For Philadelphia's upper middle class, the COVID-19 economic crisis barely hurt and has, the experts contend, essentially ended.

“It is hard to find balance between doing the work and finding the energy and resources to argue at City Hall," says Farrah Parkes of Gender Justice Fund.

"It’s tough to ask for help in the best of circumstances, and a global pandemic is certainly not the best of times," says Generocity columnist Valerie Johnson.

The leaders who responded to our second TRACE self-assessment in December/January offered almost uniformly terrible ratings in response to questions about public health, community engagement and economic resiliency.

Still, its Reform, Transformation, and Reconciliation process is less truth and reconciliation — a grassroots-driven process designed to help community members come to terms with past violence and increase awareness of trauma — and more think-tank.

Advocates say a robust small business community is key to Philadelphia’s recovery — just adding one or two employees at each small business would create tens of thousands of jobs. But first those businesses have to find a way to stay open.

One of Philadelphia’s most storied and solid attractions and home to over 80 vendors selling a variety of foodstuffs and crafts, RTM's foot traffic has plummeted by 50%.