This Martin Luther King Jr. Day 2012, Media Mobilizing Project stands again with the Philadelphia Student Union and the Campaign for Nonviolent Schools (CNS) and will be documenting stories about successful restorative justice practices at the “Create Nonviolent Schools and Communities” event,1-4pm at Arch Street United Methodist Church, 55 N. Broad Street. Come join us!

In this episode, MMPTV is joined by special guests from the Philly Student Union and Campaign for Nonviolent Schools, as well as a live audience, representing parents, students, educators and other Philadelphia School District workers. Below are links to the full episode, presented in 5 parts:
MMPTV Episode 6 Part 1: Headlines and Introduction
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KP0Cnn4K5JE MMPTV hosts, Miguel Andrade and Audra Traynham, introduce Azeem Hill and Nijmie Dzurinko, special guests from the Philadelphia Student Union and Campaign for Nonviolent Schools.

Today on June 23rd, 2011, I --Daesya Parker-- completed my first public speech for the Philadelphia Student Union. This speech was for the “No Vouchers Express,” a joint action that we completed with Action United and the Education Law Center. This bus tour was dedicated solely to stopping our state representatives and senators from voting yes on Voucher legislation.

The School District of Philadelphia has “an estimated 70,000 empty seats in more than 280 structures.”*  Combined with a budget gap of more than $490 million, it looks like the district is gearing up to close several schools next year.

School closings affect students in more ways than one, sometimes very critically. When schools get closed for reasons that aren’t clear or well explained to the public, people start to get angry. Usually students who have to travel further to attend a new school feel discouraged and displaced. This could lead to large numbers of students dropping out and being truant. Education is a right and we don’t want to see more kids at risk of becoming a statistic. That in its own sick way leads to a generation of young people who struggle to make a living and survive.