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File #: 210991    Version: 0 Name:
Type: Resolution Status: ADOPTED
File created: 12/9/2021 In control: CITY COUNCIL
On agenda: Final action: 12/16/2021
Title: Recognizing and congratulating WHYY and the News and Information Community Exchange (N.I.C.E). collaborative on their steadfast commitment to diversify local news sources, and empower local, BIPOC, and underserved communities through grassroots news.
Sponsors: Council President Clarke, Councilmember Parker
Attachments: 1. Resolution No. 21099100, 2. Signature21099100
Title
Recognizing and congratulating WHYY and the News and Information Community Exchange (N.I.C.E). collaborative on their steadfast commitment to diversify local news sources, and empower local, BIPOC, and underserved communities through grassroots news.

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WHEREAS, WHYY believes communities are not just consumers of news and information, but producers too and seeks to connect grassroots content creators for a mutual aid journalism collaborative to develop a more robust local news environment; and

WHEREAS, The News and Information Community Exchange was funded by the Knight-Lenfest Local News Transformation Fund, and launched during COVID-19 when the need for equity in access to news and information was at an all-time high; and

WHEREAS, The 12 News and Information Community Exchange media partners represent a range of mediums (podcasts, digital, print), languages (English, Arabic, Mandarin, Spanish, Vietnamese), and participate in weekly virtual peer learning and professional development discussions to build collaborations with each other and WHYY; and

WHEREAS, Each local media partner is committed to responding to the information needs of underserved Philadelphia residents and elevating community voices, and deserve to be recognized individually; and

WHEREAS, Emma Restrepo is a Colombian-born freelance journalist who aims to connect LatinX people living in Philadelphia with other Spanish-speaking communities across the Americas. Restrepo, a professor in the Spanish department at Temple University, immigrated to the U.S. to escape the violent political revolution. She is the Founder and host of a weekly radio program on Saturdays at 9am called DosPuntos on independent radio WPPM 106.5FM. She was nominated one of the best Freelance Journalists by Pen & Pencil Club Philadelphia in 2016, and she was awarded in 2017 with the IAmAnAmericanImmigrant by AI Dia Newspaper; and

WHEREAS, Nora Elmarzouky & Yaroub Al-Obaidi created The Friends Peace and Sanctua...

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