Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Sally O’Brien @sallyohbrien.bsky.social · 1d

100%— every student deserves a real library with a librarian at school!!! AND reading books is an activity that has immense liberatory potential and it’s so inspiring to see my students get excited about reading.

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Sally O’Brien @sallyohbrien.bsky.social · 1d

Your feel-good #phled story of the day, courtesy of @newskag.bsky.social, featuring my amazing students and my equally amazing colleagues!

I thank my stars every day that when I go to work I leave with so many reasons to be hopeful.

Kristen Graham @newskag.bsky.social · 2d

These #PHLed students never had a school library. They built one on their own, and now, the community has their back. Loved reporting this story: www.inquirer.com/education/ke...

These Philly students built their own school library. The community has their back.

The students behind DreamEscape Library at Kensington Health Sciences Academy created a social media account, built buzz and earned grants to support their work.

www.inquirer.com

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Sally O’Brien @sallyohbrien.bsky.social · 19d

I’ll ask her!!

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Sally O’Brien @sallyohbrien.bsky.social · 19d

…the feeling when you’re in the teacher’s lounge yapping about the recent @laborjawn.bsky.social episode about the 1981 Philly teachers strike and your amazing colleague perks up and says “I wrote my undergrad thesis about that strike!!”

Sally O’Brien @sallyohbrien.bsky.social · Sep 4

I did a big research project in 10th grade US history about the IWW, and it made me the person I am today (union schoolteacher & shop steward who closes out union meetings with a playlist of classic Wobbly songs)

Deny, Defend, Depose (Carl Nyberg) @carlnyberg312.bsky.social · Sep 4

How much exposure did you have to organized labor and workers striking through public school education?

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Sally O’Brien @sallyohbrien.bsky.social · 20d

Could you point me to a source for the Lenape myth text? I also teach American lit in Lenape land and would love to read it myself / potentially work it in to my own beginning of the year stuff!

Sally O’Brien @sallyohbrien.bsky.social · 26d

there is lots of smart, creative children's media that tackles the idea of neurodiversity in a rad kid-friendly way.

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Sally O’Brien @sallyohbrien.bsky.social · 29d

@uniondrip.bsky.social idk if this is official union gear but it is truly magnificent

Rachel Holliday Smith @rachelholliday.bsky.social · 29d

RAN after this driver to take a picture of his incredible vest!!! I want one so bad but he said they’re only available for MTA workers 🏆🚍🏆

an embroidered dark blue vest with an image of an MTA bus against the skyline with the words “when I move you move”

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Sally O’Brien @sallyohbrien.bsky.social · Sep 4

I did a big research project in 10th grade US history about the IWW, and it made me the person I am today (union schoolteacher & shop steward who closes out union meetings with a playlist of classic Wobbly songs)

Deny, Defend, Depose (Carl Nyberg) @carlnyberg312.bsky.social · Sep 4

How much exposure did you have to organized labor and workers striking through public school education?

Reposted by Sally O’Brien

Anne Lutz Fernandez @lutzfernandez.bsky.social · Aug 19

The hours wasted on shiny new tech in the past 20 years by K-12 teachers across America is an astounding number of human hours

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Sally O’Brien @sallyohbrien.bsky.social · Aug 5

this poem left me breathless the first time I read it and still just hits so, so hard. murillo is one of our most brilliant living poets.

www.poetryfoundation.org/poetrymagazi...

Upon Reading That Eric Dolphy Transcribed Even the Calls of Certain…

I think first of two sparrows I met when walking home, late night years ago, in another city, not unlike this — the one bird frantic, attacking I thought, the way she swooped down, circled my head, an...

www.poetryfoundation.org

Reposted by Sally O’Brien

Isabella Segalovich @isabellasegalovich.bsky.social · Jul 8

“You can’t get into heaven without that union card” 👼🗑️

Day 8 of the DC33 strike in Philly, set to the melodious tunes of our dear city’s pub sing led by Ben Fink. Mayor Parker, PAY THESE PEOPLE.

#parkerpiles #phillystrike #dc33

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Sally O’Brien @sallyohbrien.bsky.social · Jul 8

I am BEGGING for a comprehensive account of how much tax money has been spent as a consequence of Parker’s refusal to offer DC33 a fair deal—not just OT for supervisors at PWD & elsewhere but the cost of hiring contractors to service dumpsters / handle the July 4 set-up and breakdown / etc etc etc

Philadelphia Inquirer @inquirer.com · Jul 8

The city is relying on managers to fill essential jobs at Philadelphia's water facilities, paying them more handsomely than their DC 33 counterparts.

They're sleeping on cots, working 24/7 shifts, and earning double time.

Sleeping on cots, 24/7 shifts, and double time: How Philly is keeping water clean during the DC 33 strike

As the strike carries into a second week, the city has relied on managers to fill essential jobs at Philadelphia's water facilities, paying them more handsomely than their DC 33 counterparts.

www.inquirer.com

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Reposted by Sally O’Brien

Kim Kelly @kimkelly.bsky.social · Jul 7

It’s honestly so disrespectful and irresponsible that the national media has mostly ignored the DC33 city worker strike in Philly so far. It’s a huge story with massive implications for the 6th biggest city in the country.

Hell, I’ll write about it for ya! Email me! www.inquirer.com/politics/phi...

Philly is in its first municipal strike in the social media age. Does that affect how events are unfolding?

So far, the national press has largely ignored Philadelphia's first strike by city workers since 1986.

www.inquirer.com

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Reposted by Sally O’Brien

PA Working Families 🐺 @paworkingfamilies.bsky.social · Jul 7

Trash piling up? Libraries & pools closed? Long wait times for emergency calls?

Text DC33 to 30403 to contact the Mayor's office & tell them to give striking AFSCME DC 33 workers a fair contract.

A pile of trash next to a Philadelphia city trash can with a sign posted on it saying “Mayor Parker pick up your trash, give DC 33 a raise”.

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Sally O’Brien @sallyohbrien.bsky.social · Jul 7

that one that goes “I like girls that wear Abercrombie & Fitch”

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Sally O’Brien @sallyohbrien.bsky.social · Jul 7

For context, this is the rec center where a worker was shot and killed in 2022 while cleaning up the playground. Rec center staff LITERALLY put their lives on the line to give our kids safe places to exist. The LEAST we can do is pay them a living wage.

Sally O’Brien @sallyohbrien.bsky.social · Jul 7

Dropped my son off for his first day of camp today. The pool at his rec center is closed, and the rec leader, a guy I trust and admire greatly, is on strike. THIS is who I want my tax dollars going to, not the “deputy director of strategic patronage”! FAIR CONTRACT NOW for @afscme.bsky.social DC 33!

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Reposted by Sally O’Brien

AFSCME @afscme.bsky.social · Jul 7

AFSCME District 33 workers are on STRIKE for fair wages, dignity and respect. They’re holding the line no matter how long it takes. #AFSCMEStrong

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Sally O’Brien @sallyohbrien.bsky.social · Jul 5

@pftlocal3.bsky.social a beautiful day to support the DC33 strikers on the picket line! the workers where I was at had a lot of appreciation for our union—one that I talked to was a former PFT para.

A picture of me, a white woman wearing a baseball cap, with my PFT button on, holding an AFSCME DC33 picket sign. In the background is the library, which is closed because the library workers are on strike for a fair contract.

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Sally O’Brien @sallyohbrien.bsky.social · Jul 4

Come gather round Philly
Bad news to you I’ll tell
The streets are piled high with trash
And you can thank Cherelle!

Solidarity with the striking workers of DC 33 from a member of @pftlocal3.bsky.social!

Solidarity with the hardworking folks from DC 33, featuring @shainakapeluck3676

YouTube video by Sally O'Brien

youtu.be

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Reposted by Sally O’Brien

Kim Kelly @kimkelly.bsky.social · Jul 3

I should be asleep, but can’t stop thinking about a striking sanitation worker I met today. He told me about the time a trash bag full of human shit burst in his face, and he had to spend two days in the hospital to ensure he hadn’t contracted any dangerous diseases.

He makes $19 an hour.

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Sally O’Brien @sallyohbrien.bsky.social · Jul 3

From @inquirer.com-- why I keep paying for a subscription even though they keep hiking up my rates.

"Ms Parker, Cherelle Parker to be exact, give them people they money! It's summertime."

Watch: Philly residents frustrated with temporary trash drop-off sites on day two of strike

Members of AFSCME DC 33 are striking for a second day in an attempt to secure contract concessions from Philly Mayor Cherelle L. Parker.

share.inquirer.com

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Sally O’Brien @sallyohbrien.bsky.social · Jul 2

FYI I just called this number and got a human! keep blowing up the phones!

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Reposted by Sally O’Brien

Kim Kelly @kimkelly.bsky.social · Jul 2

A message from the striking municipal workers of Philadelphia:

A white sign reads “stop fucking around, pay labor a fair wage now!”

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Reposted by Sally O’Brien

Kim Kelly @kimkelly.bsky.social · Jul 1

‪If every site is like this, it’s literally going to be 63 dumpsters versus the combined detritus of the sixth largest city in America during a 90 degree heatwave. JUST PAY THEM

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