Together, we worked to organize as many of our family, friends, and neighbors as we could into our transformative movement for justice in Pennsylvania. Although many of us are disappointed and dismayed by the outcome of events, we have come into 2025 with renewed clarity. We know what we must do.

As I said in my New Year message, Pennsylvania’s urban, suburban, and rural communities MUST stand together in mutual interdependence, building the collective power necessary to ensure justice and dignity for all.Together we must BUILD A BIGGER WE, and act courageously together.

POWER Interfaith started this work over a decade ago. We continued to build collective power in 2024, and we will not stop until liberation is our reality. To quote abolitionist Theodore Parker, “I do not pretend to understand the moral universe, the arc is a long one, my eye reaches but little ways. I cannot calculate the curve and complete the figure by the experience of sight; I can divine it by conscience. But from what I see I am sure it bends towards justice.” It is my pleasure to share with you the highlights of all we accomplished together in 2024. Thank you for walking with us. I wish you all blessings, peace, and solidarity always.

~Rev. Dr. Gregory Edwards

Looking back, I’m most struck by the fact that in the face of the uncertainty of the presidential election, so many Pennsylvanians took responsibility for organizing congregations and communities, and had the courage to share their story, host a meeting, take public risk, and lead publicly.

We kicked off 2024 with the Roadmap to Justice Convention, where over 400 community leaders from across the state launched our Platform for a Prosperous Pennsylvania. These folks took action with their legislators to simultaneously win the largest increase of public education funding for chronically and systemically underfunded schools, and stopped corporate interests and billionaires from winning private education vouchers.

In Philadelphia, community leaders hosted house meetings, gathered their fellow congregants, and had sacred conversations about the city’s housing crisis. Over 700 people shared their experience of how corporate interests and developers are driving up housing and rent costs, and pushing people out of their neighborhoods, rendering our neighborhoods unaffordable for our families.

Leaders in Lancaster County facilitated a community survey, unveiling similar concerns about housing safety and affordability. Lancaster leaders also hosted one of the largest Fair Funding rallies in the state, gaining momentum for full and fair funding for black, brown, and lower-income school districts across the commonwealth.

Throughout the year, our democracy fellows and faith leaders had more than 30,000 conversations with voters, encouraging them to vote and make a voting plan.

Everyday, people are deciding to build power and organize their communities with POWER Interfaith so that together we can make Pennsylvania a place where everyone can thrive. Thanks for being part of this work – I’m so glad to be with you in it.

~Sara Melton