Organizations supporting Philadelphia youth see firsthand how gun violence, drugs, and poverty have traumatized children and robbed them of safety and security. Now these groups are launching The Kids’ Campaign to tell those vying for mayor that there is nothing more important than making every day safer than the day before for children and families.

The Kids’ Campaign is the first of its kind in Philadelphia – a nonpartisan effort that is not backing a candidate and that defines the election solely on the safety of children and youth. Through candidate questionnaires and forums, The Kids’ Campaign will share with voting parents and young adults the information they need to determine which candidate will keep Philly’s children safe.

What is The Kids Agenda?  It’s the Campaign’s list of what the next Mayor of Philadelphia must do to make every day safer than the last.  We’ve asked candidates for Mayor to understand and pledge their commitment to the following core beliefs:

● First and foremost, Philadelphia must be a great place to raise your family.
● Philadelphia can be a city where we have the courage to heal systemic rifts that disproportionately harm children of color.
● No child in Philadelphia should go hungry or live in poverty.
● Every neighborhood should have a quality District school.
● Philadelphia must be the prime destination for the best teachers in the country.
● Every child deserves a safe and stable home and access to healthcare.
● Every neighborhood must have great rec centers, parks, libraries, safe places, and afterschool and summer programs.
● Every child should have access to high-quality, early learning opportunities.
● Every teenager should have a meaningful summer job and a job on graduation.
● Youth who make mistakes should have restorative options.
● Philadelphia must contribute to solving the climate crisis to ensure a thriving future for our kids.
● Youth should have a voice in all levels of city government.

Who’s Involved In The Kids Campaign?  More than 80 organizations have already pledged to promote The Kids’ Campaign S.E.C.U.R.E agenda: Safety, Education, Careers, Uplifting families, Recreation, and the Environment:

Acclaim Academy, African Family Health Organization (AFAHO), After School Activities Partnerships, Allen Hilles Fund, BLBB Charitable, Bright Little Scholars, Brightside Academy, Center for Autism, Center for Families and Relationships, Children First, Children’s Village of Philadelphia, Children’s Playhouse Early Learning Center, Childspace Too, City Year Philadelphia, Civically Engaged, Community Alliance for Development, Community Education Center (CEC), CASA Philadelphia, Cradle of Liberty Council BSA, Deep Space Mind 215, Defenders Association of Philadelphia, Education Law Center, EleganceXtreme Inc., Episcopal Community Service, Fab Youth Philly, Family Promise of Philadelphia, First Up, Food Moxie, Give and Go Athletics, Grays Ferry Early Learning Academy, Greater Philadelphia YMCA, Health Promotion Council of Pennsylvania / Advocacy Institute, Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS) Pennsylvania, HopePHL, The Horner Foundation, Indochinese American Council, Innovageous, Institute for the Development of African American Youth, Inc., Joseph J. Peters Institute, KABOOM!, Latinos Educando Juntos, Learning My Way Montessori, Logan Civic Association, Maternity Care Coalition, Mental Health Partnerships, Mothers in Charge, Inc., Need In Deed, Norris Square Neighborhood Project, North10 Philadelphia, Olympik Tots Early Learning Center, PA Youth Vote, Parent (Action Lab), Parks and Rec Heroes Fund, Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, Philabundance, Philadelphia Association of Community Development Corporations, Philadelphia Community Empowerment Through Soccer / Kensington Soccer Club, Philadelphia Nurse-Family Partnership, Philadelphia Youth Sports Collaborative, Philly Homes 4 Youth Coalition, Primacy Futboller Academy, Project Home, Honickman Learning Center, Public Health Management Corporation (PHMC), Public Interest Law Center, Read by 4^th, Read to Succeed – Philadelphia, Reinvestment Fund, Safe-Hub, Settlement Music School/ Kaleidoscope, Shane’s Friends II, South Philly Sigma Sharks, SPIN Inc., Sunrise of Philadelphia, Greater Philadelphia Extracurricular Collaborative, Support Center for Child Advocates, Taller Puertorriqueno, Tiffany’s Grow and Glow Family Childcare, Turning Points for Children, Vetri Community Partnership, Vietnamese Senior Association, Walls for Justice, We Care Learning and Development Center, Young Professionals Advisory Council of Children First (YPAC)

The Kids Campaign is a part of Every Voice, Every Vote, a collaborative project managed by The Lenfest Institute for Journalism. Lead support is provided by the William Penn Foundation with additional funding from The Lenfest Institute, Peter and Judy Leone, the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, Harriet and Larry Weiss, and the Wyncote Foundation, among others. To learn more about the project and view a full list of supporters, visit www.everyvoice-everyvote.org. Editorial content is created independently of the project’s donors.