#BILLYPENNGRAM OF THE DAY
Race prep on Race Street
(Photo by @billlent)
From trauma to teaching: Philly gun violence survivors are rewriting how gun violence gets covered
Oronde McClain was only 10 years old when he was shot in the head while waiting for a SEPTA bus in East Mount Airy, leaving him critically injured and in a coma for seven weeks. At 13, he spoke to his grandmother’s church about his struggles, which included multiple suicide attempts and re-learning how to walk and talk.
When it was over, “I stood up out of the wheelchair and I did it. And I was like, ‘This feels good.’ ” Now an adult, McClain’s journey informs his work as one of Philly’s leading advocates for gun violence survivors. Continue reading …
Check out photos from the 2025 Peoplehood Parade and Pageants
The 25th annual Peoplehood Parade and Pageant swelled through the streets of West Philadelphia on Saturday, with a tapestry of collective voices and vision.
Led by Spiral Q, a community arts organization that’s fused art and activism for more than two decades, this year’s milestone event celebrated a quarter century of turning creative expression into collective action and camaraderie: “just being together is a medicine.”
Check out the photos and continue reading …
RECAP: What else happened?
$ = paywalled
• Pennsylvania and New Jersey began sending SNAP benefits immediately after a federal judge ordered full restoration on Friday, though President Trump demanded they reverse course and the Supreme Court temporarily halted payments. [CBS3/AP]
• Pa. environmentalists urge Gov. Shapiro not to exit climate program in exchange for budget deal. [PhillyVoice]
• SEPTA cancels several Regional Rail line trains for Monday morning commute. [NBC10]
• Mayor Parker vows that, this time, the city’s Market East planning will succeed. [Billy Penn]
• “We’re standing up to the bosses”: Wyndham hotel room attendants, cooks, bartenders and other hospitality workers strike in Philadelphia. [NBC10]
• A Kensington florist turns their studio into a white-tablecloth restaurant and hosts a free, weekly breakfast club amid SNAP cuts. [Inq$]
• Wilma Theater’s first all-ages production has fear, fairy tales and Frozen vibes. [BP]
MAYOR WATCH
The mayor has no public events scheduled for today.
ON THE CALENDAR
🍂 Autumn festival lineup
🏃🏽 Philly Runners Guide
🎞️ Ongoing: The Declaration’s Journey — Available on the WHYY YouTube Channel. New episodes will appear every two weeks.
Monday, Nov. 10: Northwest Philly Small Business Summit
A one-day event designed to empower local Northwest Philly businesses by offering practical workshops, expert panels and ample networking opportunities. $30 tickets includes a continental breakfast and happy hour refreshments. (8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.)
Monday, Nov. 10: The Anatomy of Opera: Larynx, Lungs, Legato & Beyond!
Ever wonder how opera singers make those sounds? Did you know that the human voice all comes from an area that is less than the size of a dime? Learn how these elements and more contribute to the incredible opera voices that have been captivating audiences for centuries. (6 to 7 p.m.)
Monday, Nov. 10: Indie RPG Night
At BUBS cafe in Kensington. Tonight’s games are similar to role-playing games such as Dungeons & Dragons (D&D), but tend to be simpler to learn, and have more shared narrative control for all players. (6 to 10 p.m.)
Monday, Nov. 10: The Phantom of the Opera concert
At this free organ concert and film screening in the Wanamaker Grand Court, Peter Richard Conte provides live accompaniment to Rupert Julian’s 1925 silent film classic about a hideously deformed man who haunts the sewers beneath the Paris Opera. Free, first-come, first-served seating. Doors open at 6:30 for 7 p.m. concert.
Tuesday, Nov. 11: Veterans Day Family Hike
Join Friends of the Wissahickon and Hike+Heal for a special family hike honoring those who have served while reflecting on connection, resilience, and gratitude in nature. (1 to 3:30 p.m.)
Tuesday, Nov. 11: Wild About Learning
Learn how to use nature journals and foldables to get your students excited about learning. These versatile teaching tools can be used for a wide variety of subjects including science, art, math, language arts, natural history and more. Find fresh ideas, ready to use, for K–12 classrooms. $25 tickets. (2 to 5 p.m.)
Tuesday, Nov. 11: Poetry Battle + Friendsgiving Potluck
“Bring a dish. Bring your voice. No alcohol — just art, community and real energy.” Donations support the poets. Fall mocktails all night. At FaceClock Gallery in Norris Square. (6 p.m.)
Tuesday, Nov. 11: Contemporary Video Art Exhibition 2025 Screening & Conversation
The seventh iteration of this exhibit celebrates recorded moving images by artists from South and South-West Asia, North Africa (SSWANA), as well as artists of indentured Indian descent and their diasporas. At Twelve Gates Arts (12G), co-presented with PAAFF. (6 to 8:30 p.m.)
Wednesday, Nov. 12: Toast to the Circuit Trails
Join the group at Cherry St. Pier as they mark a monumental milestone for the Circuit Trails network! This isn’t just a celebration; it’s a chance to honor the communities, stories, and moments that make the Circuit Trails so special. Optional pre-party walks. Free with registration. (5:30 p.m.)
Wednesday, Nov. 12: Birthright Citizenship and the U.S. Constitution course
This seminar with the Rosenbach will examine the history of birthright citizenship (dating from at least 1608),the regulation of immigration from the adoption of the Constitution to the Civil War, and the debates over the citizenship clause in the 14th Amendment. Led by Paul Finkelman, PhD. Virtual class. $50 tickets. (6 to 7:30 p.m.)
Through Nov. 16: Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival
PAAFF returns for its 18th year of screenings and yearround workshops, panels and more. Various prices and locations.
The post Surviving gun violence; Peoplehood pics; SNAP drama | Morning Roundup appeared first on Billy Penn at WHYY.
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