Date: Feb. 12, 2007
Location: Squash Smarts
Participants: 11
Moderators: Erika Kitzmiller
Participants were first asked to describe one hope or one fear as the city enters its election year. Then, participants were asked to imagine they were giving a good friend’s family advice on whether to move to Philadelphia.
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What would be the pros and cons of that move?
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What forces and factors underlie those pros and cons?
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What steps could the city and region take to strengthen those pros or weaken those cons?
For a full description of the exercise, see http://go.philly.com/friendsdilemma
Moderator's Report:
By Erika Kitzmiller
What were the group's most striking hopes/fears?
HOPES:
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Attention to schools
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Safer streets
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More recreational sports
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Fewer families on the streets
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Change core curriculum
FEARS:
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We won’t have enough funding.
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The mayor won’t do anything.
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More crime
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Higher taxes
What "pros" emerged as most important?
1. Transportation
2. Education
3. Rich in culture
What "cons" emerged as most important?
1. Race / Racial crimes
2. Neighborhood segregation
3. Safety / Police
4. Education
5. Transportation
1. Pro: Education
Why is this pro important?
It is important for your future.
Why forces or factors support it?
- Funding
- Teachers
- Society
What action steps could strengthen it? What actors should do them?
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Give every high school the supplies and resources that the School of the Future has.
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Schools should have equal resources so that students have similar opportunities. This is the School District’s responsibility.
Now, the cons ...
1. Con: Safety
Why is this con important?
The safety level is bad because too many innocent people are dying.
What forces or factors underlie it?
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Bad security
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The bad people (racists) are still on the streets.
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Drunk driving
What action steps could weaken it? What actors should do them?
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Police should do their jobs.
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The mayor could put cameras in the street lights.