Young People

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)

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.

One of government's key roles is to protect and promote commerce. That's why government should help pay for the construction of sports stadiums here and in Pittsburgh. Think about the close ties between government and commerce throughout American history. To promote and protect trade, our government has pursued military action, such as attacking the buccaneers in Tripoli. It purchased the Louisiana territory. In Undaunted Courage, Steven Ambrose recently chronicled the role that Lewis and Clark played in enhancing commerce in the uncharted West.

June Rea gazed out at the sea of people on Independence Mall yesterday and saw new hope for her church. Many of the faces she saw were those of children and their young parents, the families that will make up the nucleus of the American Presbyterian Church as it struggles to slow a recent erosion in membership. The younger congregants were easily outnumbered by their older colleagues. But to Rea, the gulf between the generations did not seem quite as wide as before and was an encouraging sign for a church seeking a burst of new enthusiasm.

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!"

Philadelphia is becoming a test case for a new theory of American urban development. The conventional wisdom used to be that economic development was the key to cities' dynamism. Create jobs, the argument went, and people would follow, incomes would rise, and all would be well. Now an alternative idea is being preached by a growing number of urban analysts. It holds that quality of life has become more crucial to a city's prospects, because young adults demand it, and many jobs no longer have to be in a particular place.

Most of the lot at 335 Righters Ferry Rd. in Bala Cynwyd doesn't look like much, with its tangle of trees and weeds on hilly ground. But to Lower Merion Township officials, it is the beginning of turning the unremarkable and unwalkable area around City Avenue into a pedestrian's paradise. The township's Planning Committee on Monday night heard an initial presentation from Nolen Properties to construct an 11-story apartment building on the Righters Ferry site, bounded by Monument Road, Belmont Avenue, and St. Asaphs Road.

OLIVER "ALI" Robinson had an imposing family legacy to live up to. His mother, Frances "Mom" Williams, was a legendary community leader and civil-rights icon. His older brother, the late Hardy Williams, was a state senator whose run for Philadelphia mayor in 1971, although unsuccessful, paved the way for other African-Americans to seek public office. Ali made his own reputation as a civic leader, political activist, and founder and leader of organizations devoted to providing services to often-neglected young people.