Lobbying Issue: Funding for Philly Youth Poetry Movement
In Philadelphia there has been increase in shortage of funding for the city's recreational programs in the last few years and many argue that it's because of the growing problem of the young people in Philadelphia. Though there it isn't all youth, a bad handful seems to spoil the bunch. Many argue that if these young people had something constructive to do and people to take the time and help these misguided teens along, they could bring the generation that some call "the worse yet" into the best minds and voices yet to be heard. Founder, Greg Corbin believes that everyone has a story and that eveyr young person is capable of telling his or her story through art or some other expression. Philly Youth Poetry Movement is more than just poetry, more than just poets, and more than just talented young people. We are creators, we are innovators, we are the future's leaders. That is why I want to make it my lobbying project to help PYPM gain more funding. PYPM was founded in 2006 and what Greg envisioned was exactly his dream come true. At-risk youth ages 13-19 using poetry as a catalyst to express and advocate for themselves, explore their identities, enhancing their literacy and critical thinking skills, and become agents of social change. The main supporters we have are Mayor Michael Nutter, teachers in not only the SLA community, but teachers all across Philadelphia. Unfortunately the main opponents of this are republicans and the Governor Tom Corbet. What I would like to see proposed is that the funding they are trying to use to keep these rec centers open, some should go to help PYPM get a building and help this non-profit grow into something bigger that helps the youth become the confident, model citizens, that will one day change the world.
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