Young People

ALTHOUGH SOME SEE President Obama's proposal to raise the minimum wage from $7.25 to $9 an hour as a way to help people make ends meet, others see it as a way for people to lose jobs. Anthony Liuzzo, professor of business and economics at Wilkes University in Wilkes-Barre, Pa., said many people who now make the minimum wage may find themselves unemployed if the wage is increased. "I think it will hurt the exact people it was intended to help," he said. "An employer will look hard at whether they can afford it. People who make the minimum wage will simply be terminated rather than get the higher salaries, especially young people.

Down a dirt path to an edge of Olympia Lakes, Daniel Braun waded Thursday with his dog, Roxy, into water that reached almost knee-high. "This is a hangout, kind of, especially in the summertime . . . when you don't feel like going to the beach," Braun, 23, said. But the night before, the Burlington County lake where Braun happily splashed had taken the life of a 19-year-old man. The victim was among four young people who drowned in recent days - three on Wednesday - in unguarded natural waters in the Philadelphia area.

The destitute Philadelphia schools are counting on Kevin Sosinavage, and others like him, to come to the rescue by continuing to do what they're doing: smoking and drinking. Sosinavage, 45, sat at the bar at SugarHouse Casino on Friday, sucking on a Marlboro and sipping from a bottle of Heineken, both of which would be heavily taxed under Mayor Nutter's plan to avoid doomsday for the school system. "I wouldn't mind the tax increase if my salary increased as much, but that's not the case," said Sosinavage, a warehouse worker who lives in Northeast Philadelphia.

Four years ago, when I stood at my uncle's funeral, I was just beginning to learn about loss. His wife, children and family stood around me, unwilling to let go. Back then I didn't know what AIDS was, except that it had killed someone I loved. My family's tears were soon transformed into statistics. His death became only another unfortunate loss like so many others. Quickly labels were placed on him, labels that many people associate with AIDS. Gay, straight, white, black. Within all the categories he was placed, he lost his individual importance, his self.

IN JUST A FEW months the citizens of Philadelphia will face an important election to decide who will be the next architects of city planning. Now is the time to register to vote for the Nov. 4 election -especially for those who represent an important group of voters that seem to be "missing. " I know that this group of missing individuals is brimming with fresh ideas, convictions and hope, and that it could bring so much to our political process. The group I am speaking of is the thousands of young Philadelphians who are not yet registered to vote.

THE PHILADELPHIA Marathon is a life-transforming event for even the most experienced athlete. For 35 runners, it was part of a much larger journey - a challenge that began transforming their lives long before the starting gun. They were among the youngest runners, and easy to spot. In royal blue, they were part of Students Run Philly Style - a unique program that uses marathon training as a catalyst for changing lives and helping some of the city's most disadvantaged teens go further in life.

Men and women ages 16 to 21 got a taste of police basic training in a boot camp during the Law Enforcement Explorer Training Academy at Fort Dix two weeks ago. Twenty-eight people were whipped into shape and taught the basics of law enforcement in one week of intensive training. This was the fourth annual academy, organized by Sgt. Tim Richardson of the Burlington Township Police Department. "The kids were up at 4 a.m. doing physical training, and they didn't get to sleep until 12:30 at night," said New Jersey State Trooper Nancy Tegeder.

NEW DELHI - Aastha Arora is one in a billion. At least that's what they called her when she was born May 11, 2000. Designated with great fanfare as the symbolic one billionth Indian, Aastha - her name means "faith" in Hindi - is now called something different. "They call me 'the special child' at school," the perky sixth grader said in the family's two-room apartment. "Teachers, friends know about the big ruckus when I was born. " In the last 11 years, India has added 240 million people and, according to U.N. estimates, is on target to surpass China as the world's most populous nation in 2020.

Today's young people don't need Kevin Spacey or Haley Joel Osment to tell them to pay it forward. Despite all of the lamenting about the apathy, narcissism and decline in values and morals of today's young people, there is one sign that contradicts this stereotype. For several years, this generation of young people has been more active in volunteering and giving than perhaps any that came before it. According to figures from the Points of Light Foundation in Washington, 13 million teenagers, or 59 percent of America's teen population, volunteer more than 3.5 hours a week.

This is the latest in a new series titled "The Inquirer College Board," featuring opinion pieces by writers from local colleges and universities. Do you believe in God? If so, you are one of 91 percent of Americans who do, provided you are 18 or older, according to a 2007 Newsweek poll. However, believing in God, having faith that there's a higher power, and being religious are not the same. In fact, many people believe but are not religious, or have faith and are not religious.

Former 76ers coach Larry Brown threw cold water on a report out of New York that suggested the 72-year-old Brown has been contacted by the Sixers about their vacant coaching job. Appearing Wednesday morning as a guest on ESPN-FM 97.5 with Tony Bruno and Harry Mayes, Brown said that the Sixers have not contacted him about the job. The report, citing sources close to Brown, first appeared Tuesday on SNY.tv's blog. Presently the coach of the men's basketball team at Southern Methodist, Brown also was linked to the vacant coaching jobs in Brooklyn and with the Los Angeles Clippers.

THE GREAT RECESSION has done many bad things to many people. But perhaps one aftermath that has been beneficial is the increase in multigenerational households. Their numbers expanded from 2007 to 2009 - the recession years - to a record 51.4 million people, according to the Pew Research Center. "Starting right after World War II, the extended-family household fell out of favor with the American public," according to a Pew report. "Since bottoming out around 1980, however, the multigenerational family household has mounted a comeback.

By Cathy M. Weiss and Timene Farlow When Latanya was 12, she stole a bike that was left near a neighborhood store. She was adjudicated delinquent and, nearly four years later, is still a part of the juvenile-justice system. She has been shuttled back and forth among detention centers, residential programs, and a few community-based programs. And, like 95 percent of the youth across the country who are confined in residential facilities, she did not commit a violent crime. Initially, both she and her mother were hopeful that Latanya could get help with the problems she'd been dealing with for years.

The destitute Philadelphia schools are counting on Kevin Sosinavage, and others like him, to come to the rescue by continuing to do what they're doing: smoking and drinking. Sosinavage, 45, sat at the bar at SugarHouse Casino on Friday, sucking on a Marlboro and sipping from a bottle of Heineken, both of which would be heavily taxed under Mayor Nutter's plan to avoid doomsday for the school system. "I wouldn't mind the tax increase if my salary increased as much, but that's not the case," said Sosinavage, a warehouse worker who lives in Northeast Philadelphia.

Upbeat region if taxes, regs eased Philadelphia needs to step up its game to foster small-business growth. As a business owner and entrepreneur who chose to start and grow my business here, I was proud to see Young Entrepreneur magazine recently list Philadelphia among the top 10 nationwide start-up hubs. But I wasn't surprised to read that, despite this ranking, we get D's and F's in networking opportunities, and for burdensome regulations and policies. A blasé business community paired with high taxes and strict regulation is at best unattractive.

Harris Wofford is a former U.S. senator from Pennsylvania John Gomperts is president and CEO of America's Promise Alliance Seeing images of the living presidents together last month in Dallas brought us back to Philadelphia. Sixteen years ago, we had the privilege of helping organize another presidential gathering - a summit whose influence can still be felt. From April 27-29, 1997, Presidents Bill Clinton, George H.W. Bush, Jimmy Carter, and Gerald R. Ford (with Nancy Reagan representing Ronald Reagan)

CATHY ORTIZ worked hard to bring beauty and good works to her city. Her activities for the greater good included Habitat for Humanity, Philadelphia More Beautiful, Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, YMCA/YWCA and a number of organizations for young people. All that while teaching in public schools for 33 years, running several businesses, raising a family and traveling the world. She also managed to fit in four college degrees. Catherine Janice Vinson Rivera Ortiz, who was also an outstanding cook whose peach cobbler and fried chicken were always in demand, died Saturday.

CHRISTOPHER Watson said he feels an obligation to write music about the violence and other life stories in his North Philadelphia neighborhood. Recently, a close friend suffered a broken jaw and a broken hand when a group of young men jumped him. "It makes me upset," said Watson, a 17-year-old rapper who uses the stage name "Bless. " "It's just not right. He could have died. . . . I write about stopping the violence. " Watson, a high school senior, is one of several young people set to perform Friday as part of the Uptown Theater's Youth Got Talent showcase.

By Shirley Greening and Cheryl Feldman These days, it is rather impossible to discuss workforce development and education issues without hearing about STEM, which stands for science, technology, engineering, and math. The main reason behind this increased buzz is that there are not enough young people pursuing STEM careers to meet the demand for the high-technology jobs of the 21st century. Recent reports from the U.S. Department of Commerce found that STEM jobs grew at a rate three times that of non-STEM jobs in the first decade of this century, and they are projected to grow by 17 percent during the second decade.

VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis celebrated his first Palm Sunday Mass in St. Peter's Square, encouraging people to be humble and young at heart and promising to go to a youth jamboree in Brazil in July, while the faithful enthusiastically waved olive branches and braided palm fronds. The square overflowed with a crowd estimated by the Vatican at 250,000. Pilgrims, tourists, and Romans jostled each other in an effort to glimpse Francis at the start of solemn Holy Week ceremonies, which lead up to Easter, Christianity's most important day. Keeping with his spontaneous style, the first pope from Latin America broke away several times from the text of his prepared homily to encourage the faithful to lead simple lives and resist the temptation to be sad when obstacles come their way. "Don't let yourselves be robbed of hope!"