What is P.O.W.E.R.?

P.O.W.E.R. (Philadelphians Organized to Witness, Empower and Rebuild) is a local faith-based community organizing group that includes about 35 congregations from across socio-economic, cultural, religious and neighborhood lines. We are the local Philadelphia chapter of a national organization called PICO. Through interfaith relationships we hope to make lasting, effective change in our community. For more information contact co-chairs, Jamie Kudera and Terrilyn McCormick.

What is PICO?

PICO is an acronym that stands for People Improving Communities through Organizing. They are a national non-profit network with affiliates in most major cities across the US to support the work of faith-based community organizing.

Faith-Based Community Organizing is a method of working with faith communities to address the problems and concerns of their communities, and in turn, vitalize and strengthen the life of congregations.

P.O.W.E.R. Founding Convention

Rodeph Shalom is one of 35 congregations from every section of Philadelphia who have joined together to transform the social and economic policies that are impacting our families and neighborhoods.

We will be promoting a bold vision for change to our city leaders in the areas of education, jobs, housing, public safety and healthcare access.

Rabbi Freedman interview with Brian Hickey on Newsworks about P.O.W.E.R.

There are many paths to a more just world, and faith-based community organizing is one of them. Other paths include direct service, in which people respond to the immediate and often urgent physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of others. Another path is advocacy or activism, where people act and to speak on behalf of others who are suffering from great injustices and social ills.
PICO’s path to building a more just world involves teaching people of faith how to build and exercise their own power to address the root causes of the problems they face. In PICO, this struggle for justice is rooted in our faith.