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Past forums have included:

2006

• November 2006:  “Crisis in the Streets” – Homelessness is on the Rise in Philadelphia. Philadelphia has been cited as a national model for its efforts to end homelessness, yet the number of people living in shelter and on the street has risen dramatically here in the last year. This summer's homeless street census was the highest since 1997 and the previous winter's street census was the highest in recorded history.
   
  • What is causing the increase?
  • If we need more shelter space and housing, why aren’t we developing more?
  • What can we do to connect people experiencing homelessness to the services they need to leave homelessness behind?

  Speakers included those on the front lines, including representatives from homeless service providers, civic associations, city government, and formerly homeless individuals.

• October 2006: "Philadelphia's Open Space in the 21st Century"  This forum was co-hosted with the Neighborhood Transformation Initiative to broaden the audience's understanding of open space challenges and strategic planning. For the first time, Philadelphia is preparing a master plan for open space. Dubbed GreenPlan Philadelphia, it will be the City's blueprint for sustainable open space, guiding development over the next 15 - 20 years. There will be a unique opportunities for all residents to get involved in planning for open space in their neighborhoods through a series of community meetings through December 2006. Speakers included Glen Abrams, Office of Watersheds, Philadelphia Water Department; Darlene Messina, Philadelphia Health Department; Andrew Davenport, Office of Housing and Community Development; Domenic Vitiello, Urban Studies Program, University of Pennsylvania; and John Kromer, Fels Institute of Government, University of Pennsylvania. More than 70 people attended the forum at the Seiss Community Center, 2111 Sansom Street.
   
• July 2006: Bike Tour of the Centennial District - Danielle DiLeo Kim, AIA, Project Planner for the master plan and YIP member, led a group on a "behind the scenes" bike tour of the Centennial District in West Fairmount Park.Over two and half miles long, the District includes an area of the Park from the Mann Center to the Art Museum. The master plan proposes new venues, infrastructure, and management strategies, and it also coordinates with the exciting development happening in the Park right now, such as the expansion of the Mann Center for the Performing Arts, the transformation of Memorial Hall into the new Please Touch Museum, the new High School of the Future, and the expansion of the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
   
• April 2006: Philly Brands - Philadelphians are justifiably proud of their favorite hometown brands. Locals have grown very attached to establishments like DiBruno Brothers, John & Kira's Chocolates, and Capogiro Gelato. As these and many other cherished Philadelphia gain national recognition and expand beyond the Philadelphia market, how do they retain their local flavor? Panelists Emilio Mignucci of DiBruno Brothers, John Doyle of John & Kira's Chocolates, and John Reitano of Capogiro Gelato Artisans spoke on the challenges of being a successful Philly brand. Held Upstairs at DiBruno's, 1730 Chestnut Street.
   
• February 2006: Stand Up for a Seat - This year there are more than 6,000 public offices up for election, from Congressperson to School Board member. And you can win one of them. YIP, in collaboration with YAPAC and the Committee of 70, presented a forum on running for office and the political system. The panel was composed of experts in their 20s and 30s who have successfully been elected to office in the Greater Philadelphia area. Christopher Sheridan, policy director for Committee of Seventy, presented a step-by-step guide on how to run for political office and break down the complex political pyramid.

2005

• Late October 2005 - Guided bike tour of the Philadelphia Naval Yard with Peter Longstreth of Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation. Forty spaces were reserved, and filled, within a week of the announcement of this exciting event. After an hour and a half educational tour through the enormous campus, a couple of generous coffee breaks from Old City Coffee, and several photo opportunities, the group rode north up to 1623 East Passyunk Avenue for cannolis at Roselena's Coffee Bar. The afternoon was a resounding success and CEC is planning to host another educational bike tour in spring.
   
• Early October 2005 - Councilman Michael Nutter, Rembrandt's owner Jan Zarkin and Tobacco Law Professor Dr. Eric Feldman spoke to a crowd of 60 at the Ethical Society on the pros and cons of the proposed smoking ban in Philadelphia. The forum was a huge success: tough questions from the audience, a great topic for YIP Advocacy to take on, and an energized post-forum wrap-up over beers at Black Sheep with our three speakers.
   
• July 2005 – "Dilworth House: Historical Treasure or Roadblock to Development?" Save former Mayor Richardson Dilworth's house on Washington Square or demolish it to build a new high-rise condominium designed by world-renowned architect Robert Venturi? John Turchi, Jr., a prominent local real estate developer, petitioned the city to tear down the home and erect a luxury condominium complex. Local residents and architectural preservationists rallied to fight Turchi's proposed plan as it went before the Historical Commission in August. Panelists for this forum: Paul Boni, Chair of the Zoning and Historic Preservation Committee and Vice President, Society Hill Civic Association; Denise Scott Brown, Principal, Venturi, Scott Brown and Associate; G. Craig Schelter, Schelter & Associates, spokesman for John Turchi; and John Andrew Gallery, Executive Director, Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia.
   
• May 2005 – "Wireless Philadelphia: Philly Hot Spot or Just Hot Air?" The Wireless Philadelphia initiative intends to turn our city into one vast wireless hot spot, offering every Philadelphian access to a high-speed wireless Internet network that will be accessible from Center City and neighborhoods alike, all at below-market prices. Dianah Neff, Chair of the Executive Committee of the Wireless Philadelphia initiative, and Gloria Guard, Executive Director of the People's Emergency Center, were among the panelists.
   
• March 2005 – "Philly Gambles." A discussion about the issues around the construction of casinos in Philadelphia with Shawn Fordham, Senior Advisor to Mayor Street and Deputy Secretary of External Affairs.

2004

• November 2004 – The Future of Philadelphia's Schools, with Paul Levy of the Center City District and Ellen Savitz of the School District of Philadelphia.
• October 2004 – Tour of the Reading Viaduct, with Sarah McEneany and Greg Berman (Reading Viaduct Project), Andrew Toy and John Chin (Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation), and Anita Schillhorn van Veen of the Asian Arts Initiative).
• July 2004 – SEPTA and transit funding, featuring Faye Moore, General Manager of SEPTA.
• June 2004 – Growth and development of Chinatown, with John Chin, head of the Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation.
• May 2004 – Drug Treatment and Crime Prevention, with Chris Werner (Philadelphia Police Department), Scott Burris (Temple Law School, Center for Law and the Public's Health), Dr. Mira Gohel (Prevention Point Philadelphia), David Acosta (Philadelphia Department of Public Health), and Mark Bencivengo (Coordinating Office of Drug and Alcohol Abuse Programs for the City of Philadelphia)
• March 2004 – Bill 40003, the Neighborhood Transformation Initiative, and historic preservation, with John Gallery of the Preservation Alliance and William Becker of the Design Advocacy Group.

2003

• November 2003 – Immigration in Philadelphia, with Anne O'Callaghan (Welcoming Center for New Pennsylvanians), Wendell Young (United Food and Commercial Workers Local), Fernando Chang-Muy (University of Pennsylvania School of Law), Anuj Gupta (Governor's Office of Management and Productivity), and John Hawkins (Office of City Councilman Jim Kenney).
• September 2003 – Mayoral candidate Sam Katz.
• July 2003 – The Future of LOVE Park.
• May 2003 – City Council challengers' night with non-incumbent candidates for Council seats.
• March 2003 – The Development of Penn's Landing.
• February 2003 – Campaign Finance Reform, with Councilman James Kenney and Pennsylvania Common Cause Director Barry Kauffman.
• January 2003 – Marketing Philadelphia, with Daily News columnist Carla Anderson.