Philadelphia Gay News (PGN) has received a $60,000 grant from Every Voice, Every Vote — a citywide coalition to launch journalism and civic engagement projects that connect residents to local government and track the progress of the city’s new administration.
“The Philadelphia Gay News is proud to be part of this impactful initiative, ensuring that every voice in our community is heard,” said PGN Publisher Mark Segal. “This funding will allow us to continue our mission of amplifying diverse perspectives and covering the issues that matter most to our readers.”
PGN is among 71 media and community organizations that have been awarded a total of $2.875 million by The Lenfest Institute for Journalism, which manages Every Voice, Every Vote. Lead support for the coalition in 2024 and 2025 is provided by the William Penn Foundation with additional funding from The Lenfest Institute for Journalism, Comcast NBC Universal, The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, Henry L. Kimelman Family Foundation, Judy and Peter Leone, Arctos Foundation, Wyncote Foundation, 25th Century Foundation and Dolfinger-McMahon Foundation.
“As we build on the momentum of the first round of Every Voice, Every Vote, we are again seeking to engage Philadelphians in every neighborhood across the city to ensure that their voices are heard and the issues that they most care about are being addressed,” said Lenfest Institute Head of Philadelphia Programs Shawn Mooring.
The partners of Every Voice, Every Vote reflect the full diversity of Philadelphia. In addition to PGN, community media organizations such as Inti Media, Madre Tierra, New Mainstream Press, WURD Radio and FunTimes Magazine will cover the issues and conversations most important to their communities.
Digital media companies including Philadelphia Hall Monitor, Generocity, and Chalkbeat will join legacy outlets like The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Philadelphia Tribune and WHYY to make the city’s government more accessible through comprehensive news coverage and engagement initiatives.
Neighborhood organizations including Children First PA, Committee of Seventy, Congreso de Latinos Unidos, Economy League of Greater Philadelphia, Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church, PA Youth Vote, and more will provide community members opportunities to make their voices heard and engage in civic processes.
All reporting and events hosted by Every Voice, Every Vote partners, including PGN, will be freely accessible and available on the coalition’s website.
Grant funding, ranging from $10,000 to $130,000, will support community-centered projects running from July 2024 through December 2025. These projects will prioritize solutions-focused accountability reporting, civic engagement, and other initiatives through four distinct calls to action:
•Be heard: Let public officials and fellow community members know our priorities — at the polls and in our neighborhoods.
•Be engaged: Participate in town halls and civic engagement events to dive deep into the issues that matter most.
•Be accountable: Transcend apathy and ensure public officials and communities are doing their part.
•Take action: Make change in small and big ways: sign petitions, show up to public meetings, unite our neighborhoods around important issues.
In 2024 and 2025, Every Voice, Every Vote will continue to build on its success as Philadelphia’s most extensive collaborative effort in journalism and community engagement. Leading up to the city’s 2023 municipal elections, the coalition of 130 media, community, and social media partners initiated over 365 civic engagement projects and produced nearly 600 journalistic pieces to educate voters. The coalition also organized 38 candidate forums and distributed resources in 15 languages.
In addition to the funded partners, the Every Voice, Every Vote coalition includes 6ABC, FOX29, NBC10/Telemundo62, and additional local media and community organizations. The coalition has also partnered with local independent social media creators.To learn more about Every Voice, Every Vote and for a full list of grantees, visit everyvoice-everyvote.org.