What We Do

The Philadelphia Equity Alliance (the “Alliance”) drives equitable, inclusive, and resilient economic growth in Philadelphia. By partnering with businesses, labor, clergy, civic organizations and governments, the Alliance advances solutions that help close the racial wealth gap by growing minority-owned businesses, increasing and improving minority employment and pushing for pay equity.

The Philadelphia Equity Alliance also works to achieve health equity, reduce gun violence, improve educational opportunities, promote the Black and Latinx arts and entertainment community, and ensure government programs prioritize equity and inclusivity.

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Philadelphia at a Glance

41%

of the population is Black

35%

of the population is WHITE

15%

of the population is HISPANIC

14%

of the population is foreign-born

13%

of the population have one foreign-born parent

23%

PHILADELPHIA’S POVERTY RATE IS HIGHER THAN ANY OTHER BIG CITY

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Philadelphia has the largest disparity between Black businesses & Black population.

The median household income of Black Philadelphians is 43% lower than their white counterparts. Hispanic Philadelphians are 49% lower.

GUN VIOLENCE

is the leading cause of death among Black men ages 15 to 34, perpetuated by complex personal histories and poor socioeconomic and environmental conditions.

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Philadelphia Equity Alliance Mission

The Philadelphia Alliance mission is to make Philadelphia the most inclusive and equitable big city in America. Our 2021 initiatives include:

PROMOTE COMMUNITY SAFETY AND REDUCE GUN VIOLENCE

Support and accelerate programs that reduce gun violence through strategic intervention with at-risk adults and youth, training and developing prevention teams, better leveraging social services and creating employment opportunities.

GROW MINORITY BUSINESSES

Advance the recovery and growth of existing Black and brown enterprises and support Black and brown startups by developing a well coordinated ecosystem that provides capital and offers operating support for businesses throughout their life cycles.

EDUCATION INFRASTRUCTURE AND PROGRAMMING

Support the school district in the creation of a 21st-century system of education that ensures successful student outcomes, including modernizing school infrastructure and preparing future-ready students.

HEALTH EQUITY

Convene the region’s health systems to research and develop a joint approach to deploying modern strategies that will improve health outcomes in Black and brown communities.

Saturday Morning Group

The Saturday Morning Group (the “SMG”) is a collaborative of diverse leaders from across the region and from a variety of personal and professional backgrounds that serves as an advisory council to the Alliance.

 

The SMG gathers regularly to discuss pressing issues in Philadelphia and ways in which the individual members can contribute to positioning Philadelphia as the most inclusive and equitable big city in America.

Members of this collaborative volunteer for project teams to advance the Philadelphia Equity Alliance’s efforts in each of the defined areas of focus. This first-of-a-kind approach rapidly connects leaders who might not otherwise come together to share their expertise and resources to advance transformative outcomes.