FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 12, 2023
CONTACT: Dionne Watts-Williams, 215-713-4875, press@powerinterfaith.org
PHILADELPHIA, PA – POWER Interfaith, in collaboration with Mother Bethel AME Church, will convene 150+ clergy, people of faith, and First District constituents to discuss the proposed arena, its impact on Philadelphia and ask questions of Councilmember Mark Squilla about the project. Philadelphians overwhelmingly oppose the construction of an arena in Center City, and this meeting will seek to unravel critical questions about the high cost of building an arena; the allocation of local, state, and federal funds; and an arena’s impact on First District congregations and constituents.
Rev. Mark Tyler, Civic Engagement Strategist of POWER Interfaith and Pastor of Mother Bethel AME Church, says, “Today’s gathering is a testament to the power of unity among people of faith and diverse backgrounds. This isn’t merely about bricks and mortar; it’s about the heart and soul of Philadelphia.”
The community meeting will offer a platform for diverse perspectives and an open dialogue among people of various religious, cultural, and racial backgrounds to discuss the ripple effects of the arena that impact neighborhoods across the city including displacement of businesses and residents and supporting communities’ self-determination.
What: Community meeting to discuss the proposed Center City arena’s impact on Philadelphia.
When: Sunday, December 17, 2023 | 2 pm – 3:30 pm
Where: Mother Bethel AME Church, 419 S 6th St, Philadelphia, PA 19147
Livestream of the event will be available for remote coverage:
www.facebook.com/powerinterfaith
Who: Councilmember Mark Squilla (1st District, Philadelphia);
Rev. Dr. Mark Tyler (POWER Interfaith; Pastor, Mother Bethel AME Church);
Rev. Wayne Lee (Pastor, Chinatown Christian Church);
Rev. Michael Caine (Old First Reformed United Church of Christ);
Rev. Hannah Capaldi (First Unitarian Church);
Rabbi Abi Weber (Congregation BZBI);
Rev. Robin Hynicka (Arch Street United Methodist Church);
Rev. Dr. Leslie Callahan (St. Paul’s Baptist Church);
Rev. Carla Jones Brown (Arch Street Presbyterian Church);
Fr. Joseph Wallace-Williams (St. Luke of the Epiphany);
Kate Esposito (Philadelphia Ethical Society)
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POWER Interfaith is a network of 200 congregations throughout Philadelphia and the surrounding counties, in the Lehigh Valley and in Lancaster, a statewide organizing force for economic and racial justice on a livable planet. More about POWER Interfaith at www.powerinterfaith.org.
