Local Advocacy

Organizing and Advocacy in Southeastern Pennsylvania

The closure of OB units have created different situations in different communities.  MCC works with communities, such as Northeast Philadelphia and Chestnut Hill Philadelphia, to bring citizen voices to decision makers on the city, state, and federal level.

Northeast Philadelphia

Community Organizing

Community members continue to work for the return of maternity services to Northeast Philadelphia. Learn more and join us at the next meeting!

Wednesday, July 16th, 6:30 p.m.

Health Center # 10

2230 Cottman Avenue

Philadelphia, PA 19149

Residents of Northeast Philadelphia discuss what services are now missing from their community.

City Council Testimony

Alan McHale, Olivia Hamilton, and Prudence Humber delivered testimony to City Council requesting the city's financial investment in returning maternity services to Northeast Philadelphia. 

Alan McHale, read testimony

Olivia Hamilton, read testimony

Prudence Humber, BSN read testimony

Constituents Deliver Postcards to Northeast Legislators

On January 31st, several Northeast Residents delivered over 400 postcards to their state representatives. 

Sue Rosenthal, Chair of Health Center # 10 Community Advisory Board and long-time activist, led the conversation between constituents and legislators.		Constituent Kathy Rodriguez with Senator Stack.		Jose Miranda accepts postcards on behalf of Senator Kitchen from constituent Alan McHale.
Representative Sabatina accepts postcards from constituent Myles Gordon.		Tom Forkin, Executive Director for Speaker of the House Dennis O'Brien accepts postcards from constituent Marilyn Bradshaw (on the Speaker's behalf).		Al Taubenberger, President of the Greater Northeast Chamber of Commerce.

Northeast Town Hall Meeting

November 2007, over 125 concerned citizens participated at a town hall meeting, expressing their concerns about the lack of maternity services and made a collective call for change! Watch our Childbirth Crisis video!

View Summary of the Event

Zack Stalberg, CEO of the Committee of Seventy and former editor of The Daily News, acted as moderator for the event.		Allison McDonagh, pregnant and mother of two at this time, explains the increased difficulties women in the Northeast face due to diminishing maternity services.		(from left to right) John Domzalski, Acting Health Commissioner; Letty Thall, MCC Director of Public Policy, (standing); ML Werneke, PA Department of Public Welfare representing Secretary Richman (standing); Anthony Wilson, Special Assistant to the Secretary of Health; Melita Jordan, CNM, PA Department of Health; Dr. Calvin Johnson, PA Secretary of Health.

Childbearing families, nurses, doctors, midwives, and government officials explored the city's childbirth crisis at a November 29th, 2007 Northeast Philadelphia Town Hall Meeting moderated by Zack Stalberg of the Committee of Seventy.  The event was held at St. John's Lutheran Church, courtesy of Reverend Sandra Brown and Reverend Neil.      Sponsors: the Community Board of Public Health Center # 10; Maternity Care Coalition; Counseling or Referral Assistance (CORA); Castor Gardens Town Watch; Dungan Civic Association, Fox Chase Homeowners, Friends of Tacony Creek Park; Holmesburg Civic Association, Holy Spirit Lutheran Church, Holy Spirit Lutheran Church, Holy Terrors Youth Organization, Lawncrest Town Watch; Lansing Knights Youth Organization, Mayfair Community Development Corporation; Millbrook Civic Association, Parkwood Civic Association, Rhawnhurst Town Watch; Somerton Youth Organization; Somerton Civic Association; Tacony Civic Association; The Academy Sabres; Upper Holmesburg Civic Association; and Upper Northwood Community Council.

(from left to right) Speaker of the House, Representative Dennis O'Brien, and State Representative John Sabatina, expressed their support at the event.

Northeast Times cover page article

Channel 6 ABC covers the event

Chestnut Hill Philadelphia

Chestnut Hill Hospital Status

As of Spring of 2008, there has been no official notice whether or not Chestnut Hill Hospital's obstetrics unit will remain open.

Rally at the Capitol in Harrisburg

On June 12, 2007, Senator Leanna Washington sponsored a rally at the PA State Capitol to ensure access to childbirth services. 

Sen. Tartaglione (far left) and Rep. Cherelle Parker (far right) join with moms rallying at the capitol for birthing services.	Sen. Leanna Washington addresses the crowd as (from back left to right) Rep. Tony Peyton, Sen. Anthony Hardy Williams, Rep. Babette Josephs, and Sen. Shirley Kitchen make a stand for families.	Sen. Kitchen alongside smaller activists seeking more care for women across the Commonwealth.

February 2007 Rally at Chestnut Hill Hospital

Chestnut Hill residents react to the threatened closure of Chestnut Hill Hospital obstetrics unit by rallying in front of the hospital, urging the hospital administration to keep the unit open.

MCC Deputy Director, Bette Begleiter, speaks to the crowd gathered to demand the obstetrics unit at Chestnut Hill Hospital remain open, noting that we are no longer at a crossroads, we are in a childbirth crisis.		Rallying for Chestnut Hill's ob unit to remain open are (left to right) MCC staffers Iliana Dejesus, Mariana Kuperman, Bette Begleiter, and board member Sara Lomax-Reese with son Julian.

City Council Resolution

In 2006, MCC published the Childbirth at a Crossroads report with over 50 recommendations to improve the healthcare choices and outcomes for all childbearing families in light of current lack of appropriative care for our increasingly diverse population; inadequate healthcare for our neediest; a declining pool of providers; continued health inequities across the region; and a continuing deterioration of birth choices for childbearing families at all income levels. Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown presented MCC with a City Council Resolution endorsing the recommendations in the report .

(from left to right) Letty Thall, MCC Director of Policy, and JoAnne Fischer, MCC Executive Director, accept the Resolution from City Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown.		View the full City Council Resolution endorsing the Childbirth at a Crossroads report's recommendations.

Last Updated June 2008