Welcome to the first Local Progress Pennsylvania State Download of the year!
The days since Donald Trump’s inauguration have been filled with uncertainty, as his administration seeks to sow chaos and fear with Executive Orders that undermine justice and democracy. That’s why LPPA’s members are fiercely committed to continuing to organize in the face of this administration. Across the state, local policy will make or break protections for our most vulnerable community members. Now, it’s more important than ever to come together to build a movement of elected officials as a force for change. Check out the updates and opportunities to get involved below!
🦅 The Local Progress Pennsylvania state strategy meeting was a huge success!
More than 40 members and partners from across the state gathered on Saturday, February 22 in Philadelphia to build community, learn about the state legislative landscape, and focus on advancing housing and immigration justice in Pennsylvania in 2025 and beyond. At the end of a packed eight-hour day, members committed to working together on translocal and statewide strategies and to growing the Local Progress Pennsylvania network. Some member commitments included boosting data security to protect students, investigating police cooperation with ICE, and exploring a state wide strategy for rent stabilization. The newly-formed LPPA Organizing Committee will be working to put these ideas into action in 2025.
🌟 Meet Allentown City Councilwoman Ce-Ce Gerlach!
For our first member spotlight of 2025, I’m proud to introduce Councilwoman Ce-Ce Gerlach! Ce-Ce was elected to Allentown City Council in 2019, and within her first two months of holding office, she introduced legislation forming the Commission on Homelessness. As the nation and the city grappled with COVID-19, demands for racial justice, and uncertain economic times, Ce-Ce took the lead on legislation for affordable housing, assisting small businesses and supporting our paramedics and firefighters.
Ce-Ce graduated from Cedar Crest College with a degree in elementary education. She was the first person in her family to finish high school and graduate from college. Ce-Ce understands first-hand the life-changing impact a quality education has for a person, their family, and their community. After graduating, Ce-Ce decided to give back to her community by working with youth at the Allentown Boys and Girls Club and other non-profits in the Lehigh Valley. Â
After seeing so many young people in Allentown struggling, Ce-Ce ran for the School Board in 2011 and became the youngest member ever elected. A fierce advocate for Allentown families, she voted against school cuts, led the fight to restore the arts, and saved the Newcomer Academy and graduation programs for students at risk of dropping out. She also fought for the lowest-paid employees to earn a living wage and brought back English as a second language teachers to work with students.Â
As an Allentown Council Member, Ce-Ce hasn’t backed down from a fight and has proudly taken on developers and corrupt politicians. In addition to her fights for community benefits agreements in local land use decisions, Ce-Ce has led the “Allentown Jobs First” fight to ensure that Allentown residents would have the first opportunity to apply for the new jobs downtown. Additionally, Ce-Ce was instrumental in Allentown passing its Welcoming City legislation earlier this year, bringing sanctuary policies and other welcoming initiatives for immigrants in Allentown.Â
❤️ Fund our Communities. Protect our Neighbors.
Congress is soon expected to consider H.R. 32 – the “No Bailout for Sanctuary Cities” Act – a bill that would force localities and states to choose between facilitating mass deportations or losing otherwise unrelated health, education, transportation, and other local funding. This bill is a blatant attempt to scapegoat immigrant communities and punish localities that stand up for them. We need local electeds to take bold action—this means speaking out, rallying your communities, and holding your members of Congress accountable. Check out our Fund Our Communities Digital Toolkit and accompanying talking points.
Please also add your name to our sign-on letter for state and local officials to demand Congress reject this harmful and divisive bill.
💪🏾 Public School Strong Training Series
Our partners at HEAL Together have kicked off Solidarity 2025 – an eight-week training series designed to equip activist parents, educators, school board members, students, and allies to unite against the attacks on public education outlined in Project 2025. The training series is part of the Public School Strong campaign and is designed to empower participants to advocate for students, schools, and communities at local school boards and beyond. Participants will gain critical insights into federal policy proposals, actionable strategies for mobilizing around shared values, and tools like model policies, school board resolutions, and organizing lessons. Register here.
đź“Ł Communications Resources for YOU
Need a quick brush up on interviewing best practices before an interview? Want to engage with your community on social media, but not sure what platform is best for you? Check out LP’s new Communications Tools & Guides!
From the full-time city council member to the part-time school board member, every local elected official uses communication tools. But not all members and staff have the same resources and knowledge at their disposal to take advantage of news cycles, viral moments, or respond to bad faith attacks. The above resources are now live, so you can build confidence and skill using communications tools at your own pace!
Have additional questions or need 1:1 comms support? Reach out to helpdesk@localprogress.org to get in touch with the comms team!
🏡 Your New Caucus Home
Introducing our one stop shop for caucus events! Trying to remember when that next Women’s Caucus meeting is? Looking for the link to complete your Pride Caucus Survey? Look no further! This link will continuously be updated with all upcoming Caucus events and asks so that you can constantly refer to it and make sure you’re up to date on when your next caucus meetings are.
On the calendar for March
- 📆 Pride Caucus Listening Session – Tuesday, March 4 at 12pm ET/9am PT
- 📆 Black Caucus general membership meeting: Wednesday, March 12 at 7pm ET/4pm PT
- 📆 Nuestro Caucus general membership meeting: Monday, March 24 at 5pm ET/2pm PT
- 📆 Women’s Caucus general membership meeting: Thursday, March 27 at 5pm ET/2pm PT
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⚡️ National Convening Registration OPEN for Members & Alumni!
Join us in Chicago on July 10-12! We’re bringing together Local Progress members, partners, and movement allies from across the country for a weekend of strategy building, peer learning, and leadership development – complete with dozens of workshops, sharing sessions, community spaces, and site visits! As local elected leaders in this moment, we must continue organizing in our communities and across the country. And in the face of hostile state and federal actors that have shown us they will only govern for the wealthy few, it is our moral responsibility and democratic duty to govern for everyone. That’s why we are proud to share the theme for this year’s convening: Organize Together. Govern for All. Members, check your email for your invite and register by March 3 for an Early Bird Discount!
We are organizing a partners pipeline briefing to connect the existing movement pipeline to support the transition from candidate to elected as they step in these new roles to lead and govern. During this briefing, partners will:
- Learn about LP and the Impact Lab’s network and our strategic framework.
- Learn about the impact of LP and the Impact Lab’s work.Â
- Gain an understanding of how they can support the movement pipeline from candidate to governance.
Saying Goodbye
❤️‍🔥 It has been an incredible experience getting to know the Local Progress Pennsylvania membership in my role as Pennsylvania Coordinator over the past year. I have seen firsthand the commitment and dedication that LPPA members have to building a future in which all Pennsylvanians can thrive. I’ve also learned so much from the rest of the brilliant Local Progress staff and broader network. Next month, I’ll be moving on to another role in the movement. But I will carry the lessons and relationships from the past year with me as I dive into new work. I am leaving this role knowing that LPPA members are on track to build a powerful and dynamic chapter and I can’t wait to see what they accomplish! If you’d like to stay in touch, reach out to me over the next week. While we’ll be onboarding a new Pennsylvania Coordinator very soon, you can reach out to Chad Radock about all things LPPA in the meantime.
