Overview
- Roughly 60 to 100 high school students took over Philadelphia City Hall for a one-day civic immersion that put them in the roles of mayor, cabinet, council, press and advocacy groups.
- Students drafted a proposed $72 million bill focused on World Cup priorities such as transit, public safety and neighborhood services but the student City Council voted to reject it and send it back to committee for revision.
- The exercise centered on SEPTA funding and fare policy, with many students arguing that fare increases would be regressive for low-income riders while others weighed the agency’s financial needs.
- Mayor Cherelle Parker and City Council President Kenyatta Johnson met with participants and praised the hands-on lesson about negotiation, technical detail and compromise.
- YMCA leaders said they will grow the Philadelphia summit in future years to reach more youth and to build civic skills for students who often report feeling underprepared to engage in politics.