Ways to Get Involved and Speak Out in Northwest Philly

by Lis Bass, for the Shuttle

June 11, 2026

In today’s political climate, many community members want to take action. In Minneapolis last winter, local organizers coordinated 30,000 people who came out to protest the actions of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in the city. That number is inspiring, but you don’t have to go to Minneapolis to get involved.

Your neighbors in Northwest Philadelphia have been working hard to organize against the current political situation. Rather than falling into despair or doom scrolling, I suggest that you join in the action.

The first step is to learn what’s going on by researching and connecting with organizations. Then you can sign up for emails and join demonstrations.

There are amazing payoffs for joining in. Working with others can make you feel part of our community. Also, there’s personal growth in volunteering; for example, learning to “step up or step back” at meetings is a practice that will serve you in many areas of life. When you’re “stepping up,” you share your ideas so the group can benefit from your participation. When you step back, you make sure there is space for all voices to be heard.

The goal of these actions is to recast this painful moment in history as the birth pangs of a better world. As Joan Baez said, “Action is the antidote to despair.” Building a movement with your neighbors is a way to cultivate hope and an answer to isolation.

Here are a few local groups you may want to learn more about:

American Civil Liberties Union. ACLU-PA: www.aclupa.org
Asylum Pride (Supports LGBTQIA+ immigrants) www.asylumpridehouse.org
Bread & Roses Community Fund (Funder of Grassroots Organizing) www.breadrosesfund.org
Face to Face (Provides fresh hot meals, along with legal, health and social services to those in need) www.facetofacegermantown.org
Families for Ceasefire familiesforceasefirephilly@gmail.com
GREAT- Germantown Residents for Economic Alternatives Together (Community Support Organization fighting for Social Justice) www.greatgtown.org
Indigenous Education www.indedu.org
Indivisible Philadelphia (Progressive Political Action) www.indivisiblephiladelphia.com
Immigrant Justice Coalition (a collection of immigrant solidarity groups) www.immigrantjusticecoalition.org
Juntos (Community-led, latine immigrant organization in South Philly) www.vamosjuntos.org
MAIN (Mt Airy Indivisible Neighbors) mtairyindivisible@gmail.com
MANDI (Mt. Airy Diversity Initiative): mtairydiversityinitiative@gmail.com
May Day Strong www.maydaystrong.org
Movement Voter Project movement.vote/
New Sanctuary Movement www.sanctuaryphiladelphia.org
Northwest Philly No Ice www.nwphillynoice.com
Philadelphia Neighborhood Networks: info@phillynn.org
Prayers for Peace: prayersforpeacealliance.org. Palestinians and Jews support each other and organize to end U.S.support for Israeli anti-Palestinian violence, aggression and dispossession
Reclaim Philly www.reclaimphiladelphia.org
Third Act (for activists over 60) www.thirdact.org
Teachers: The National Education Association and American Federation of Teachers have toolkits for immigrant solidarity
Welcoming Homes (matches young adult immigrants with safe homes and caring families) www.welcoming-homes.org

Demonstrations, events, and trainings:

Interfaith Prayer Vigils: Wednesdays at noon outside the Philly office of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, 114 N. 8th St.
We the People Wednesdays www.wethepeopleweds.org (music, speakers, action every week at Allen Lane Train station in Mt. Airy)
Mondays at McCormick’s: phillyprotest.com/event/mondays-at-mccormicks-3: Show Dave McCormick we need a senator who stands up for peace, justice and human rights.
Fridays at Fetterman’s: fridays-fettermans.mailchimpsites.com
First Saturday of the month, Citizens Bank Chestnut Hill, 8623 Germantown Ave., 10 a.m. (Citizens supports the building of detention facilities).
Vigils at ICE offices, 114 N. 8^th St. (interfaith clergy and State Sen. Art Haywood): Mondays at 11 a.m. and Wednesdays at noon (New Sanctuary Movement).
State Sen. Nikil Savall and City Council members Kendra Brooks and Rue Landau conduct Ice Out trainings. Go to training.iceoutphilly.org or request a training for your community: www.request.iceoutphilly.org
Northwest Immigration Network (12 coalition organizations) nwrefugeeandimmigrant@gmail.com
State Sen. Haywood conducts civil disobedience trainings and vigils at the ICE office: www.senatorhaywood.com
State Rep. and Third District Democratic Congressional candidate Chris Rabb: www.rabbforthepeople.com

Let’s build on what’s here, share what we are doing and invite others to join us! If you have questions or need more information, email mtairydiversityinitiative@gmail.com.