Hi John , Welcome to the latest New Pennsylvania Project newsletter with all the news you can use and more!
If you haven't been to our website in a while, check it out! We have added some new content, including information about the 2025 judicial elections. |
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ICYMI: Episode 12 of Slingshot The Podcast Has Dropped |
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| In This Episode, You’ll Hear About: |
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The legacy of Reading Rainbow, PBS, and public broadcasting as tools for education and empowerment
- How harsh school policies push kids toward the criminal justice system
- How defunding public television and schools connects to the school-to-prison pipeline
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Don't Miss Out: Episode 13 drops next Thursday October 2nd at 12PM ET.
Watch it on YouTube, or listen wherever you get your podcasts (Apple, Spotify, etc.) |
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From @newpennsylvania Happy Constitution Day from founding CEO Kadida Kenner!
Many people don't realize that we have our own constitution in Pennsylvania, which allows us a lot more rights and freedoms than the U.S. Constitution.
Think of it like this: the U.S. Constitution sets the floor—the bare minimum rights and protections every state must guarantee us.
The Pennsylvania Constitution is the ceiling, offering additional rights or stronger protections if the state chooses.
That's why local elections matter so much! #VoteLocal #CourtsMatter
We need our elected officials to align with and protect the rights outlined in our state constitution.
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Judge rebukes Trump for firing essential federal employees: A federal judge upbraided the Trump administration in a sharply worded ruling, finding that it broke the law in early 2025 by firing federal workers in vital roles protecting public safety and supporting the economy.
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A federal judge rejected the Trump administration's attempt to dismiss a lawsuit filed by Democratic-led states challenging Trump's anti-voting executive order. As a result, the case will move forward.
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Three Pennsylvania Supreme Court justices have reached the end of their first, 10-year terms, and are up for retention — non-partisan, up-or-down votes that decide whether they get another term or have to step down.
“Robes that these judges and justices wear are black, they’re not red, they’re not blue,” Kadida Kenner, of the progressive New Pennsylvania Project, told WITF. “Justices and judges wear black robes for the people, not for the political parties.” |
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On Saturday, September 13th the Berks County Democratic Committee held a special event to help ensure the people making those choices are well informed about whom they’re selecting and their role in government.
“I really want to express how important these elections are because down-ballot drop off is huge,” Kadida Kenner, founding CEO of the New Pennsylvania Project and moderator of the event, told the crowd that gathered at the committee’s headquarters in Reading. “Most people don’t know who they are or what they do. So we have to make sure we take the time to research these candidates so we can make really good decisions for you and your loved ones.” |
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When: September 23rd,
6–7 PM Where: Zoom |
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Across the country, we’ve seen challenges to rights many of us once assumed were secure—whether it’s due process, free speech, or even fair elections. Moments like these remind us how important it is to have strong institutions that can stand up against abuse of power.
In Pennsylvania, our courts have often played that role. The state Supreme Court and other courts have protected our civil and voting rights and helped preserve the balance of our democracy.
Join us, For Our Future PA, and The New Pennsylvania Project to learn how Pennsylvania’s courts have safeguarded our rights in the past—and why they remain essential to protecting democracy today.
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| WHY COURTS MATTER —and so does your voice! Featuring Kadida Kenner, founding CEO of the New Pennsylvania Project.
Join us for a lively forum on why this November is so important and how you can inspire others to get involved. |
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Judicial Education Forum
Join us for a Judicial Edudcation Forum moderated by founding CEO Kadida Kenner of the New PA Project Education Fund. Judge Nicole Tate-Wilborn, Judge Stella Tsai, and Judge Timika Lane will be joining the forum.
Date: Thursday, October 2 Time: 6pm - 7pm
Location: Tec Centro Berks, 450 S 6th, Reading, PA 19602 |
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| NAACP Main Line 96th Freedom Fund Luncheon Kadida Kenner, founding CEO of the New Pennsylvania Project, will be this year’s keynote speaker. Ms. Kenner is a passionate advocate for voting rights, civic engagement, and progressive policies that uplift communities. Her address will inspire us to take bold action and strengthen our collective commitment to justice. Date: Saturday, October 18 Time: 11:30am EDT. Doors at 11am Location: Desmond Hotel Malvern, a DoubleTree by Hilton One Liberty Boulevard Malvern, PA 19355 |
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| National Voter Registration Day |
Our team was on the ground at St. Joseph's University for National Voter Registration Day this past week!
Pictured here are some members of our executive team, including our Chief Development and Grants Officer, Katy, and founding CEO Kadida Kenner on the ground connecting with younger voters.
It's super important students are in the know about the upcoming election - did you know student voters have the ability to sway election results?
This is because in many U.S. college towns, students make up such a large share of the population—so much that sometimes by just a handful of ballots can change election results! |
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We were also present at COMHAR's Wellness Block Party on Saturday, September 13th, registering folks to vote. You can see the recap here.
We're very proud to partner with an organization that is trusted to help transform the lives of the most vulnerable among us living with chronic and complex behavioral health challenges and intellectual and developmental disabilities.
We believe in empowering these communities by making sure they have equal access to civic education. We want to empower all individuals to advocate for their rights and voice their vote. |
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Everything we do, from hosting town halls and producing podcasts to knocking on doors, expands Pennsylvania's electorate by engaging Pennsylvanians to be civically involved and encouraging them to turn out to vote twice a year, none of it would be possible without you. |
The New Pennsylvania Project, a nonpartisan voter registration and voting rights organization, is pushing for automatic voter registration to be expanded beyond PennDOT driver license centers to state social service agencies that also offer clients the opportunity to register to vote.
"Right now it's just an opt-out," Kadida Kenner said. "It's just folks hearing that you have an opportunity to opt-out if you don't want to be automatically registered to vote. But this doesn't impact the communities in particular that we center, because so many of the folks that we center — communities of color, immigrant communities, the youth — they're not going to the DMV."
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On Nov. 4, Pennsylvanians will elect local officials who make critical decisions about public safety, financial priorities, and more.
Some voters will see candidates for tax collector, auditor, and other related positions on their ballot, depending on how their local government is structured. Read here to find out what these folks do! |
Thank you for staying informed and engaged! |
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| The New Pennsylvania Project is a 501(c)(4). Contributions are not for charitable purposes and are not tax deductible.
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