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Date:                  Feb. 17, 2007

Location:            Philadelphia Youth Network 

Participants:       21

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.

  • What would be the pros and cons of that move?
  • What forces and factors underlie those pros and cons?
  • 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

Moderators' Report:

By Erika Kitzmiller and Pat Belk

 

What were the group's most striking hopes/fears?

 

  • That the politicians wouldn’t listen.

  • That the city could change.

  • That the students did/did not have a voice in the process.

What "pros" emerged as most important?

1. City services 

2. Cultural activities 

3. Transportation 

4. Education   

5. Diversity 

 

What "cons" emerged as most important?

1. Poverty

2. Crime / violence 

3. Education

4. Transportation

 

1. Pro: Transportation    

Why forces or factors support it?

  • You can get around the city.
  • Different forms of transportation
  • Inexpensive; free pass through school 

What action steps could strengthen it? What actors should do them?

     Keep the free pass from school.

2. Pro: Education 

What forces or factors support it?

  • Programs
  • Caring people
  • Good universities

What action steps could strengthen it? What actors should do them?

     Maintain the programs that work.

Now, the cons ...

1. Con: Poverty    

What forces or factors underlie it?

  • Homelessness and dependence on welfare.
  • Lack of employment opportunities.

What action steps could weaken it? What actors should do them?

     Work on cleaning up the abandoned houses; community members and city government

2. Con: Crime    

What forces or factors underlie it?

  • Drugs.

  • Lack of money because there are limited job opportunities; poverty.

  • Weak police force.

  • Lack of affordable housing in better neighborhoods.

What action steps could weaken it? What actors should do them?

  • Provide affordable housing; mayor

  • Increase job opportunities; mayor 

3. Con: Education    

What forces or factors underlie it?

  • Finances, leadership, debt

  • Number of teachers/class size

  • Supplies/funding

  • Discipline; uniform policy is too strict.

  • Drop-out rates

What action steps could weaken it? What actors should do them?

  • Reduce class size; School District

  • Reconsider the uniform policy; School District 

4. Con: Transportation    

What forces or factors underlie it?

  • Delays

  • Inaccurate schedules in city

  • It smells.

  • Car traffic

What action steps could weaken it? What actors should do them?

     Provide accurate schedules; SEPTA and the mayor