Guest Commentary

Repair the Pandemic’s Impact On Neighborhood Schools

Covid caused devastating learning losses, especially among low-income students. Here, Mastery Charter founder and CEO lays out a path to overcome them.

By Scott Gordon
Watch

The Future of the Philadelphia Office

An event last week explored the ways companies balance worker and business needs — and how Center City can thrive in our new norm

By Lauren McCutcheon
Ideas We Should Steal

Mental Health Days for Philly Students

Twelve U.S. states allow school kids to take excused days off for emotional well-being. PA should too

By Courtney DuChene

How a Community Fridge Built … a Community

Jane Ellis opened one of the city’s first community fridges at the start of Covid. Two years later, Germantown’s two free-to-all pantries testify to the power and promise of mutual aid

By Ethan Young
Citizen of the Week

Damaris Alvarado-Rodriguez

The director of progressive, accessible childcare centers is on a mission to provide opportunities for children and adults — including through a new teacher apprenticeship program starting this week

By Lauren McCutcheon

How to End the Endless Fuss Over FDR Park

The plan for Philadelphia’s largest neighborhood park has prompted a contentious fight, South Philly style. Could the answer be as simple as a walk in the park?

By Lauren McCutcheon

Hope For Housing Access

Philly 3.0’s engagement director applauds the state legislature’s big moves on housing this year. Now, let’s keep it going.

By Jon Geeting
Guest Commentary

A Love Letter to Education Heroes

A 7th grade Philly math and science teacher reflects on the hardest of school years — and thanks all those who made it possible. Namely: those doing the work

By Ami Patel Hopkins
The Virus and the City

Averting a Lost Decade

Without real, immediate structural change, we risk creating more racial wealth disparities than we had pre-pandemic. Drexel’s Metro Finance Head has a blueprint for recovery

By Bruce Katz and Mary Ellen Wiederwohl

Dear Teachers

This school year was hard. You know who made it easier for the rest of us? Teachers

By Roxanne Patel Shepelavy