powerinterfaith.org

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POWER Interfaith | A Multi-Racial People's Movement

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POWER is a grassroots organization of Pennsylvania individuals and congregations committed to racial justice, economic justice and a more livable planet. We represent over 50 unique congregations in Southeastern and Central Pennsylvania. With four Regional Chapters, we are people of faith committed to the work of bringing about justice here and now.

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POWER Interfaith

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affordabilityphiladelphia affordability reportWe created a report based on the stories shared with our community members about the costs of living crisis and impact of continued funding cuts. Read the report here .trx_addons_inline_1295730378{background-color:#7A08A1;} Our Fight for an affordable philadelphiaOur City-wide assembly for affordabilityOn February 1, 2026 over 500 people across 30 congregations met with members of city council at the historic Mother Bethel A.M.E. Church to confront our city's growing affordability crisis. Read Our Latest Press Release .trx_addons_inline_442771609{background-color:#7A08A1;} Creating opportunity for our children Full & Fair Education Funding for Public SchoolsOrganizing for fair and equitable education funding, we forge relationships with parents, educators, taxpayers and affiliates to ensure our children learn and develop in safe and responsive environments. Learn more about our campaign .trx_addons_inline_1186351709{background-color:#7A08A1;} Latest NewsRead breaking policy news, announcements and press releases on our efforts to lead PA toward a more equitable future.Get UpdatesCampaignsFrom climate to criminal justice reform, help us deconstruct institutions rooted in prejudice and hatred of all forms.Read MoreEventsCheck out upcoming meetings, protests and more, then sign up to join us as we make our voices heard across the state.View Calendar The POWER DeskPress Releases.trx_addons_inline_273611889{color:#000000 !important} POWER Interfaith Calls for Emergency Hearings as Federal Cuts Threaten Philadelphia’s Most Vulnerable  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Monday, March 16, 2026 Contact: Dionne Watts-Williams, dwattswilliams@powerinterfaith.org, 215-713-4875 PHILADELPHIA – This morning at Arch Street United Methodist Church, POWER Interfaith, Pennsylvania's largest multiracial, multifaith organizing entity, released the “2026 Philadelphia Affordability Report”, a sweeping analysis of the city's cost-of-living crisis, and called on City Council to hold emergency hearings to protect residents from rising costs as unprecedented federal budget cuts begin to take hold. Speaking days after Mayor Parker’s budget address, faith and labor leaders expressed deep concern that the city is not prepared to fill significant budget gaps resulting from state and…Read More Faith Leaders Meet at Governor Shapiro’s Philly Office; Urge Action on Escalating ICE ActivityFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Dionne Watts-Williams / 215-713-4875 / dwattswilliams@powerinterfaith.org  Philadelphia, PA (February 24, 2026) - Last Thursday, February 19, faith leaders from POWER Interfaith met with representatives from the Office of Josh Shapiro at his Philadelphia office at 16th & Arch Streets, following a February 2 sign-on letter raising urgent concerns about the expanding and militarized actions of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The letter, signed by clergy and faith leaders across Pennsylvania, calls on the Governor to: Publicly denounce recent ICE actions in Minneapolis, where approximately 4,000 agents have been deployed into community spaces. Call for…Read More POWER Interfaith Statement on Governor Shapiro’s 2026–27 Budget AddressFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Dionne Watts-Williams / 215-713-4875 / dwattswilliams@powerinterfaith.org Education, Affordability, and Community Protection: What Pennsylvanians Need (Philadelphia, PA: February 2, 2026) - Today, Governor Shapiro laid out his vision for Pennsylvania’s 2026-27 state budget. POWER Interfaith appreciates the continued commitment to fully funding public education with an outlined commitment of $565M in adequacy funding. Sustained investments in historically underfunded schools, special education, student mental-health supports, and school infrastructure are critical steps toward educational equity. “Where we put our money shows who we believe matters,” said Rev. Dr. Gregory Edwards, Executive Director of POWER Interfaith. “When the state invests…Read More More Than 500 Philadelphians Share Public Testimony with City Council Members at Citywide Summit, Launch Affordability AgendaFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Dionne Watts-Williams / 215-713-4875 / dwattswilliams@powerinterfaith.org Philadelphia, PA (February 2, 2026) - Yesterday, more than 500 Philadelphians from over 30 congregations and faith traditions braved the frigid temperatures and gathered at the historic Mother Bethel AME Church for the Philadelphia Affordability Summit, a citywide assembly organized by POWER Interfaith to confront the city’s growing affordability crisis compounded by cuts and policy decisions at the federal and city levels. Participants represented Christian, Jewish, Muslim, and other faith traditions from congregations across Philadelphia, reflecting broad interfaith concern about displacement and economic pressure on poor and working families.…Read More POWER Interfaith’s Statement on the Killing of Alex PrettiBeloved, Once again, we are confronted with a devastating truth: another person, Alex Pretti, is dead after being shot by immigration officers in Minnesota. And once again, the public is being asked to accept official narratives that do not match what people can see with their own eyes. The use of force that took Alex Pretti’s life isn’t an isolated incident but part of a growing and alarming pattern of violence by immigration enforcement that treats human beings as threats instead of neighbors. As people of faith, we reject the idea that lethal force is an acceptable response to nonviolent…Read More POWER Interfaith’s Statement on the Fatal Shooting in MinnesotaBeloved, We are grieving the loss of life in Minnesota following an encounter involving ICE agents and community members engaged in protest. A person is dead. Families are shattered. A community is left carrying fear and unanswered pain. Let us be clear: the unjust and violent targeting of nonviolent protestors by ICE agents is morally wrong. It violates the dignity of human life and erodes any claim to public safety or justice. Across faith traditions, we hold a shared truth: every life is sacred. No one should be met with lethal force for showing up, bearing witness, or standing alongside…Read More Statement on the Bondi Beach Attack in Sydney, AustraliaWe are deeply shaken by the news of yesterday’s deadly attack at Bondi Beach in Sydney, where people gathered for a Hanukkah celebration were struck by gunfire in a violent act that authorities have described as terrorism and antisemitic violence. Many lives were lost and dozens more were injured - including children, community leaders, and families who were simply coming together in peace and joy. Bigotry hurts all of us, and antisemitism, like all forms of hatred, tears at the fabric of our shared humanity. Our hearts go out to the Jewish community in Sydney and around the world, to…Read More  A Chance for Real Change: POWER Interfaith’s Statement on the H.O.M.E. PlanJust a few weeks ago, 26 congregations across our city opened their buildings, hosting events on the affordability crisis in our city. Over five days, dozens of Philadelphians shared stories about leaking roofs, rising property taxes, impossible rents, and the fear of being priced out of the communities they’ve called home for generations. One message rang clear: people are hurting, and they feel like City Hall isn’t listening. That’s why we were encouraged today to see City Council publicly insist that the first funds from the HOME initiative reach the people who need help the most. Prioritizing low-income households in…Read More Philly Faith Leaders & Residents Issue a Call to City Council on Harmful Tax Cuts That Deepen the City’s Affordability CrisisFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Dionne Watts-Williams / 215-713-4875 / press@powerinterfaith.org  Philadelphia, PA (November 19, 2025) - The federal government may be back open and Pennsylvania’s long-stalled budget is finally in place, but for thousands of Philadelphians, the relief hasn’t reached their kitchen tables. Bills keep rising, wages aren’t keeping up, and the city’s recent decision to phase out the Business Income and Receipts Tax (BIRT) threatens to drain billions from services people rely on.  In the middle of this pressure cooker, 26 congregations stood together last week, holding 14 press events across the city to shine a light on the…Read More POWER Interfaith Celebrates Passage of State Budget as a Victory for Pennsylvania’s Children and CommunitiesPhiladelphia, PA (November 13, 2-25) - POWER Interfaith celebrates the passage of Pennsylvania’s 2025-2026 state budget as a victory for every child, parent, and educator who has raised their voice for justice in education. This budget fulfills the second installment of adequacy funding - a crucial step toward full and fair funding for public schools across the Commonwealth. For months, faith leaders, parents, and community members from every corner of Pennsylvania have shown up for Full & Fair Funding Fridays, called lawmakers, and kept up pressure for a budget that reflects our moral values. “This is what organizing looks like.…Read More VIEW OURCampaigns SIGN UP FORMembership VIEW FULLCalendar Key CausesFair Funding ActionsWe continue to organize and demand for fair funding in Pennsylvania. We come together with our weekly action to demand that Pennsylvania fully and fairly funds public education—for every student, in every zip code. By signing up, you’re joining hundreds of others across Pennsylvania to raise your voice, share your power, and keep the pressure on. .trx_addons_inline_230585851{color:#000000 !important} Join our Weekly Fair Funding Action Series!By signing up for our action alerts, you will be given notification via email, text and social media of quick actions that you can take!Together, we show our lawmakers that people of faith and moral conscience are watching—and we won't stop until every child gets the education they deserve.Take Action. Stay Connected. Build Power  Sign up for fair funding Fridays Our Chapters We are over 50 Congregations throughout Southeastern and Central Pennsylvania....trx_addons_inline_148181737{color:#FFFFFF !important} POWERPhiladelphiaVisit POWERMetroVisit POWERCentral PAVisit POWERLehigh ValleyVisit Our Chapters We are over 50 Congregations throughout Southeastern and Central Pennsylvania....trx_addons_inline_2066262557{color:#FFFFFF !important} POWERPhiladelphiaVisit POWERMetroVisit POWERCentral PAVisit POWERLehigh ValleyVisit Our Chapters We are over 50 Congregations throughout Southeastern and Central Pennsylvania....trx_addons_inline_1847490814{color:#FFFFFF !important} POWERPhiladelphiaVisit POWERMetroVisit POWERCentral PAVisit POWERLehigh ValleyVisit Fast & SecureMake a Donation.trx_addons_inline_2124501966{color:#FFFFFF !important}