That pair of old Reeboks you put out with the trash last month might now be for sale somewhere in West Africa. And the person who sent them there wants to represent you in Harrisburg.
Recycler and activist Paul Hagins has been collecting discarded reusable items from the city's streets for the last three years. "I've got about 25 scrappers across the city," Hagins says. He pays his dumpster divers for their hauls, then sells the goods to exporters, who ship them to West African nations for resale.
"I can look at what people deem as trash, see the value and flip it," explains Hagins, who estimates he has recycled about 50,000 pairs of shoes.
Recycling is just the latest venture for Hagins, who also goes by the first name Ogbonna. He was publisher of Philly Word magazine, which chronicled the hip-hop scene from 1999 to 2004. He's also been a radio host, a teacher and a cab driver.
Now Hagins is gearing up to tackle another job: state representative for the 182nd District. Hagins is running against Rep. Babette Josephs, who's held the seat for 27 years, and the former board president of Equality PA, Brian Sims, in the April 24 Democratic primary.
Hagins' candidacy springs from his active involvement with Occupy Philly. In October, he led protestors in a march against a Bank of America branch. But his No. 1 campaign issue isn't corporate greed, but rather the state's severe underfunding of public schools. "When I am elected, I will actively pursue fair and adequate funding for the School District," Hagins says.
Hagins wants gaming revenue to be allocated directly to public schools. His twin boys attend Julia R. Masterman High School. "I look at the education my sons are receiving," he explains, "and I feel that all schools in Philly should have that sort of opportunity."
