Youth
Listen to Teens on Gun Violence
A North Philly native who was shot, spent time in prison, and now works in schools offers concrete ways to engage young people in ending the travesty of shootings
By LuQman AbdullahClean Up Trash With Pro Sports Teams
The Memphis Grizzlies loaned its NBA star power to get citizens competing to pick up litter. Could a Philly “Litter League” help clean up our streets, too?
By Roxanne Patel ShepelavyAli Velshi Banned Book Club with Meg Cabot
The MSNBC host speaks with the YA author about the inevitability of teen sex
By Ali VelshiPhilly’s Fiercest Advocates
YEAH Philly provides 400 youth a year with a safe space and opportunities to change the course of their lives and their community. Is it a blueprint for moving our city forward?
By Jessica Blatt PressAli Velshi Banned Book Club with Grace Lin
The MSNBC host speaks with the bestselling children's author and illustrator about the very unlikely banning of her storybook, A Big Mooncake for Little Star
By Ali VelshiYouth Restorative Justice For All Students
The School District’s diversion program for low-level offenders is a national model that has kept kids in school and out of jail. Could a version of San Francisco’s Make it Right program reach even more youth?
By Aly KerriganHow To End Our Culture of Gun Violence
A North Philly native who was shot, spent time in prison and worked in schools has seen a lot of violence. Here, he lays out his prescription for stopping it
By LuQman AbdullahAli Velshi Banned Book Club on Two Boys Kissing
The MSNBC host talks with David Levithan, author and champion of books about LGBTQ+ teens
By Ali VelshiLevel Up to Healing
Week after week, Pastor Aaron Campbell’s five-year-old after-school program offers more than 300 young people the security, skills and confidence to live — and thrive — through the city’s violence
By James PetersonSix Ways Schools Can Better Serve Students
The heads of two local youth organizations asked students what they needed to feel safe and well-served in schools. Here, some solutions to fix what ails the system
By Darryl Bundrige and Donna Cooper