Youth Action Scholars: Inequality in Education

Lypheng Kim, sophomore at Mastery Charter (Thomas) leading a
"3 Corners" activity at the final Youth Action Scholars event.

This spring, our Youth Action Scholars worked hard to put together an educational and interactive workshop on inequality in our education system, an issue that feels especially timely given the current state of public education here in Philadelphia.  The project was inspired by a field trip the Scholars took on the 23 bus, which stretches the length of the city, starting on Oregon Ave in South Philadelphia and ending at the top of Germantown Ave in Chestnut Hill.  This look at the vast differences (and inequities) that exist in communities that are so close geographically, prompted them to examine the differences between two high schools that sit along the 23 route. Their workshop focused on the differences in demographics and funding at Germantown High School and Plymouth-Whitemarsh High School.  They facilitated their workshop for an audience of almost 50 people at their final event on Temple's campus on May 23.  The five Youth Action Scholars who completed the year were articulate, thoughtful, talented, and committed to raising awareness about how educational inequality affects young people in Philadelphia.  We are very proud of them!

Youth Action Scholars take "Reality Check" to Free Minds Free People!

Youth Action Scholars Taneka Price and Jabari Jackson, with the leadership of Kenny Williams-Medley and Alie Huxta presented a powerful interactive workshop to an audience of more than 30 youth and adults at the Free Minds Free People conference in Providence, RI. Workshop attendees got a "Reality Check" on the relationships between media ownership and representation and school funding and leadership. Content for the workshop has been developed by Youth Action Scholar participants in the "Education" and "Race, Culture & Mass Media" groups over the course of 2010-2011 program year. Thank you FMFP for the amazing opportunity to share and network with likeminded social justice educators!

First Person Documentary Screening

On Thursday, September 25th, the UCCP welcomed over 150 people to a screening and discussion of FIRST PERSON, the award winning film directed by Ben Herold that documents the lives of six Philadelphia public high school students who aspire to attend college. Following the film, several members of the Leaders Corps joined Malikka Saeed, one of the six students featured in FIRST PERSON, and State Representative Curtis Thomas for a lively panel discussion of the factors that work against Philadelphia youth striving to realize their dreams of higher education. For more information on the film, please visit http://www.firstpersondocumentary.org.

Temple Youth VOICES Spring 2008 Showcase

On May 8, 2007 VOICES participants culminated a year long exploration of education in Philadelphia schools with a presentation on their findings, opinions, suggestions, challenges and personal stories. A diverse audience comprised of VOICES youth, instructors, interns as well as families, friends and community members gathered in Tuttleman Hall on the Temple University campus for the event. The different youth comprised committees presented their material via PowerPoint slide shows, spoken word, poetry, audience quizzes and a documentary titled “Whose Tradition is it Anyway?” The presenters discussed such topics as the “No Child Left Behind Act”; the differences between traditional and non-traditional education techniques; the survey they conducted among ninety Philadelphia high school students and its results; the success, experiences and future plans for the Traveling Workshop which visited several local high schools over the winter and spring. A highlight of the event was the attendance of Mayoral candidate, Chaka Fattah, who was challenged to answer what, as Mayor, he would do to ensure that Philadelphia youth are more engaged, challenged and supported in their schools. The event culminated with a “Call to Action” and VOICES youth urged audience members to get involved in anyway possible with the education system in Philadelphia and with VOICES participants’ future work to create change in their schools.