Penn Reading Initiative (PRI) is a volunteer-based program dedicated to increasing literacy of struggling elementary students at underfunded schools in West Philadelphia. While several organizations at Penn work with youth in West Philly, PRI is unique in its mission and curriculum. PRI utilizes a curriculum called the Reading Road, which was developed […]
Civic Engagement
Penn Students Lend a Hand in Education at Incarceration Facilities
A wealth of empirical evidence points to an extreme disparity in educational attainment between the general population and incarcerated individuals. While 18 percent of the general population lacks a high school diploma, over 40 percent of incarcerated individuals do not have one (Why Prison Education? ). This is not an […]
Youth Voting in Philadelphia
In the 2014 midterms, Penn students had a dismal voter turnout, with only 19.8% of Penn students voting (PennToday), a number lower than country average. However, recent election statistics and registration initiatives, show that Philadelphia is becoming more civically engaged, and that young adults in particular are flipping the narrative […]
The Status Quo of Protesting the Status Quo
In recent years, social activism has become significantly more accessible to the general public. From web surfers communicating through online forums to students demonstrating on college campuses, people are voicing their opinions on social, political and cultural issues more comfortably. Does the act of more people getting involved more comfortably […]
GEARing UP to Make a Difference
This article was written by guest contributor Blake Jones. GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs) is a federally funded program aiming to positively impact underserved middle school and high school students. Activities range from tutoring and mentoring to the facilitation of lessons and conversations about financial […]
Spreading Religious Pluralism: Interfaith Youth Core (IFYC)
Interfaith Youth Core is a Chicago-based non-profit organization dedicated to interfaith cooperation and religious pluralism. In a time when the fundamental causes of today’s most pressing conflicts are rooted in misunderstanding and intolerance, the discussion of religious pluralism is needed now more than ever. Although less known to public, an […]
Selfish Altruism: Counting the Cost of Short-Term Medical Missions Trips
I took my first short-term medical mission trip the summer after my junior year of high school. Our team of twenty American teenagers embarked on the 24-hour flight to Uganda bearing one brain surgeon, two nurses, and suitcases full of stickers and children’s books. Working alongside Ugandan doctors and nurses, […]
One For The World
Image from OFTW (http://www.1fortheworld.org/) Most Penn students want to make a positive difference in the world, but many aren’t sure where to start. One For The World (OFTW) is a Penn-founded organization that makes giving back easy. Their goal is to encourage students to pledge 1% of their future incomes […]
The Philly Nonprofit Teaching Girls to Own Their Awesomeness
Many students at Penn believe in fostering social change, especially right here in Philadelphia. Kate Zipin is one woman who also wants to make a difference in society, one summer at a time. Upon relocating to Philadelphia, the former teacher founded Own Your Awesomeness – a camp meant to empower […]
Who is “Revitalization” Really For?
In 2006, my family moved into a brownstone in Harlem, New York. Though I was young, I remember other family members being skeptical about the decision. They questioned my parent’s choice to live in the ‘sketchy’ and supposedly dangerous neighborhood. For years, my parents and I were met with the […]
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