While Student Union focuses its organizing in Philadelphia, we believe that we can only be effective if we stay aware of and understand trends in education policy on a national level.  In the past few years, a definite direction in education policy has been increasingly evident in big cities throughout the country including New Orleans, Chicago, Washington D.C. and even here in Philadelphia.

There are two Philadelphias, one in Center City and one in the surrounding communities. For many years now, it seems the goal of the city has been to make Center City more appealing. This is a task that will be completed by both expanding Center City, which is now in the works, and by adding additional resources to it. The problem with this plan is that the communities that surround Center City, which are mostly poor and working people, are still living in these communities. So there is a problem.  Developers and others want land they can build on, where they can get a high return on investment.  They want the land, but not the current residents.