Ideas We Should Steal Festival 2023

Majora Carter Wants You to Stay in Your Neighborhood

The MacArthur “Genius” has a solution to the problems facing low opportunity communities: Treat them like struggling companies

By Roxanne Patel Shepelavy
Ideas We Should Steal Festival 2023

Reducing Gun Violence with Roca’s Molly Baldwin

Roca, a program in Massachusetts and Baltimore trains shooters to refrain from shooting by literally changing their minds. See the founder at Ideas We Should Steal Festival on November 17

By Roxanne Patel Shepelavy
Ideas We Should Steal

Becoming a Manufacturing Hub

Pennsylvania lags behind Ohio, Michigan and other states in an economy-boosting 21st century manufacturing resurgence. Drexel’s Metro Finance head lays out what PA must do to catch up

By Bruce Katz, Avanti Krovi and Milena Dovali

“An Amazing Commitment to Children”

A poverty-fighting nonprofit presented its stellar outcomes at The Citizen’s Ideas We Should Steal Festival. Now it’s launching in Philly

By Natalie Pompilio
Ideas We Should Steal

Grassroots Housing Reparations

A rapper-turned-community activist is preserving Black wealth in Portland, the Whitest big city in America, by helping homeowners repair — and therefore stay — in their homes

By Roxanne Patel Shepelavy
Ideas We Should Steal

More Parklets

Mini on-street parks in cities like Chicago build community and help businesses thrive. So why doesn’t Philly have more of them?

By Natalie Pompilio
Ideas We Should Steal

No More Traffic Deaths

Six years ago, the City pledged to eliminate pedestrian and cyclist deaths. Instead, they’ve gone up. Can we take a lesson from … Hoboken?

By J.P. Romney
Ideas We Should Steal

Ban the Ban, Not the Book

Attention, Governor Shapiro and Pennsylvania state legislators: Illinois has banned book bans. NJ is thinking about it and PA should too.

By Elaine Maimon
Ideas We Should Steal

Wage Boosts for Local Workers

A first-of-its kind program in Scranton is using federal rescue money to help small businesses give their employees a pay raise. Could a similar plan help residents and businesses thrive in Philly?

By Natalie Pompilio
Ideas We Should Steal

Vote Like Minneapolitans

Only 27 percent of voters cast a ballot in Philly’s mayoral primary last week. Here’s what we can learn from the midwest city — known for high levels of civic engagement — that recently set a turnout record

By Greta Kaul