CitizenCast

A Better City, One Solution at a Time

At The Citizen’s Solutions Open Mic Happy Hour, we heard from residents like you about their ideas for fixing what ails Philly. It gave us reason to hope

CitizenCast

A Better City, One Solution at a Time

At The Citizen’s Solutions Open Mic Happy Hour, we heard from residents like you about their ideas for fixing what ails Philly. It gave us reason to hope

BY Roxanne Patel Shepelavy and J.P. Romney

Apr. 25, 2018

Print

Problem: Litter. Solution: A volunteer army of litter lifters.

Problem: Lack of funds in many Philadelphia schools. Solution: Voluntary donation of tax abatement.

Problem: Hunger. Solution: A delivery system for donated food waste.

The problem-solvers: Residents like you and me.

At The Citizen’s first Solutions Open Mic Happy Hour on Tuesday night, we made a modest proposal to the crowd: In three minutes, tell us a problem Philly faces; your solution to fixing it; and what you need help with. Then we gave the floor to six Philadelphians to make their pitch.

What we got was a myriad of creative, brilliant, deceptively simple and meaningful ideas to make Philadelphia better for everyone who lives here. It was an exercise in optimism, and a lesson it’s always great to relearn: Philadelphians have what it takes to make this city great(er). Let’s help them do it.

Listen below for a recap of the ideas—and reach out to us for more information about how to get involved.

Advertising Terms

We do not accept political ads, issue advocacy ads, ads containing expletives, ads featuring photos of children without documented right of use, ads paid for by PACs, and other content deemed to be partisan or misaligned with our mission. The Philadelphia Citizen is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, nonpartisan organization and all affiliate content will be nonpartisan in nature. Advertisements are approved fully at The Citizen's discretion. Advertisements and sponsorships have different tax-deductible eligibility. For questions or clarification on these conditions, please contact Director of Sales & Philanthropy Kristin Long at KL@thephiladelphiacitizen.org or call (609)-602-0145.

Photo and video disclaimer for attending Citizen events

By entering an event or program of The Philadelphia Citizen, you are entering an area where photography, audio and video recording may occur. Your entry and presence on the event premises constitutes your consent to be photographed, filmed, and/or otherwise recorded and to the release, publication, exhibition, or reproduction of any and all recorded media of your appearance, voice, and name for any purpose whatsoever in perpetuity in connection with The Philadelphia Citizen and its initiatives, including, by way of example only, use on websites, in social media, news and advertising. By entering the event premises, you waive and release any claims you may have related to the use of recorded media of you at the event, including, without limitation, any right to inspect or approve the photo, video or audio recording of you, any claims for invasion of privacy, violation of the right of publicity, defamation, and copyright infringement or for any fees for use of such record media. You understand that all photography, filming and/or recording will be done in reliance on this consent. If you do not agree to the foregoing, please do not enter the event premises.