Philadelphia Ethical Society

06/01/2026

Join us Sunday at 11 AM at 1906 Rittenhouse Square.

Keisha Hudson, Chief Defender, has been outspoken in the need to provide legal defense for the most vulnerable people in our city. Earlier this year, she announced the creation of a dedicated immigration unit to provide legal counsel to noncitizens who have been detained under the Trump administration’s mass deportation dragnet. Hudson will talk about indigent defense in Philadelphia and in Pennsylvania, highlighting how state funding falls short of meeting the standard of providing free legal defense for all.

05/29/2026

There are over 20 Ethical Societies around the country. This All-Societies Platform, co-hosted by Philadelphia and St. Louis, explores how our network continues to evolve through community building, social justice and the arts.

Join us in person at 1906 Rittenhouse or from your home: register at AEU.org

Hundreds of members and friends nationwide will celebrate the legacy we inherit and the future we’re building together. The AEU All-Societies Platform is free to attend or stream.

All virtual participants must register to receive the Zoom link- find it at AEU.org!

05/22/2026

Join us May 29th starting from 5 pm onwards for a special encounter of the worlds of sound and light, through the beautiful sonic sculptures of David Abir, the first artist in residence at the Philadelphia Ethical Society. Abir will present a 30-year retrospective featuring light and sound sculptures, drawings, paintings, and photographs.

Then stay and celebrate Eid al-Adha with an evening of Sufi kalam and ghazals by Imran Fida, a Sufi and ghazal singer from Lahore, Pakistan, and son of respected ghazal and folk vocalist Ustad Fida Hussain. Music starts at 8:30. Tickets required for concert but not for art opening.

Continuing his family’s musical lineage, Imran brings together traditional Sufi and ghazal styles with contemporary interpretations through fusion. The evening will blend classical roots with a modern musical approach, offering a soulful gathering rooted in poetry, devotion, and music.

05/20/2026

What are the core principles behind the Ethical Society? Is it our values that matter, or our virtues? Is ethics more an intellectual exercise or a dynamic physical and relational one? What does Deed Before Creed mean for us in the 21st Century? Join us to reflect on the philosophy and practice of Ethical Culture/Ethical Humanism.

Featuring on Vibraphone

05/11/2026

Rustin’s Challenge is a new collection of the writings of Civil Rights giant Bayard Rustin, with commentaries from contemporary writers.

Panelists: Paul Prescod is a Labor Notes staff organizer and a Jacobin Magazine contributing editor. Formerly he was a Philadelphia public school teacher and organizer with Teamsters for a Democratic Union.

Dustin Guastella is director of operations for Teamsters Local 623 in Philadelphia and a research associate at the Center for Working-Class Politics.

Melissa Naschek is a writer and the co-host of Jacobin’s Confronting Capitalism podcast

05/08/2026

Join us Thursday May 14. Get your tickets at rootquarterly.com

Featuring
Claire Finkelstein
Richard Vague
And more

05/07/2026

Camp Linden Service Day on May 2, 2026. Content by Stan Horwitz

05/06/2026

05/06/2026

What is the Ethical Society? A non profit? A community center? A membership society? A fellowship? Join us tonight for an introduction to the past and future of our organization. 6-8 pm at 1906 Rittenhouse

05/05/2026

“We are dedicated to the principle that relationships of respect, compassion, and integrity are the building blocks of personal and global harmony. We hold that democracy is not just a political system but also a personal commitment—a continual exercise in freedom of conscience, thought, and moral responsibility expressed through humane deeds. We seek to promote personal moral development and social responsibility through direct assistance, social action, and public advocacy.”

Above is an excerpt from a statement on where Ethical Culture/Ethical Humanism stands at the beginning of the 21st century.

Aissia strives to unite elected officials, planning professionals and the public with a common vision of making a vibrant district even greater by building consensus on addressing the issues of poverty, public safety economic development and quality education.

She currently serve as the Deputy Chief of Staff for State Senator Sharif Street. She served as chief of staff for two State Representatives in the 197th District from 2014 to 2018.

Her professional career and volunteer experiences have focused on addressing unemployment, increasing economic development opportunities; supporting quality education and training; and establish community partnerships with nonprofit organizations to decrease poverty and create a trained and educated workforce.