It’s back-to-school time in Philadelphia, a region with a whopping 32 colleges and universities, aptly earning the unofficial nickname of the “city of eds and meds.” This time of year is super exciting for all students, but especially those who are new here. Welcome.
Here’s a quick primer, plus a more complete guide for how to be the best version of a Philadelphian.
So what is a true Philadelphian? You may take your sports a little too seriously. You likely have expert opinions on who makes the best hoagie, and you boldly claim that no one likes you … and you don’t care. But first and foremost, being a true Philadelphian means you’re a good neighbor and care about your community. Hence another one of our nicknames (really, a translation of the Greek): the “City of Brotherly Love and Sisterly Affection.”
As a proud Philly transplant who came here to go to Temple — Go Owls! — I’ll be the first to admit: We college kids have a reputation for being a little annoying to the locals. We can be loud on the weekends; some of us leave trash everywhere, and not a few of us come with preconceived — sometimes overly negative — notions of this city. Take my advice: Ditch the last two ideas. (You can keep the first one, especially if you’re being loud cheering for the Birds.)
Remember: Your college town (city) is not just a layover until you put down more permanent roots. You will be living in Philly for the next four or more years, and it’s important to treat it like a place you call home — which means more than being kind to other residents, patronizing local businesses, and enjoying the city’s history, art scenes, and generally getting out and about.
It also means being an engaged citizen. You’re in college now. On your own. Old enough to do things like vote, volunteer, and clean up after yourself without parental guidance.
Take civic responsibility
Register to vote — and vote. You can — and should — register to vote with your dorm or college apartment address here in Philadelphia. After all, you’ll be here during this year’s general election on November 3 (which includes the PA Governor’s Race) and the midterms on May 18. Voting is one of the most essential ways to make your voice heard — and, when you do it, you get a cool sticker.
Learn how to register and become an expert on all things voting with The Citizen’s guide to voting in Philly.
Learn who represents you on Philadelphia City Council. Of all the elected officials who work in City Hall, eight work directly for you. They are your one District City Councilmember, based on your address, and seven At-Large City Councilmembers, who serve all of Philly. These people don’t just make and change Philadelphia laws and policy. They can also help resolve neighborhood issues, whether that’s dealing with the PPA (the Philadelphia Parking Authority) or getting your trash collected on time. Meet all of them.
Learn more about how Philadelphia City Hall and the city’s government in general work in The Philadelphia Citizen’s Your City Defined series.
Learn your state rep. You are now a constituent of The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. If you need help navigating state-based government services — think food stamps or unemployment — your state rep’s office is here to help.
Know the number 311. The city’s hotline for non-emergency inquiries lets you submit service requests to fix potholes and graffiti in your neighborhood, request information on city services, and ask all kinds of general questions. Someone dumped a mattress on your sidewalk? 311 is the number to call. But word to the wise: They aren’t the clean-up crew for your party: That’s your job. (Pro tip: The more you call, the more likely you’ll get the help you need, and faster.)
Follow local news. Stay up-to-date on the local happenings of your new home. The Citizen is a great news organization to follow for solutions to Philly’s biggest problems and a great tool for staying civically engaged. Sign up for our newsletter for weekly solutions straight to your inbox. Want local breaking news? Local news affiliates, like 6ABC, FOX29, NBC10 and WHYY have you covered.
Be a good neighbor
Keep your neighborhood clean. Remember the golden rule from kindergarten? Leave the space better than you found it. That still applies in adulthood. Place trash in your building’s appropriate receptacles. Heed your garbage and recycling collection day. Participate in block clean-ups, or host one yourself.
And please: If you see trash that isn’t yours, just pick it up, man. (Need some help? The Philadelphia More Beautiful Committee works with block captains in each police district to keep neighborhoods looking good.)
Talk to your neighbors. Don’t be shy. Befriend your neighbors who’ve lived in Philly longer than you. Exchange smiles or neighborhood help for recommendations on where to get the best cheesesteak in town. They may also surprise you with deep city lore.
Help with tasks around the neighborhood. Be proactive in making your neighborhood a cleaner and more accessible place. Pick up trash that isn’t yours, shovel walkways when it snows, offer to unload groceries from a trunk, and stop by to feed your neighbor’s cat if they’re away.
Be mindful about your noise. If you’re hosting a party, maybe give your neighbors a pre-midnight heads up. And turn down the music if they ask.
Keep loud conversations away from underneath someone’s window. Just because you’re ‘young and turnt,’ doesn’t mean other people want to be subjected to it. Do the right thing and keep it down.
Support homeless members of your community. As of 2024, more than 5,000 Philadelphians are unhoused. Support your homeless neighbors by donating money and everyday essentials, volunteering with some of Philly’s assistance organizations — and, importantly, simply not ignoring them.
Help fight food insecurity. More than 210,000 Philadelphians struggle with food insecurity. Many areas of Philly are considered food deserts — neighborhoods that don’t have easy access to healthy, fresh and affordable food. Help by volunteering, donating high-need items (not just the can of soup that’s been sitting on your shelf since move-in), and scheduling an excess food pickup for your party or club meeting leftovers.
Learn more about fighting hunger in The Citizen’s guide.
Start a little free library. With just some wood, paint and books from your and your friends’ collections, you can spread the love of reading with your community.
Make friends outside of the dorm
Join a volunteer organization. Those dozens of friendships you formed at orientation? They might not be your forever-friends in Philly. The best way to make friends is to find a group of like-minded people, all working towards the same goal. An even better way is to make new friends by doing work that has a positive impact on others.
Just some of Philly’s hundreds of civic-minded causes and organizations to consider, based on your interests:
Get out the vote. Named after the Amendment that gave citizens 18 and over the right to vote, Project 26 spreads the word about civic engagement in college campuses all over in PA. Volunteer here, and you’ll meet other young people passionate about making their voices heard in the electoral process.
Promote literacy. Help children in Philly become better learners and writers by volunteering with Mighty Writers, which puts on youth writing workshops and often needs assistants to help.
Fix public transit. SEPTA is Philly’s public transportation system — and something that you will soon be, if you’re not already, using a lot. The org needs help from newcomers and young people like you. Join their Youth Advisory Council to educate fellow students about public transit, perform legislative research, and weigh in on SEPTA’s budgets and projects.
Get politically progressive. Begun by some high school and college students against a proposed 76ers arena in Chinatown, Ginger Arts Center — on the edge of Chinatown — is now a free youth and arts center. Young people gather for both art workshops and political teach-ins, taught by other young people.
These groups are great ways to make a difference in your community while getting connected with other amazing people your age.
Join a social group. Step out of your comfort zone and have a little fun.
Players: If you want to relive your glory days of gym class, join an adult recreational sports league like Heyday Athletics. Gather a group of friends or drop into a pickup team.
Crafters: Dessert Before Dinner gathers strangers to to craft and gab in public places like parks, but also in the backs of shops and such.
Gamers: Computer science majors and irrepressible Fortnite players can learn how their favorite games get made or just love gaming at Philly Game Mechanics, a gamer group that’s open to all.
Runners: Philadelphia (and South Jersey, for that matter) have dozens of running clubs and meet-ups. Check out of bunch of them here. We’re partial to the Philly Slow Girl Run Club, which proclaims itself to be a community of all “paces and faces” — i.e. a less intimidating and more inclusive environment.
Queer bookworms. The longest-running queer bookstore in the country, Philadelphia AIDS Thrift @ Giovanni’s Room, hosts monthly meetings of the Philly Queer Book Club discussing LGBTQ+ literature.
Future professionals. Looking to grow yourself as a civically-engaged leader? Young Involved Philly prepares the next generation of board members to thrive in the professional world.
These are just a few of the organizations that can help you make new friends. Want more ways to find your people? Check out our Join Something guide.
Dig into Philly
Learn everything you can about Philadelphia. Philly is home to so many of the country’s firsts, including the first zoo, first library, first children’s hospital, first … bubble gum. The city has a long, rich history of labor unions, and plenty of weird sports superstitions.
Visit a free library. That’s what they’re called here: Free libraries. They’re not just about checking out books, either. The Free Library of Philadelphia’s dozens of branches host very cool author events, ESOL classes, and cultural happenings. Find your local library and get a free library card today!
Read local literature. Once you get your library card, check out books that will help you get to know the city better.
Black History in the Philadelphia Landscape by former Masterman High School social studies teacher Amy Jane Cohen reminds us that history is something we carry with us.
Read Philadelphia Fire by John Edgar Wideman to learn about one of the darkest and most revealing chapters in the city’s history, the MOVE bombing.
God Bless You, Otis Spunkmeyer by Joseph Earl Thomas offers a glimpse into the life of an ER worker in North Philly.
Be a real Philadelphian. Real Philadelphians care deeply for their neighbors. It may be hard for outsiders to tell, but every “Go Birds” greeting is an “I love you.” And everything or everyone we label “jawn?” That’s a mark of affection.
Welcome to Philly. Now go forth, and continue the time-honored tradition of spreading your newfound brotherly love and sisterly affection.
MORE COLLEGE STUDENTS DOING GOOD
