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Calling on the Office of Youth Engagement to expand its collaboration with the City Council’s Committee on Parks, Recreation & Cultural Affairs and Philadelphia Parks and Recreation Department (PPR) to strengthen youth leadership, civic participation, and cross-agency coordination, thereby ensuring youth voices are meaningfully integrated into City decision-making.
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WHEREAS, The City of Philadelphia’s Office of Youth Engagement (OYE), a division within the Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood and Community Engagement, recognizes that young people bring critical perspectives, lived experiences, and bold ideas to the table, all of which are vital to shaping a more inclusive and effective City government; and
WHEREAS, OYE currently supports youth-focused bodies such as the Philadelphia Youth Commission and the Millennial Advisory Committee, which create opportunities for emerging leaders to grow, advocate for their communities, and influence public policy; and
WHEREAS, Philadelphia Parks and Recreation Department (PPR) has a long-standing history of engaging youth through recreational programming, leadership development, and community building efforts across its network of recreation centers and playgrounds, and has demonstrated its commitment to youth empowerment, as outlined in the 2025 Progress & Priorities Report; and
WHEREAS, During recent Parks and Recreation tours led by members of City Council’s Committee on Parks, Recreation & Cultural Affairs, advocacy from AFSCME District Council 47, and following a visit to the Academy at Palumbo, students shared their concerns about teen-related violence and expressed a strong desire to change the narrative by modeling responsible use of park spaces and encouraging their peers to take advantage of available resources in a positive and productive manner; and
WHEREAS, Collaboration between OYE and PPR-along with the integration of PPR’s existing youth advisory groups into OYE’s broader engagement framework-will help unify and elevate youth voices across City departments, ensuring their input informs decisions related to public safety, youth development, education, and neighborhood revitalization; and
WHEREAS, Expanding the role of youth in public planning and policymaking by strengthening partnerships between OYE, PPR, and youth organizations citywide will foster greater equity, increase trust in local government, promote shared leadership between adults and youth, and contribute to more welcoming and responsive public spaces for all Philadelphia residents; and
WHEREAS, Through this collaboration, young people will have the following increased opportunities. Provide input on legislation and policies that affect them. Recommend approaches to resolving challenges youth face in schools, neighborhoods, and recreational spaces. Monitor and evaluate youth-serving programs to ensure their effectiveness. Partner with other youth groups to mentor new leaders, co-develop initiatives, and organize youth engagement in every City Council district. Convene citywide youth assemblies to share concerns, ideas, and solutions with public officials and peers; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, THAT THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, Hereby calls on the Office of Youth Engagement to formally collaborate with Philadelphia Parks and Recreation Department (PPR) and its advisory councils to enhance youth leadership, build interagency partnerships, and ensure youth voices help shape the policies and programs that impact their lives.
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