NEWS

Love Now Magazine

Philly’s Motivation: A Source of Pride and Resilience in Philadelphia

Williams utilized his hardships as tools for success and grew a thriving social media platform known as Philly’s Motivation, posting 60-second videos that make people smile, whether through “a prayer or inspiring someone through grief, suicidal thoughts, or depression,” said Williams.
His messages were like little love notes to the community, spreading hope and optimism in challenging times.

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News

The Revolution Continues: Tyler Fauntleroy Brings History, Hip-Hop, and Hope to the Hamilton National Tour 

In the titular role of Hamilton, Tyler Fauntleroy is a storyteller with a mission. “We’re all citizens going through this together. The cast feels it, too. We’re metabolizing what’s happening in the world, and that energy makes it into the performance.” In this, the production promises to be more than just an evening’s entertainment – it’s a chance to witness history and embody the joy, camaraderie, and collective power that live theater can offer its audiences.

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Every Voice Every Vote

Yes, and?: Philadelphia’s Gen Z Voters aren’t taking just “Yes” for an answer 

For young people entering their first or second election cycle, it can be easy to miss the hard work being done to address the day-to-day issues Americans are facing when its opposite is dominating the media.The importance of optimism in young voters is not something that can be understated, arguably, because their support is some of the most needed.

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Love Now Magazine

Freeing the Cvgebird

Cvgebird takes social and systemic issues, and makes them sonically compelling, as well as being informed and interesting. Everything is intentional, whether it be for Selina, the listener, or both.

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Love Now Magazine

Determined and Never Afraid: Dana “DJ Showtyme” Johnson

Dana Johnson continues to offer herself to the world, despite the traumas she’s endured. She recognizes that she is an example for many who admire her and offers herself as a voice for those oppressed, ignored, and forgotten. DJ Showtyme reminds us that adversity shapes us, but doesn’t define who we are to ourselves or others.

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StoryCorps

Cosmic Bonds and “the Comet of the Century”

On Saturday, October 12th, a rare comet will be at its most visible over Philadelphia – streaking through the sky and easily visible with a telescope or binoculars. Named “Tsuchinshan-Atlas”, the comet will make its closest approach to Earth for the next 80,000 years and promises to be the “comet of the century.”

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Love Now Magazine

The Exemplary Manhood of Frontline Dads 

So, what does it mean to be a Frontline Dad? Jones describes it as “exemplary manhood,” a recurring phrase taught to mentees. “You don’t have to be a biological father to be a dad,” he emphasizes. “We come from communities where we believe in taking a village to raise a child.”

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Equity

Activist Debbie Wei on Love for Community and the Fight to Save Philadelphia’s Chinatown

When I ask Debbie if Parker’s recent endorsement means the fight to save Chinatown is lost, she looks up from her mapo tofu noodles and laughs. “Oh God, no,” she chuckles, reminding me that Mayor Street’s pet project was a proposal to put the Phillies stadium in Chinatown and Mayor Nutter eyed the neighborhood as the site for a casino. The community defeated both.

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News

Singing From the Shadows at Philly Story Fest 2024

Today, the media company is best known for hosting storytelling “parties,” where journalists and reporters share compelling narratives in front of a live audience. These immersive events occur twice a year in cities like San Francisco, Detroit and our own, Philadelphia. One participant, who moved to Philly to escape the frantic pace of New York, captured the essence of this year’s festival: “It’s about feeling something profound—leaving different than when you arrived.”

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Poet's Press

Weaving Freedom Dreams: A Collaborative Poem 

This poem was compiled at the Fall 2024 Release Party for Love Now Magazine. Attendees were asked to write down their feelings and responses to various prompts, in haiku format, and submit them anonymously for publication. Following the event, the haikus were compiled by curator Kim Russell into a longer form poem, published above.

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News

Cultivating a Culture of Peace for Peace Day Philly’s 40th Year

First initiated in 1984, World Peace Day is in its 40th year of celebration. This year’s theme was ‘Cultivate a Culture of Peace.’ Founded in 2012, Peace Day Philly continues this tradition by curating demonstrations of peace around the city of Philadelphia in the lead-up to International Peace Day, observed annually on September 21st.

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Equity

When it comes to your job, how much ‘AI anxiety’ makes sense?

Optimistically, we’re in a very exciting time for the technology, and the possibilities truly do feel endless. On the other hand, we may just be in another AI boom. The bubble could burst and leave us with just enough machine learning to make things a little easier, but without a major Jetsons-level advance drastically changing how we live and work.

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StoryCorps

The New Normal: Rewriting the Narrative of Black Motherhood with StoryCorps

In June 2024, for the first time in its history, the Philadelphia City Council allocated $1 million to address the Black maternal health crisis. Based on a recent report from ABC News, the government at all levels is collaborating to improve maternal health by increasing access to midwives and doulas to address common issues and coordinate necessary care. And just last week, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services pledged $568 million to support efforts to improve maternal health.

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Equity

Community Education Will Save Us: West Philadelphia’s W.E.B. Du Bois Abolition School 

“Education must not simply teach work – it must teach life.” Teaching life means transmitting survival tools that allow folk to live freely and fully. This framework underpins the mission of the West Philadelphia-based W.E.B. Du Bois Movement School for Abolition & Reconstruction (the Abolition School), a critical space for political education born from the 2020 uprisings.

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