I'm starting this thread for people who are frustrated by some of Philadelphia's more nagging problems and are looking for something that they, personally, can do to make things better.

I'll start out by listing some organizations that I have given money to or am considering giving money to that I believe are, or can potentially, make a difference in the city.

Everybody please feel free to add your own ideas/tips/organizations to this thread.

P.S. Maybe a mod can sticky this?

P.P.S. Let's please try to keep replies to this thread as factful as possible.

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Your representatives on Philadelphia's City Council are at odds with our new mayor over whether many reforms he has proposed should become law. Please write to them and tell them what your priorities are.

Indict State Senator Vince Fumo into The Crooked Pol Hall of Fame.

Sunday Breakfast Rescue Mission -- This organizations has been around for a very long time and counts John Wanamaker as one of its original trustees. It runs a homeless shelter that, along with food and lodging, also provides addiction treatment and job training.

Liberti Community Ministries (LCM) -- They're still trying to get this off the ground, but I am personally acquainted with most of the people behind the organization and can vouch that they are not politically connected and will make the most they possibly can out of any money they get. The idea, initially, is to open a thrift store that will eventually work as both a job training tool for Philadelphia's homeless and a funding source for the organization. Several of the people trying to start the organization have already worked very hard to help the city's homeless and have successfully gotten some of them off the street, into housing/jobs and, in some cases, through rehab (I have personally met some of these former homeless people since, as I mentioned, I am know the organizers personally and am an occasional volunteer with the organization).

Donations can be sent to:

Liberti Community Ministries
PO Box 56022
Philadelphia, PA 19130
(215) 255-8414

Dignity Housing -- I don't know a whole lot about this organization beyond an article I saw in the Metro, but they sound like a solid organization with a good track record and, once I do a little more research on them, I will probably donate money and/or goods and services to them.

__________________
Your representatives on Philadelphia's City Council are at odds with our new mayor over whether many reforms he has proposed should become law. Please write to them and tell them what your priorities are.

Indict State Senator Vince Fumo into The Crooked Pol Hall of Fame.

Boy did you start this thread off on a positive note. Thanks for the insight.

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Your representatives on Philadelphia's City Council are at odds with our new mayor over whether many reforms he has proposed should become law. Please write to them and tell them what your priorities are.

Indict State Senator Vince Fumo into The Crooked Pol Hall of Fame.

What a great thread, thanks Dave.

Here's something you can do to help Philadelphia, and it won't cost any money or take more than two minutes: go sign the petition for public access to crime data at the following site:

http://www.phillycrime.org/gbook.html

Thanks.

Be a presence in the streets. Travel on foot and take public transportation so the sidewalks, stations, and transit vehicles stay populated. Walk with your head up. Patronize local businesses. Talk to your neighbors.

Read the "How to build community" poster:
http://www.syrculturalworkers.com/ca...Community.html

Pick up trash when you see in on the street!

the best thing anyone can do for this city is create high-paying jobs. Be an entrepreneur. Work hard. And create J-O-B-S.

Some good replys here

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Do unto others as you would have them do unto you

I know Madmax was being sarcastic in his response, but in my opinion leaving is probably the worse thing you could do to help make Philadelphia a better place. Sometimes I think how much easier my life would be if I lived in a supposed Utopian town in the burbs, but I like a little bit of a challenge in life. Besides, I don't think I would be very happy leaving knowing that I was a part of the problem and not the solution.

Here are some of my ideas (some of which have already been mentioned):
1. Speak up. Whether on Phillyblog, in the community, or protesting City Hall...let the powers that be know that you think something should be different.
2. Join a local community organization or civic association.
3. Pick up trash. Every day, once a week, or during specific community clean-up days. This city has a wretched trash problem, and any amount of time that is spent helping the situation could only be a good thing.
4. Walk to work some days instead of driving. The more people on the street, the better.

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- George -

http://www.nutter2007.com

To expand on gap's post, http://www.hallwatch.org is a very good way to get in touch with the folks in city hall and express your ideas and views. I truly think that many, if not most, of our elected officials do have the city's best interests in mind but simply don't have the right perspective on how to attain that goal. The more imput they get from citizens, the better.

__________________
Your representatives on Philadelphia's City Council are at odds with our new mayor over whether many reforms he has proposed should become law. Please write to them and tell them what your priorities are.

Indict State Senator Vince Fumo into The Crooked Pol Hall of Fame.