Free Library of Philadelphia

Dr. Mark Thomas will discuss a plan to engage in civil debate in a challenging political climate.From the works of Plato to those of the Founding Fathers, certain traits of a political system are critical to sustaining democracy. By examining instances where democracies have succumbed to authoritarian government, the course explores the key elements of democracy, to include the critical democratic values which serve as democracy's "soft guardrails." These "soft guardrails" rely on the ability of people to discuss political differences in a manner which does not view the outcome as a zero-sum game. After establishing a baseline on the

The Philadelphia Freedom Band welcomes summer 2023 with a PRIDE Solstice concert featuring renditions of many hits current and past.Put on your dancing shoes and join the Philadelphia Freedom Marching Band in celebrating PRIDE Solstice at Parkway Central Library as they perform a selection of music including songs by Elton John, Lady Gaga, Demi Lovato, Blink 182, Dua Lipa, and many more!The Philadelphia Freedom Band (PFB) is a non-profit organization comprised of a wide variety of talented musicians, ranging from amateur to professional. We come together to perform throughout the greater Philadelphia area and provide visible, active support to the

A poetic celebration of PRIDE Month featuring local poets Boston Gordon, Campbell Simmons and Sean Hanrahan.We begin the final week of Free Library of PhillyPRIDE with our first PRIDE: Poets in the Park featuring local poets Boston Gordon, Campbell Simmons and Sean Hanrahan reading selections from their works and discussing their craft. Boston Gordon (he/they) is a poet and designer from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He is the author of the chapbook Glory Holes out now from Harbor Editions. He runs the You Can't Kill A Poet reading series—which highlights queer and trans identified writers in Philadelphia. He has poems published in