Grants boost five Philly organizing groups

Five organizing groups in Philadelphia were major recipients of support this year from a group of local and national funders as part of a new national initiative to strengthen education organizing. Here are profiles of the groups.

Philadelphia Student Union

Philadelphia Student Union (PSU) provides leadership training to Philadelphia high school students, who organize to ensure that every student gets a quality education.

History: Philadelphia high school students founded PSU in 1995.

Membership: PSU is managed by students and has trained over 600 student leaders in public speaking, outreach, working with the media, and community organizing over the past five years.

Accomplishments: PSU won a commitment from the District for the replacement of West Philadelphia High School with four small schools and campaigned successfully for the creation of Student Success Centers, which combine counseling, tutoring, case-management, mentoring, and college guidance services, in 10 comprehensive high schools.

Activities: During weekly chapter meetings at each high school, meetings of student representatives, Saturday leadership development programs, and summer training sessions, members learn about the history of public education, analyzing the root causes of social problems and the problems in their schools.

Contact Info: Nijmie Dzurinko at nijmie@phillystudent union.org, or 215-546-3290; www.phillystudentunion.org

Youth United for Change

Students from five Philadelphia neighborhood high schools lead Youth United for Chance (YUC) in organizing to develop youth leadership and address concerns about their schools and communities.

History: YUC was founded in 1991 by a group of teenagers and adults to address root causes of drug abuse and other negative youth behavior. It adopted a community organizing model and shifted its focus to improving educational opportunities for Philadelphia students.

Membership: More than 300 high school students per year – from Edison, Kensington, Mastbaum, Strawberry Mansion, and Olney – participate in YUC's chapter meetings, leadership trainings, and retreats.

Accomplishments: After observing other small school models across the country, YUC successfully campaigned to divide Kensington High School into four small schools (one is scheduled for construction), and continues to demand resources for these schools that are comparable to the resources Center City small schools have.

Activities: Other campaigns focus on increasing college access and promoting quality vocational education.

Contact Info: Andi Perez at andi@yucyouth.org or Helen Rowe at helen@yucyouth.org, 215-423-9588.

Philadelphia ACORN

Philadelphia ACORN organizes low- and moderate-income families to promote social justice and better neighborhoods.

History: Philadelphia ACORN, founded in 1977, is a local chapter of the nation's largest organization of working class families. In 2002, local ACORN members voted to add education to the group's traditional housing focus.