In the coming days, on Tuesday May 19th, the current Congressional race will be coming to an end, and by January 2027 Philadelphia native Dr. Ala Stanford is looking to cement her position as a Congresswoman representing change not just in Philadelphia, but in Pennsylvania as a whole.
Ala Stanford is a Philadelphia Pediatric Surgeon, Healthcare Advocate and Community Activist. Most notably known for her accomplishments in creating the Covid-19 Black Doctors Consortium, one of the first of its kind, creating the consortium because at the time African American citizens were dying at a rate 4 times faster than their counterparts; to opening the Dr.Ala Stanford Center for Health Equity for residents to gain equitable options for healthcare. Shortly after this, she received a call from president Joe Biden appointing her to be the regional director of US Department of Health and Human Services, making her one of the only candidates in this current race with Federal leadership experience.
This past weekend Stanford held an intimate community Q&A conversation at the legendary Sam Morning Glory Diner. Notoriously known for its excellent breakfast items but also for its progressive and forward thinking mentality about equality for all races, creeds, and backgrounds. Currently the diner is draped in witty and satirical jokes that address Donald Trump’s problematic policies and laws that are affecting every walk of life. Current owner of the Morning Glory Diner Caroll Mickey of the morning glory finer diner has hosted various important Philadelphia municipal figures for community conversations and campaign election forums.
“We’ve been politically involved since Trump came in the first time. When I see a candidate in any race working to alleviate his policies, I research them and I offer to help in whatever way I can. So I called and offered to help in her campaign,” said Carol Mickey.
Stanford, who was coming from a prior engagement forum at st thomas church ran a little late, nonetheless, morning glory was packed full of residents from bella vista ready to question and support Stanford in important questions about support her aspirations of her current congressional run. Congressman Dwight Evans was also in attendance, and Representative Evans has endorsed Stanford’s campaign for her ideals toward health care and work for lower income communities of color.
“Why am I running? I am a public servant. As a surgeon I did that one patient at a time, during covid i felt it as my responsibility to take care of all of us.I am and was a private citizen i was not elected i did not have an infrastructure from the state or fed govt or funds to build, all i had was a vision,” said Congressional Nominee, Ala Stanford.
Residents and Attendees of the intimate meet and greet asked questions about Stanford’s work in regards to affordable housing developments in Philadelphia, easier accessibility to health care besides having a job with insurance, to how she will influence policy within Philadelphia schools for students.
At the city level, looking to convene community and “town hall style meetings” to see how funds can be accessible for lower income residents, and how that plan can be flushed out. Reviving and refunding the affordable care act and creating a single payer system for insurance care. Stanford continued by saying that we don’t have that right now because of so many monopolies taking over in the insurance scape. It is not a one man job and as a joint effort in govt it can get done, its about bringing people in who know how to manage this type of work. How are we bringing in more money and people are not living any longer?
“In Pennsylvania alone we had 400,000 people alone lose their health insurance due to the affordable care, I know because these folks are coming to see me at 21st & Lehigh,” she said.
Lastly, residents asked about her work towards federal funding for students in the Philadelphia public school system. Stanford believes in re-incentivizing teachers, and the rebuilding of the department of education and continuing to fund the school system, and that is what her work will be geared towards.
“She’s a strong young black woman in the government that has a voice and, of course, a backbone,” said Caroll Mickey.
“I am for her because of the thinking you have just heard toward these policies. It’s not because of the power and importance. The thinking of how these policies work. Politicians work for the people, remember that,” said Representative Evans.
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