Ahead of tonight’s Democratic mayoral candidates forum at the Temple Center for Performing Arts, $15 minimum wage activists staged an artistic direct action at the debate's venue in North Philly.

With the help of an independent artist, members of 15 Now Philly projected facts about Philadelphia's poverty rates and questions for mayoral candidates directly onto the venue's facade.

North Philly neighbors and Temple students signed petitions and committed to sending a tweet to candidates before the debate tonight.

"I'll probably go and see what candidates are saying so I know who to vote for. Politicians should try living off $7.25 an hour and it would be clear to them why we need the $15 minimum wage," said a low-wage worker passing by.

15 Now member and Temple senior Pele Irgangladen said, "Philadelphians want to know, are the mayoral candidates willing to commit to $15 minimum wage — not just in rhetoric, but a guarantee they'll fight alongside us to do whatever it takes to exercise right to implement our own minimum wage."

15 Now Philly is supporting a ballot referendum in November to demonstrate overwhelming local support for a $15 minimum wage. “The ballot initiative is designed to push lawmakers to legislate a direct challenge to Harrisburg's illegitimate ban on municipal wage raises,” the organization stated.

"I do think (candidate's positions on the $15 wage) will influence how people vote," said Temple freshman and art student Gillian Mead.