One Pager: THIS WEEK IN COUNCIL Political Education SERIESTHIS WEEK IN COUNCIL: political Education SERIES The work of City Council affects almost every facet of our lives. It is the primary legislative body in Philly that enacts laws and establishes policy for everything from picking up the trash, overseeing public education, fixing our streets, regulating labor practices, determining land use, allocating the City’s resources, to setting how much local taxes we pay. Sometimes, it seems distant and hard to understand and we think only the insiders and paid lobbyists know what to do. But we can have a big impact locally if we know how the system works. Information is power and we need to empower ourselves and our communities by understanding all the institutions that govern us, starting with the one closest to the people, City Council. SIGN UP FOR THE WORKSHOPS HERE WHAT is the Political Education Series? This Week in Council is a ten part online workshop series which will begin on September 24. These workshops will help members of our communities become better informed about the functions of City Council and the role Councilmembers play in the everyday lives of the residents in the city. This will be an introduction to the inner workings of our local government. The workshops will be informative and interactive. Mostly on Thursday evenings, from 6-7 pm. The 10 online workshops will cover every facet of City Council, including following some actual bills as they move through the legislative process: Date Topic September 24, Thursday What Phila City Council is and What Power it has October 1, Thursday How a Bill Becomes A Law October 8, Thursday How to read City Council Legislation October 22, Thursday City of Philadelphia Budget 101 October 29, Thursday City Council Committees November 12, Thursday The Phila Ward Systems & our local government November 19, Thursday Teach-In & Updates on City Council bills November 24, Tuesday Teach-In & Updates on City Council bills December 7, Monday Teach-In & Updates on City Council bills December 10, Thursday Teach-In & Updates on City Council bills HOW will it work? We are not be able to gather together in person so the courses will be offered through zoom. However, this is not a passive webinar and we will require that participants carve out time to really be fully present as much as possible. These session will be best experienced if you can join by computer or tablet because attendees will be able to access all interactive components of the training. After attending our 10 workshop series, attendees will feel more confident about their understanding of the day to day roles and responsibilities of City Council and be able to share this important information with their communities, and more importantly get involved with issue campaigns in a way that holds Council members accountable. WHO should apply? ● We are looking for people who are hungry to understand the local government. ● The sessions are designed for participants with a basic or no understanding of government. ● We encourage organizations to send staff and leaders. ● We particularly encourage people of color, women and transgender people, LGBT people and poor and working class people to apply.