PHILADELPHIA, March 31 – State Reps. Morgan Cephas and Sean Dougherty, both D-Phila., announced today that Uber has extended its Senior Ride Program for West Philadelphia in partnership with ACHIEVEability and is expanding the program to serve Northeast Philadelphia in partnership with KleinLife.Cephas initiated a pilot program with Uber for free rides during SEPTA service cuts in the summer of 2025 to ensure that area seniors who rely on public transportation would be able to reach their doctor appointments, do their grocery shopping, pick up medication, or meet other critical needs.That pilot program was highly successful, facilitating over 1,000 total rides while empowering older adults with confidence and independence by effectively utilizing smartphone technology. Read more
“Our responsibility is to ensure that utility rates are fair, justified and sustainable —because at the end of the day, these decisions impact every household and every employer in our communities,” said Rep. Morgan Cephas, who represents portions of Philadelphia and co-hosted the hearing. “We need transparency, accountability and a clear understanding of what’s driving these increases—and what can be done to protect workers, working families and seniors.” Read more
Stephanie Shepard, executive director of the Last Prisoner Project, served nine years of a ten-year sentence, before returning to a community with a shifting attitude toward the substance at the heart of her conspiracy to distribute marijuana conviction.Cannabis, she said, has grown into a massive industry, though many of the people benefitting from it “really didn’t look like me or many of the people that I was incarcerated with.”And while she hailed lawmakers’ efforts to legalize or decriminalize recreational cannabis, she urged a panel of Democratic state House members Monday to stay focused on the people most affected by criminalization.Rep. Morgan Cephas (D-Philadelphia) was also in attendance, and described her journey from skeptic to supporter of cannabis legalization.“My colleagues know it took me a while to get here when it comes to cannabis,” she said. “What really brought me to the table was both Rep. Parker and Rep. Krajewski talking about the decriminalizing of cannabis, and what does that look like for those whose communities have been targeted, whose communities have been taken advantage of, have been overpoliced, which was something that was not a part of the original conversation when they were talking about legalization here in Pennsylvania.” Read more
Some lawmakers in Harrisburg continue to press for legal cannabis, while a bipartisan measure to legalize cannabis for adults is stalled in the Pennsylvania State Senate.State Representative Morgan Cephas is asking the key question regarding House Bill 20 with what's being called the clean slate provision when it comes to non-violent marijuana offenses."I don't want to see legalization unless there is some impact on those who've been arrested, whose lives have been changed," Rep. Cephas (D) said. Read more
Education leaders and state lawmakers are encouraging more people to enter the teaching profession through a student-teacher stipend program aimed at easing financial barriers amid ongoing staffing shortages across Pennsylvania.State Rep. Morgan Cephas said those gaps underscore the importance of building a more diverse teacher pipeline. She recalled the influence of two Black teachers in her own life.“They reminded me of my father,” she said. “They were disciplined but also nurturing. They challenged and pushed me. When students see themselves in their teachers, they are able to thrive.” Cephas said financial barriers are also a key obstacle for aspiring educators.“The path to becoming a teacher has required more than just passion and purpose,” she said. “It has required sacrifice that not everyone can afford to make.”“The people who cannot afford it are often the ones we need most,” she added. “When they fall behind, we all fall behind. We lose talent at a time when we are already facing a teacher shortage, and we reinforce inequities in a system that should be rooted in opportunity and access.” Read more
In a country with one of the highest maternal mortality rates among wealthy nations, Black women are two-to-three times more likely to die in childbirth than their peers. Years of repeated attention have barely moved the needle, but dozens of state Capitol advocates this week were clear-eyed about how they’d change those numbers.“This is about justice, but justice is not enough to sustain us alone. We also need joy,” said Rep. La’Tasha Mayes (D-Allegheny) on Tuesday. “Because ‘justice’ is the fight and ‘joy’ is the inspiration. Joy is what keeps us going when we’re overwhelmed by the numbers. “Joy is what reminds us to keep fighting for healthy families, thriving communities and lives that are not cut short,” she added. “Every single week, we find the joy and the justice.” Justice and joy are themes for Black Maternal Health Week events across the country, where an estimated four in five pregnancy-related deaths are preventable. In Pennsylvania, 129 women died in 2021 — the most recent year available — 98% of which were preventable, according to the state’s maternal mortality review committee. Black mothers shared their stories before crowds and with each other, detailing the close calls and doctor indifference that brought them into the advocacy space. Keynote speaker Mercedes Sheri Wells made national news after an Indiana hospital discharged her ten minutes before she gave birth on the side of the road in November. Read more
HARRISBURG — Problem-solving at the laundromat. Prenatal nutrition advice at the pharmacy. Mental health screenings through an app.The Shapiro administration recently unveiled a five-year strategy to improve health outcomes for pregnant and postpartum women. Already, the group helming the effort has awarded nearly $600,000 to fund initiatives targeted at year-one goals, like supporting moms with substance use disorder.After it collects data on how effectively care and education improved, the Shapiro administration plans to create a structure for the remaining years.But while maternal health advocates broadly say the plan is packed with good initiatives, some are concerned about where the money will come from for goals that require consistent investment. Read more
HARRISBURG, PA — Pennsylvania lawmakers are advancing efforts to address maternal health disparities after testimony revealed a woman gave birth roadside following hospital discharge while in active labor. Read more
The latest grant applications are available. Read more
“This is not a hearing about a single point of failure,” said state Rep. Morgan Cephas, who co-chairs the Black Maternal Health Caucus and represents portions of Philadelphia. “This hearing amplifies the layered challenges across the entire continuum of maternal care—from implicit bias in clinical settings to limited access to prenatal and postpartum services to maternity care deserts in too many communities. The challenges are systemic. No family in Pennsylvania should be forced to worry about losing their life due to pregnancy complications or living with lasting effects because of a failed system.” Read more
Community leaders, health workers and activists gathered at Temple University on Monday to launch Black Maternal Health Week, addressing persistent disparities affecting Black mothers and families.The summit featured a keynote address by state Rep. Morgan Cephas, a panel discussion and collaborative breakout sessions designed to engage attendees.Cephas said the theme of this year’s observance reflected the need to reframe the conversation.“Often when we talk about Black maternal health, we focus on the number of deaths,” she said. “But we also know that 98% of those deaths are preventable. This week is about how we prevent them — and about joy. It’s critical that we keep moving that conversation forward.” Read more
Here are the latest grant programs that are open for applications. Read more
Philadelphia, PA – March 27, 2026 – Senator Anthony Williams (SD-8) and Rep. Morgan Cephas (HD-192) recently introduced legislation that would require the City of Philadelphia to establish a pilot program to address hit-and-run accidents. The bill would provide for a registry of licensed vehicle repair shops and require notifications to be made to help more quickly identify individuals who have fled the scene of a crime. Read more
State Rep. Morgan Cephas (D., Phila.) cast doubt on the district’s current blueprint.“I’m here to express deep concern about a facilities plan that took years to create, when you’re giving families weeks to digest,” Cephas said. “Which is not equity, and not what we fight for. Read more
Pennsylvania state Rep. Morgan Cephas, D-West Philadelphia, said that while the Facilities Master Plan took years to develop, the district is giving families and school staff just weeks to understand a decision that will determine their future.Cephas said the school closures will have an effect not just this year but for generations to come.“We have been blindsided by this process being rushed in a way that is a shock to our system, a shock to Philadelphia, a shock to our families,” Cephas said. Read more
Overlooking the driving range and golf course at Cobbs Creek, state Rep. Morgan Cephas recalled when the area across Lansdowne Avenue was known for illegal activity. New city investment, she said, will help restore nature to the creek bed.Mayor Cherelle Parker and other officials announced Monday that more than $9 million in city funds will be used to restore 25 acres of floodplains and wetlands along a three-mile stretch of Cobbs Creek. The project will include planting more than 49,000 trees and other native vegetation to help return the area to a more natural state.Cephas, who represents the neighborhood in the Pennsylvania House, spoke about the land’s troubled past and the long-standing lack of investment. She thanked Parker, state Sen. Vincent Hughes and Councilmember Curtis Jones Jr. for their work. Efforts to revitalize the area date back to former Mayor Michael Nutter’s administration. Read more
State Rep. Morgan Cephas said investing in mass transit is essential to statewide economic success.“One of our top priorities is mass transit,” she said. “We understand early and often that when we invest, we win.” Read more
Supporters of two SEPTA programs that offer free rides rallied at Philadelphia City Hall on Friday. Their concern is that the new city budget will cut funding for the programs.SEPTA has issued 68,000 Zero Fare cards to qualifying riders, though not all of them are used, according to the agency’s Andrew Busch. More than 20,000 Philadelphians currently benefit from the program, and about 13,000 city workers enjoy free rides via the Key Advantage program. Read more
Learn more about the most recent grant programs that are open for applications. Read more
PHILADELPHIA, March 6 – This morning outside of City Hall, state Rep. Morgan Cephas, D-Phila., spoke at a news conference highlighting the need for city and state investments in mass transit for Philadelphians.Cephas was joined by City Councilman At-Large Nicolas O’Rourke, as well as transit supporters and advocates calling for the protection of the Zero Fare program and the municipal SEPTA Key Advantage program in the city budget. 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. Morgan B. Cephas.
Thank you. Your feedback has been sent.
7538 Haverford AvenuePhiladelphia, PA 19151-2109
P*: (215) 879-6625
F*: (215) 879-8566
Hours of Operation - Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
324 Main CapitolPO Box 202192Harrisburg, PA 17120-2192
P*: (717) 783-2192
F*: (717) 787-2960