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Nelson weekly email for Jan. 12, 2024: MLK Day

(Jan 12, 2024)

Monday is MLK day, the time we take a day off from work to celebrate the life and legacy of one of the nation’s great leaders. Traditionally, I would take this space to pull some of Martin King’s greatest quotes, or perhaps his most meaningful but seldom quoted passages and write something inspiring that speaks to the depth of my gratitude to Dr. King and how his prescient words guide me in my work today. I’m not going to do that today. His campaign is just as timely today as it was 60 years ago and I never let Dr. King’s march towards a better nation slip away from my consciousness. However, I am thrilled to be able to say that, right now, today, I’m busy DOING the work. I guess that is my MLK message for 2024. There are times when you need to be inspired or hear words of direction. There are times when you need to be called away from your routine and towards the service of others. Finally, there are times when you find yourself already on the field focused on your assignment building our beloved community. If you are focused, just keep going. As the great poet Edgar Guest says, "I’d rather see a sermon than hear one any day." Read more

 

Nelson weekly email for Jan. 5, 2024: Neighborhood Coffee on Thursday, January 18

(Jan 05, 2024)

We’re going to start by hosting a neighborhood coffee at 9 a.m. Thursday, January 18 at Sumatra Café on Greenwood Avenue. Coffee and Danish are on me. Come on out Wyncote! Let’s ring in the New Year together. Read more

 

Nelson weekly email for Dec. 28 2023: End of the Year Updates

(Dec 28, 2023)

I’ve spent much of the last few weeks discussing Harrisburg activity, but I want to end the year with some updates on the important stuff here at home. Read more

 

Nelson announces grant requests funded in eastern Montgomery County

(Dec 20, 2023)

A good stormwater management system is a win-win because it helps mitigate environmental impacts from climate change, but it also helps the local economy by curbing flood damage and the economic hit that goes with it. I was happy to help Springfield and Cheltenham receive funding for these worthy projects Read more

 

Nelson weekly email update for Dec. 15, 2023: PA Legislature passes over two dozen bills this week

(Dec 15, 2023)

This was a busy week in Harrisburg as the House and Senate had a LOT of legislation that needed to get across the finish line before we embark on an extended winter break. I will talk about some of those key pieces of legislation that we voted on in just a minute, but the most impactful moment of the week was a well-deserved tribute. Read more

 

Nelson weekly email update for Dec. 8, 2023: Remembering Pearl Harbor

(Dec 08, 2023)

I want to wish those who served a warm holiday and thank you for rising to the moment. While gratitude is just and admiration is righteous, I believe that the best way to honor those who died and those who found clarity of purpose on that infamous day is to step into the gap and support each other. Let’s not wait for our own Pearl Harbor to help others, even in our imperfections. Read more

 

Nelson weekly email update for Dec. 1, 2023: Meet the new staff member

(Dec 01, 2023)

Welcome to my weekly newsletter, where you will find legislative information and updates from Cheltenham, Jenkintown and Springfield along with information about state-related programs and services. Read more

 

Nelson weekly email update for Nov. 22, 2023: Happy Thanksgiving

(Nov 22, 2023)

I’m not sure what your house is going to be like this weekend, but my house is going to be busy and happy. I love the Thanksgiving holiday. I love the food and getting together with family. The weather is going to be perfect so my traditional run in the park is on as hoped. I have so much to be thankful for today and so many memories of loved ones that I’ve recently lost that can warm my heart and keep a smile on my face. I spend the year looking forward to Thanksgiving weekend for these precious moments to recharge and be restored. Read more

 

Nelson weekly email update for Nov. 17, 2023: Funding our state-related colleges, Recognizing the importance of mental health

(Nov 17, 2023)

I was honored to stand with the 14 students from Lincoln University who over three days walked 66 miles from Oxford to Harrisburg to remind us in the General Assembly that we were behind in allocating funds to Lincoln as well as the other three state-related universities – Penn State, Temple and Pitt. This week we were able to pass the necessary legislation to get them the funding they needed. Read more

 

Nelson weekly email update for Nov. 9, 2023: Thank you Veterans, Help with Medicare

(Nov 09, 2023)

Veterans resources, plus state and local news Read more

 

Nelson weekly email update for Nov. 3, 2023: Remembering a champion for democracy, Hate Crime bills pass house

(Nov 03, 2023)

Shirley Curry was one of those giants and the time that she had the baton in her hand was game-changing. Read more

 

Nelson weekly email update for Oct. 27, 2023: Remembering the Tree of Life five years later

(Nov 03, 2023)

Local leadership is a relay race. If you are crazy enough and fortunate enough to serve, you must know that you get a finite amount time with the baton in your hand to advance a cause before you hand that baton off to the next generation. I think a lot about whomever will serve in this state rep role after me. I hope that I am able to pass along a legacy of leadership and community investment that reflects not only some resemblance of my own style and accomplishments but recognizes that the baton they are grasping was fashioned by giants that came before me. Read more

 

Rep. Nelson’s measure to curb hate crimes passes PA House

(Nov 01, 2023)

NEWS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE State Rep. Napoleon Nelson D-Montgomery County www.pahouse.com/ N elson Rep. Nelson’s measure to curb hate crimes passes PA House House Bill 1025 is part of larger package of bills designed to address hate crimes HARRISBURG, Oct. 31 – State Rep. Napoleon Nelson’s bill that would address hate crimes and help prevent them passed the PA House of Representatives Tuesday. House Bill 1025 is designed to train educators and school administrators to identify and address hate incidents before they become deadly. It would also expand existing anonymous reporting programs in K-12 schools and institutions of higher education to allow young people to easily speak up when they are the victims of or witnesses to incidences of hate-based intimidation. The legislation is part of a larger package of bills intended to modernize PA’s laws that address hate crimes and ethnic intimidation, The package includes H.B. 1024 , H.B. 1026 and H.B. 1027 . Those three bills were also passed by the PA House and, along with H.B. 1025, head to the state Senate for consideration. “Look at the headlines about what’s happening at our colleges, and you’ll see why kids don’t feel safe on campus Read more

 

Anti-hate crimes legislation passes Pennsylvania House

(Oct 31, 2023)

Reps. Nelson and Frankel's legislation to expand and strengthen Pennsylvania’s anti-hate crimes statutes won bipartisan passage out of the Pennsylvanian House Tuesday, putting Pennsylvania on track to take action amid a nationwide spike in criminal activity fueled by hatred. Read more

 

Nelson weekly email update for Oct. 27, 2023: Remembering the Tree of Life five years later

(Oct 27, 2023)

Unfortunately, this was not the first nor the last mass shooting in our country Read more

 

REVIEW: Working with students on good mental health

(Oct 20, 2023)

I am sure that I’ve spoken to you before about my passion for addressing our student’s mental health and our education system’s capacity to be trauma-informed practices. There are a few items that I want to highlight this week to let you know the sort of systems I am working to build in this space. Read more

 

PLBC honors former chair Bullock

(Oct 19, 2023)

NEWS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus www.pahouse.com/PLBC PLBC honors former chair Bullock HARRISBURG, Oct. 18 – The Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus today honored its former chair – state Rep. Donna Bullock, D–Phila. Bullock stepped down as chair earlier this month to focus on her work chairing the House Children and Youth Committee. Bullock guided many PLBC initiatives, including the annual Crystal Bird Fauset Awards, honoring women within state government and Speaker K. Leroy Irvis Day of Action, where business owners, public officials and organizations gather to discuss, learn, and network legislative bills, community concerns and visit the Capitol Complex. “I would like to thank my colleagues for putting their trust and faith in me when they elected me to serve as chair of the Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus. I worked hard every day to ensure that their trust was well founded,” Bullock said. “Every moment was an honor and a pleasure. And it was endlessly fulfilling to be able to advocate for the people, places and spaces that make up Black Pennsylvania. “As I take on new challenges and opportunities, I will continue to advocate every day and in every way for the Read more

 

PLBC welcomes National Council of Negro Women

(Oct 16, 2023)

NEWS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus www.pahouse.com/PLBC PLBC welcomes National Council of Negro Women HARRISBURG, Oct. 16 – The Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus hosted the Pennsylvania State Coalition of the National Council of Negro Women today for the NCNW’s lobbying day at the Capitol. Members of the NCNW advocated for the following issues: Black women’s health Education Voting incarceration “This was a very informative meeting,” PLBC chair Napoleon Nelson, D – Montgomery, said. “We look forward to continuing to work with the NCNW as many of our goals align with those as the National Coalition of Negro Women.” Added PLBC Tameko Patterson, President, NCNW PA State Coalition, “The members of the National Coalition of Negro Women PA State Coalition are grateful for the partnership with the Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus. This relationship is instrumental in helping us support our national initiative towards social justice.” The NCNW was founded in 1935 by Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune, an influential educator and activist, to enlighten, inspire and has connected more than 2,000,000 women and men. Its mission is Read more

 

Nelson weekly email for Oct. 14, 2023

(Oct 16, 2023)

This week has been so hard for many of us. The wars in Ukraine and now in Israel and Gaza have caused so much grief and anger. On Wednesday, I was honored to speak at a prayer vigil for the regional Kehillah hosted at Reform Congregation Keneseth Israel. My remarks are below. Read more

 

Philadelphia House Delegation, PLBC respond to independent report on alleged racial bias in charter school authorization practices

(Oct 06, 2023)

PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 6 – Leaders of the Philadelphia House Delegation and Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus today received an independent report commissioned by the Philadelphia Board of Education nearly two years ago that examined alleged racial bias in the charter school application process. In late 2021, the Philadelphia Board of Education commissioned an independent investigation concerning allegations of racial bias in charter school authorizing practices as alleged by some Black charter leaders, and whether the charter renewal process caused discriminatory effects on Black-led and Black-founded charter schools. Philadelphia-based law firm Ballard Spahr LLP led the investigation, and the Ballard firm engaged the Center for Urban and Race Equity, or CURE, to assist in its analysis. The 190-page report was released at 5 p.m. today. Philadelphia House Delegation Chairwoman Rep. Morgan Cephas said that while the report does not appear to reveal evidence of intentional, overt racially discriminatory acts by the school district or its leaders or find racially discriminatory effects of the charter renewal process, the report does include a series of recommendations based on the work of the investigation and is encouraging the school district to engage quickly with state lawmakers, local officials and the public to ensure a better path forward. “The Philadelphia House Delegation is committed to Philadelphia Read more

 

Nelson weekly email for Jan. 12, 2024: MLK Day
Jan 12, 2024

Nelson weekly email for Jan. 5, 2024: Neighborhood Coffee on Thursday, January 18
Jan 05, 2024

Nelson weekly email for Dec. 28 2023: End of the Year Updates
Dec 28, 2023

Nelson announces grant requests funded in eastern Montgomery County
Dec 20, 2023

Nelson weekly email update for Dec. 15, 2023: PA Legislature passes over two dozen bills this week
Dec 15, 2023

Nelson weekly email update for Dec. 8, 2023: Remembering Pearl Harbor
Dec 08, 2023

Nelson weekly email update for Dec. 1, 2023: Meet the new staff member
Dec 01, 2023

Nelson weekly email update for Nov. 22, 2023: Happy Thanksgiving
Nov 22, 2023

Nelson weekly email update for Nov. 17, 2023: Funding our state-related colleges, Recognizing the importance of mental health
Nov 17, 2023

Nelson weekly email update for Nov. 9, 2023: Thank you Veterans, Help with Medicare
Nov 09, 2023

Nelson weekly email update for Nov. 3, 2023: Remembering a champion for democracy, Hate Crime bills pass house
Nov 03, 2023

Nelson weekly email update for Oct. 27, 2023: Remembering the Tree of Life five years later
Nov 03, 2023

Rep. Nelson’s measure to curb hate crimes passes PA House
Nov 01, 2023

Anti-hate crimes legislation passes Pennsylvania House
Oct 31, 2023

Nelson weekly email update for Oct. 27, 2023: Remembering the Tree of Life five years later
Oct 27, 2023

REVIEW: Working with students on good mental health
Oct 20, 2023

PLBC honors former chair Bullock
Oct 19, 2023

PLBC welcomes National Council of Negro Women
Oct 16, 2023

Nelson weekly email for Oct. 14, 2023
Oct 16, 2023

Philadelphia House Delegation, PLBC respond to independent report on alleged racial bias in charter school authorization practices
Oct 06, 2023