can’t do it without you!

01/27/2025

Rent is increasing faster than Philadelphians can keep up. Translation: developer greed is getting more support than our working class, elderly, and disabled neighbors. Shoutout to , and Women’s Community Revitalization Project for this coverage in the Inquirer! This is why we are organizing for housing Justice 🏡🔨

01/24/2025

Why does housing justice matter? Because everyone deserves a safe, affordable, and stable place to live. Join us at the Housing Justice Assembly and let's work together to create a more equitable future for all Philadelphians. Register here! https://secure.everyaction.com/3qEjBMIHIUGZbaY2wEBynQ2

01/22/2025

Philly Thrive is worried about flooding - it happens often enough now, and flooding disproportionately impacts poor and disabled people. We are worried that Hilco’s plans to cover the old refinery site with pavement will make floods in Grays Ferry worse and happen more often.

This month we are looking into flooding in South Philly: why is it happening, who’s at risk, and why Hilco’s plan to cover the refinery site with cement may make it worse.

Are you feeling fired up? Sign up for action on our website, phillythrive.org, and click “Join the People’s Environmental Justice Enforcement Agency.”

01/13/2025

Let’s be honest: we are scared that Hilco’s cement plan will increase flooding in our neighborhoods. But it also scares us that City Council has been fine not looking into it!

This month we are looking into flooding in South Philly: why is it happening, who’s at risk, and why Hilco’s plan to cover the refinery site with cement may make it worse - putting us all at risk.

Are you feeling fired up? Sign up for action on our website, phillythrive.org, and click “Join the People’s Environmental Justice Enforcement Agency.”

01/09/2025

We are so excited to host a free portrait event next Saturday, January 18th! Come to our HQ on 27th and Ellsworth for a free headshot for you to put on your mantle, resume, or website.

This event is hosted by our media cohort, a group of teens and adults learning to be photographers. Together they are creating a Grays Ferry walking tour and archive. We would love if you choose to add your portrait to our archive, for people to see and celebrate the people of Grays Ferry.

01/07/2025

We are mourning the loss of a beloved Grays Ferry leader, Lillian Ray. She was a backbone of the Stinger Square community and she will be remembered with love and reverence. The Rays are especially close to our hearts this week. We will be at the service on Thursday to honor her life.

12/29/2024

A little review of our year! We are so proud of the ways we showed up for each other, our youth, and our seniors. We distributed 1560 food boxes and 150 computers. We ran another great year of summer camp, our high school internship, and our Alternatives to Gun Violence program. Our housing justice campaign showed up tirelessly to city council to win $5 million for home repairs!! And our Right to Thrive campaign launched a new agency to keep Hilco accountable to the community’s needs. Amidst it all, we also tried to invest in our rest more than we have before (we tried…😭). And boy do we have some exciting news for you in 2025!

While we have you, we are looking to hire an organization development contractor, because we are taking our work seriously and want to do it the best we can. We are invested in, and investing in, showing up with our best selves! Are you the right person, or know the right person, to fill this role? Check the listing on our website for more information: https://www.phillythrive.org/organization_development_contractor

12/08/2024

Out now in the inquirer: our op-Ed titled: “Gov. Shapiro fast-tracks oil refinery redevelopment and impacted residents call for City Council hearings”

12/04/2024

We’re heading to City Hall to educate City Council members about the many unaddressed issues with the redevelopment of the South Philly Oil Refinery — and you should come with us! If you are passionate about achieving true Environmental Justice at the old refinery land, come join us at City Hall on Tuesday, December 10th. NO EXPERIENCE NEEDED! Details here: bit.ly/lobby3

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We’re hiring! Do you care about person-first storytelling about environmental justice? Apply to be our Communications Coordinator! This is an exciting position with a wide range of responsibilities, from social media and press to supporting our members create a Grays Ferry walking tour and community archive. Like all of our staff, the Communications Coordinator works closely with and supports the leadership development of our members! Link in bio to apply

Isn’t this nuts? HRP lied about drainage conditions at the former refinery on their state stormwater permit applications.

Philly Thrive is making murals and a walking tour in Grays Ferry - and we want YOUR input! On Saturday, Feb 1, from 12-3, at Church of the Redeemer. The event is to hear your input on our murals and walking tour project. Where in the neighborhood should the tour go? What places in Grays Ferry are important to you? There will be lots of food starting at 11:30! We will have air filters and masks, to keep us safe while everyone is getting sick. RSVP in our bio to get a reminder call ☎️❤️

Sonya speaking the truth about this arena deal: “You feel like your voice is not heard when you’re speaking and nobody is listening. There’s an Art to Listening.” What more is there to say? This arena is a sellout deal. We as a city need to stand for our worth and our history. And we need representatives that are bold enough to stand up for what we deserve. Thursday, City Council voted the arena deal out of committee, and next week they will have a final vote. For a $60 million CBA, we will see more stress on our dying buses and trains, more stress on traffic in center city, and more stress on Chinatown. All to make billionaires richer.

What’s Up With the Refinery Redevelopment Pt 2: Why we need a real CBA! The People’s Environmental Justice Enforcement Agency (PEJEA) is planning a visit to City Hall to educate City Council members about the many unaddressed issues revolving around the redevelopment of the old South Philly Oil Refinery — the largest redevelopment project in Philly’s history! If you care about achieving true Environmental Justice at the old refinery land, we invite you to join us at City Hall on Tuesday, December 10th. Sign up here: bit.ly/lobby2

Hilco, the new owner of the South Philly refinery land, released a community “commitments” document, instead of a real Community Benefits Agreement (CBA) - something we’ve been asking for for over 4 years. Hilco’s “commitments” document is NOT a real CBA, since it’s not enforceable and we had no opportunity to negotiate its terms. Part 1 in a series to learn more about Hilco’s CBA!

Philly Thrive spent September getting out the vote! You may have seen us around Grays Ferry registering people to vote. Debbie’s coming to you with a message going into Get Out The Vote weekend: voting hasn’t always been a universal right, and it is definitely not the way to make every change, but elected representatives touch so many parts of our lives. Please vote!

CITY COUNCIL PRESENTS: AN ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE HORROR SHOW

🤡 CITY COUNCIL PRESENTS: AN ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE HORROR SHOW 🤡 City Council recently approved 10 years of additional tax breaks for Hilco (the new owner of the old oil refinery land), BEFORE Hilco has addressed any of the surrounding community’s major concerns and BEFORE City Council has held a hearing on the redevelopment as a whole. Only clowns could support a public process as out-of-order and absurd as this…so that’s exactly who we showed up as. City Council and Hilco’s disregard for the community that endured over 150 years of pollution from this site is an embarrassment for the City of Philadelphia and a real-life HORROR for Environmental Justice communities everywhere. We will not give up until our community gets what we deserve: full clean up of the soil, protections from gentrification, protections from flooding, fossil fuel-free energy use on the site, and much more! Read about our demands here: bit.ly/cbastatus

People’s Environmental Justice Enforcement Agency - Meeting reviewing the first draft we’ve seen of Hilco’s Community Benefits Agreement

Block party 🎉👏✨🌻 now thru 6 pm @ 27th & grays ferry, come out!

Quick and easy: call Rep. Jordan Harris today to thank him for his ongoing support of Whole-Home Repairs and to make sure it remains a priority in the state budget! Call-in script in our bio!