Philadelphians Organized to Witness, Empower, and Rebuild (POWER)

Background

POWER was founded in 2011 as a collection of 37 interfaith leaders predominately from minority communities in Philadelphia. The early efforts of the group consisted in hosting town hall-style meetings and developing a policy agenda broadly supported by the organization. ^{2 3}

The organization led campaigns supporting a broader effort to adopt a $15 minimum wage in Philadelphia and advancing left-of-center policy positions on criminal justice, environmentalism, and healthcare. Another early campaign led by the group was an advocacy effort for higher wages for employees at the Philadelphia International Airport, which was assisted by labor unions that partnered with the group, including 32BJ Service Employees International Union and UNITE HERE Local 274. ^{2 3}

Activities

In 2020, the organization was heavily involved with the Black Lives Matter movement and began the Live Free Campaign for Criminal Justice Reform which supported the passage of two ballot initiatives in the City of Philadelphia: one ending “stop and frisk” policies and another creating a police oversight commission that gives investigative oversight power of the police department to a civilian group. ^{3 4}

Other campaigns led by POWER include a Civic Engagement Campaign which attempted to increase voter turnout during the 2020 elections and a Climate Justice Campaign that supports left-of-center energy policy and calls for an end to the use of fossil fuels. ⁵

In September 2022, POWER held a rally at the Mother Bethel AME Church in Philadelphia to show support for embattled Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner (D), who was held in contempt by the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for failing to comply with a subpoena from the House Committee on Restoring Law and Order. Jerry Jordan, president of the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers also attended the event and praised Krasner, who was held in contempt by a bipartisan majority of the state house, with ten Philadelphia-area Democrats siding with Republicans in favor of the measure. ⁶

Funding

POWER is funded by many left-of-center organizations and foundations including national organizations and those focused on Pennsylvania and Philadelphia. Funders of the group include the Leonard Davis Healthcare initiative, the William Penn Foundation, the Samuel S. Fels Fund, The Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Campaign for Human Development, the Alfred and Mary Douty Foundation, Wayne Presbyterian Church, the Valentine Foundation, the Faith in Action Network, the Partnership for Working Families, the Democracy Alliance, the Climate and Clean Energy Equity Fund, Our Member Congregations, the Proteus Fund, and the Foundation to Promote Open Society. ⁷