Grabbing the Bullhorn

A new citywide student-run newspaper is a connection among Philly high schoolers—something missing even before the pandemic

By Courtney DuChene

I Am Because We Are

The Citizen’s 2020 Jeremy Nowak Urban Innovation Award will go to a program fighting gun violence and incarceration through basketball. Here, one of the organizers explains what it means to him—and for young black men in Philly

By Aaron Crump
Citizen of the Week

Kelli Wyatt

The middle school teacher started a Facebook group that has connected 600 high school seniors with “adopters” to help them celebrate their graduation—and raise money for college expenses

By Courtney DuChene

The Kids Are (Mostly) Alright

Online school is ramping up this week—but as the students will tell you, it’s not the same. Here’s how some are coping with life during the pandemic

By Elizabeth Warner and Jessica Press
Citizen of the Week

Shawn “Frogg” Banks

The nonprofit leader spent his youth being part of the problem in his North Philly neighborhood. Over two decades later, he’s a safe space for other kids—day, night or pandemic

By Angela Gervasi

Home is where the art is

In the time of Covid-19, Fresh Artists has taken its public school art program to where the students are: In their own homes

By Kiersten A. Adams
Reality Check

Get The Kids Connected Already

It’s nearly 50 days into the pandemic and thousands of school kids still aren’t able to access online learning. WURD’s midday host wonders, why can’t we be more like Detroit?

By Charles D. Ellison
Guest Commentary

Let Them Vote

Two high school history teachers urge all who care about our democracy to sign a letter today to allow all eligible voters—like the 20,000 youth in our city—to vote by mail

By Rhonda Feder and Thomas Quinn

#VoteThatJawn 2020

A group of Penn students, led by author/professor Lorene Cary, won’t let even a pandemic keep them from their mission: to register 10,000 first-time voters

By Jessica Blatt Press
Citizen of the Week

Joanna Lin

The high school sophomore started the Student Period Movement to fight “period poverty” from Broad Street to Bangladesh

By Elena Musher Eisenstadt