Meeting a Legend

And don’t forget my office can help!

In October, I had the honor to meet a civil rights icon, the Rev. Jesse Jackson, when he visited the state Capitol in Harrisburg. Rev. Jackson made the trip to meet with members of the Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus and to hear about a Dauphin County program that helps incarcerated people vote.

I had the privilege to introduce Rev. Jackson at the start of the legislative session, when I discussed his history-making life and legacy, including being a civil rights and voting rights activist, Baptist minister, international hostage negotiator, and a presidential candidate. After being recognized, he received a bipartisan standing ovation for nearly a full minute.

Later, I was able to welcome the reverend to my office. It was a surreal experience to host someone I learned about as a child, who had been witness to so many historic moments that changed our nation, and who I’d admired for a long time. During his visit, we looked at a book together about former congressman and ambassador, Andrew Young, a contemporary and friend of Rev. Jackson. We also discussed how his legacy of service and mine as the first woman Speaker in Pennsylvania can foster pathways and spark an interest in young people of color to pursue public service and seek positions of leadership in the future.

Before he left for his next visit, I was humbled to present Rev. Jackson with a gavel like the one I use to maintain decorum in the House chamber during legislative session.

It was an honor to meet a hero of mine and so many others who admire Rev. Jackson’s dedication to advancing freedom and equity and being a voice for marginalized communities, in addition to his personal resiliency. His career is a model for what many of us can only dream of achieving.

Pictures of Rev. Jackson’s visit can be found on my website under “multimedia.”

Don’t forget my office can help you!

As the holiday season approaches and life gets extra busy, don’t forget that my office can help you with any issue involving state government including useful information about state programs, and we can even help you apply.

For instance, my office can help you apply for a property tax or rent rebate (PTRR). Rebates are between $650 to $1000 for the rent or property tax a resident paid in 2023. You qualify for a PTRR if you are:

  • A senior 65 or older,
  • A widowed person 50 or older, or
  • A person with a disability 18 or older.

Applicants must have an annual household income of $45,000 or less.

A half million Pennsylvanians have already received their 2023 rebates, but there is still time to apply. The deadline is Dec. 31, 2024.

We can also help you obtain birth or death certificates or sign up for health insurance programs CHIP and Pennie or apply for utility help from the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program.

Also, if you want to be the first to know about events I host in the neighborhood, visit my website to sign up for my e-newsletter. The e-newsletter comes out once a week and is full of information about local events, job fairs, state resources and other helpful information.