Posted: | January 24, 2017 09:47 AM |
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From: | Representative Jordan A. Harris |
To: | All House members |
Subject: | Resolution: Recognizing the Invaluable Service and 20th Anniversary of the Philadelphia Site of the City Year Organization |
In the very near future, I intend to introduce a resolution formally recognizing both the invaluable service and 20th Anniversary of the Philadelphia site of the City Year organization. As many of you may be aware, in 1988 the City Year organization was founded by two then-Harvard Law School students who recognized the necessity of mobilizing young adults in an effort to remedy many of the socioeconomic issues plaguing our communities and nation --- particularly the issues of improving educational outcomes and curtailing high school dropout rates. In an effort to further its mission, the City Year organization established its Philadelphia site in 1997, which to-date has been responsible for deploying more than 3000 corps members to 14 Philadelphia public and charter schools, providing more than 4.5 million hours of community service, engaging more than 60,000 volunteers, and generating more than $5,000,000 in educational awards. It is estimated that nearly 15,000 Philadelphia students are at risk of dropping out of school. In addition, according to a 2014 study commissioned by Northwestern University, it is estimated that half of all Americans on public assistance are dropouts and that they cost taxpayers approximately $292,000 over the course of their lives. Faced with these sobering statistics, the City Year Philadelphia site and its leadership team have been instrumental in providing much needed academic and socio-emotional support to students that are at-risk of dropping out of school. As it enters its second decade of existence, the City Year Philadelphia site continues to lead the clarion call of highlighting the importance of investing in the educational outcomes and futures of our young people. It is for this very reason that I ask you to please join me in formally acknowledging the tremendous impact and 20th Anniversary of the Philadelphia site of the City Year organization. |
Introduced as HR56