These grant programs are currently open to applications Read more
Vice Chair of the PA Legislative Black Caucus Rep. Darisha Parker praises OIC Philadelphia for their dedication to helping people in need through job training and reentry services. Parker calls on her colleagues in the House and Senate to finish the state’s fiscal code to ensure valuable organizations like OIC receive the funding they need to continue to serve the most vulnerable Pennsylvanians. Read more
Check out my latest e-newsletter and make sure you're signed up to stay updated on the 198th district! Read more
NEWLY LISTED PROGRAMS Department of Aging: Senior Community Center Grants Who May Apply: Pennsylvania Senior Community Centers with an existing, contractual relationship with an Area Agency on Aging. Use: To help Pennsylvania’s Senior Community Centers increase participation and programming Funds: Up to $2 million in grant funding is available. Grants vary depending on staff levels. Application Deadline: December 15, 2023 More information: Aging Website Commission on Crime and Delinquency: Violence Intervention and Prevention Who May Apply: Community-based organizations with 501(c)(3) designation, institutions of higher education, municipalities, district attorneys, and counties, Use: Effective local intervening and preventive measures to stop gun and group violence that is occurring across the state in both the short- and long-term Funds: $40 million in state funding is available for two tracks: VIP Grants: Applicants can request up to 50% of their operating budget up to $950,00 total. Coordinated Community Violence Intervention Strategies Projects (CCVI): Applicants can request up to $3 million in total funding over a 36-month period (funding match required). PCCD anticipates approving only 2-3 CCVI projects. Application Deadline: January 18, 2024 More information: PCCD Website Department of Community and Economic Development: Local Share Account Philadelphia Who May Apply: Community Development Corporations, Read more
BILL No. Title Co-Sponsorship Memo Current Status Memo Circulated for 23-24 Session? Prime Co-Sponsor HB226 Voluntary No Firearm Purchase List CSM Referred to Judiciary Yes Parker HB766 Long Gun/ Gun Show Loophole CSM Referred to Judiciary Yes Parker HB898 Raising Minimum Age to Purchase & Possess Firearms CSM Referred to Judiciary Yes Parker HB850 Accessibility to Menstrual Hygiene Products (Package) - Waviers CSM In Senate Education Committee Yes Parker & Hill-Evans HB851 Accessibility to Menstrual Hygiene Products (Package) - Grant Program CSM Referred to Education Yes Parker & Hill-Evans HB1397 Strenghtening Pennsylvanian's Guardianship Laws CSM Referred to Judiciary Yes Parker & Malagari HB1520 Local Business Forgivable Loan Program CSM Introduced Yes Parker HB993 Home Improvement Fraud Protection for Vulnerable Persons CSM Referred to Judiciary Yes Parker TBD Price Increase Notification to Consumers Read more
This was a busy session week for me in Harrisburg, but I’m so proud to be a part of the PA House Dems because we’re getting things done.We passed legislation in the House that would significantly improve the quality-of-life issues we find in our communities, spanning from incentives to hire more police to allowing municipalities to submit plans and ordinances digitally, which eliminates non-electric options and saves taxpayers money. Read more
The Pennsylvania House Democrats have drafted and passed significant, bipartisan legislation that would give our students hope and show them that we are not only fighting for their education — but their futures as well. Read more
PROGRAMS NOW OPEN FOR APPLICATIONS: Historical & Museum Commission: Cultural and Historical Support Grant Program Who May Apply: Museums that are in Pennsylvania with annual operating budgets exceeding $100,000 (excluding capital and in-kind services) and at least one full-time professional staff person and that are not supported by other state agency funding programs and official County Historical Societies designated as the official historical society for the county. Use: The goal of this program is to strengthen Pennsylvania’s museums and allow applicants to determine how to use funds for operating expenses. Eligible expenses include, but are not limited to, salaries, benefits, insurance, food service, travel, professional development, marketing, and equipment. Funds: Grant awards range from $2,500 to $65,000. Application Deadline: November 7, 2023 More information: PHMC Website Department of Community and Economic Development: Pennsylvania Strategic Investments to Enhance Sites (PA SITES) Program Who May Apply: Municipality, Economic Development Organization, Redevelopment Authorities, Municipal Authorities, Industrial Development Agencies. For-profit businesses are not eligible to apply for the PA SITES Program. However, an eligible applicant may apply for a site owned and controlled by the eligible applicant or may apply in partnership with a private Read more
PA state Rep. Darisha Parker is working to ensure that all students in the commonwealth have access to a quality education in a safe environment. She and her colleagues in the PA House Democratic Caucus are fighting to expand the teaching pool, keep schools safe, reduce class sizes, and clean up toxic schools. Read more
What we should be doing is making sure that we fight for the decency, and the proper education, and making sure that our kids get the proper education that they’re supposed to be having,” Parker said. She added that reading is how she learned about her Black history and culture growing up. Read more
HARRISBURG, Oct. 5 – The Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus announced its new officers after a reorganizational meeting this week. The following members were installed as officers: Chairman, state Rep. Napoleon Nelson, D–Montgomery Vice Chair, state Rep. Darisha Parker, D–Phila. Secretary, state Rep. Ismail Smith Wade-El, D–Lancaster Treasurer, state Rep. Justin Fleming, D-Dauphin Outgoing chair state Rep. Donna Bullock, D–Phila., passes the baton to Nelson. Bullock will continue to focus on issues facing Pennsylvania’s children and youth; she chairs the PA House Children & Youth Committee. “We are grateful for Representative Bullock’s leadership, and I look forward to building on the momentum we have to achieve real results for minority communities throughout this Commonwealth,” Nelson said. “I am humbled by this honor.” Bullock guided many PLBC initiatives, including the annual Crystal Bird Faucet Awards, honoring women within state government and Speaker K. Leroy Irvis Day of Action, where business owners, public officials and organizations gather to discuss, learn, and network legislative bills, community concerns and visit the Capitol Complex. “Chairing the Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus has been a wonderful and fulfilling experience,” Read more
Agriculture brings learning to life, teaching students’ hands-on skills that they can utilize as a career or for entrepreneurship,” Parker continued. “The deadline of May 1 must be extended to ensure that in an ever-evolving field such as agriculture, students and teachers have the tools they need to be successful in their chosen field. Read more
Pa. state Rep. Darisha Parker’s Conversational Café brings activities, resources, information, health screenings, and fun to older adults in the community. Thanks to Bishop Avinger and Greater St. Matthew’s Baptist Church for giving us a place to gather. Read more
Menstrual hygiene products are a necessity. HB 850 allows recipients of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) to purchase menstrual products with those benefits. In our region, the stakes could not be higher. Nearly two million Pennsylvanians were using SNAP benefits as of September 2022; in Philadelphia, between 450,000 and 500,000 people receive these benefits. Read more
PROGRAMS NOW OPEN FOR APPLICATIONS: Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency: Regional Policing Assistance Program Who May Apply: Applicants for the Regional Policing Assistance Program may be any municipality – a city, borough, township, home-rule municipality, or county. Applicants may also be a public or quasi-public body, or its representative, duly authorized to act on behalf of one or more municipalities. All applications must be accompanied by fully executed Articles of Agreement or an Intergovernmental Agreement that establishes a Regional Police Department. Use: Funding will support efforts in establishing or expanding regional police departments that would improve the following: uniformity and consistency of enforcement across municipalities; recruitment; distribution and deployment of police personnel; training and personnel efficiency; career enhancement opportunities; enhanced professionalism; and reduction of costs. Funds: A total of approximately $1,000,000 in federal funds is being announced to support this initiative. Applicants may apply for up to $150,000 for the formation of a new regional police department or up to $50,000 for the expansion of an existing regional police department by adding a chartered municipality(ies). Application Deadline: September 6, 2023 More information: PCCD Website Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency: Legal Standing Video Read more
Rep. Darisha K. Parker is a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, representing District 198/ Philadelphia County. Rep. Parker joins Andrea in a new monthly segment on The Source, where she updates WURD listeners about relevant information pertaining to local, state, and national politics! Read more
“This legislation would remove barriers for those who menstruate and utilize these programs. Period poverty disproportionately affects communities of color, so this bill would address that systemic problem,” Parker said. “We need to provide dignity amongst women and girls. It’s sad many have to deal with scarcity of feminine products and diapers.” Read more
Pa. state Rep. Darisha Parker celebrates as her legislation to expand SNAP and WIC assistance for women and mothers in need to include menstrual products and diapers. Read more
In April, the House Majority Policy Committee held a hearing on illegal ATV use in Philadelphia; the vehicles “have taken our city hostage,” said Rep. Darisha Parker, D-Philadelphia. “We have a serious problem facing our city, and we cannot allow it to continue.” Read more
The problem is that millions of people are denied access to this life saving drug as it is financially out of reach for the average senior citizen in America, costing $26,500 a year. For some seniors, that is a year’s worth of income. Read more
Please use the form below to sign up for email updates. By completing this form you are acknowledging your request to receive periodic email updates.
By completing this form, you are verifying your request to opt in for email updates.
Thank you. Your email signup has been sent. You should start getting emails within 24 hours.
Please use the form below to email Rep. Darisha Parker.
Thank you. Your feedback has been sent.
1335 W. Tabor RoadSuite 109Philadelphia, PA 19141-3038
P*: (215) 849-6426
F*: (717) 772-1313
Hours of Operation - Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
116 A East Wing Harrisburg, PA 17120-2198
P*: (717) 787-7727