Black Leaders Discuss Unrest, Path to Economic Recovery for Philly

Almost a dozen of Philadelphia’s Black civic, religious, business and political leaders gathered on a Zoom call Friday afternoon in response to the economic impact of looting and rioting following the police killing of Walter Wallace Jr.

Congressman Dwight Evans lead the discussion with state Sen. Vincent Hughes, Urban League of Philadelphia CEO Andrea Custis, Urban Affairs Coalition CEO Sharmain Matlock-Turner, Black Clergy of Philadelphia President the Rev. Robert Collier, African American Chamber of Commerce Board Chair Steven Bradley and others.

Custis stressed the importance and the economic impact of cities like Philadelphia: “Urban cities are jewels. And yet, we are not treated as such. We are the economic drivers for this nation.”

The Urban League of Philadelphia (Philadelphia, PA) is looking to the past to inspire future economic growth. The organization has come up with a blueprint for recovery inspired by Great Society initiatives, which, under President Lyndon B. Johnson, included $145 billion in spending over 10 years.

“If you look at the plan that was put together, and it was the plan, that’s probably the fastest growth plan that has ever happened,” Custis said.

The new plan called, the Main Street Marshall Plan, builds on the original with increases in funding over a shorter period of time.

The human development component of the plan covers six areas including jobs and economy, small business and entrepreneurship, education and children, affordable housing, homeownership and asset building, health, justice, voting, and civic engagement.

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