Youth
Shelah Harper
How the Germantown resident turned the tragic loss of her daughter into a two-decade campaign to prevent teen dating violence in Philadelphia
By Brandon DorfmanThe Juvenile Justice Champions
In the eight years since co-founding the Youth Sentencing & Reentry Project Joanna Visser Adjoian and Lauren Fine have helped dozens of young people stay out of adult prisons—and get the support they need to lead productive lives
By Jessica Blatt PressLetter from Fairmount
A neighbor of those lost in the tragic fire this week chronicles the horror, the sorrow and, fittingly, the community togetherness that has emerged
By Christine Speer LejeuneThe Fearless Artist
Raheem “King” Saladeen has unlocked opportunities around the world with his artwork—including his ubiquitous “JP The Money Bear.” But his heart belongs to the city that raised him and the late friend who believed in him
By Jessica Blatt PressFree Childcare at City Meetings
Ithaca, New York, eliminated the biggest barrier to civic engagement among parents. Could babysitting bring more voices into the conversation in Philly, too?
By Jessica Blatt PressCitywide Restorative Justice
The attack on Asian-American high school students on SEPTA last month was another symptom of our city's broken systems. Could implementing Philly-wide restorative justice practices, as they do in Oakland, help heal our collective pain?
By Jessica Blatt Press“It Was Just A Lot of Stress”
Masterman 8th graders sat last week for the School District's new essay requirement for Philly’s top academic high schools. Then the system crashed. Why, one student wonders, can’t they get it right?
By Natalia ShepelavyStephen Piner and Jamir Shaw
The Philly natives’ Dope Shows isn’t just changing the music and performance industry—it’s also building community and helping Philly youth
By Nick Fiorellini“More Than Just Blacktop”
Recess improves students’ mental health. But green schoolyards, says the state director of the Trust For Public Lands, can help even more.
By Owen FranklinFinding Families for Foster Kids
State law requires that caseworkers place children who were removed from their parents with kin—but Philly lags behind Los Angeles and Lackawanna County in getting the job done.
By Steve Volk