Episode #3!

Perhaps you caught POPPYN Episode #3 premiere on PhillyCAM (Comcast 66/Verizon 29) yesterday at 4:30. If you're excited to watch it again or if you missed it, it will be there every Thursday for the next few weeks.

More good news! You can also watch the whole episode here on our blog, anytime! Episode #3 a little over 30 minutes, and features some of the stories we've shared on this blog, some extra exciting content, and of course our dynamic anchors Aaron and Earla leading you through the segments.

We're excited to watch it together at our Viewing Party today - but you can join us virtually! Leave a comment about what you think - what you like and what we can do better, whether you agree with the opinions voiced in the show or not. We want to know what you think. BONUS - if you comment - either on here, our youtube channel, our facebook page or our twitter - you will be automatically entered to win a free POPPYN t-shirt! They are AWESOME! Check out Saeed & Earla modeling them on a shoot:

Thanks to all the awesome youth-led/youth-supporting organizations featured in this episode: Youth United for Change, Campaign for Non-Violent Schools, Teacher Action Group (who organized the community budget forum in West Philly) and Youth Action Scholars! We do this for you!

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POPPYN

POPPYN ShoutOuts: Youth Action Scholars

The Youth Action Scholars of the University Community Collaborative of Philadelphia (UCCP) are youth peer educators that design and facilitate workshops on issues that affect them. In this clip, the YAS team gives their audience a "Reality Check" on media and education at the Honickman Center in North Philly!

PUSHED OUT : Youth United for Change on the Drop Out Crisis

Students are often blamed for dropping out of schools. But Youth United for Change - a youth organizing group from Kensington, Philadelphia, is turning the tables around to show how schools are responsible for the drop out crisis. Their report - PUSHED OUT - cites issues like boredom, lack of student teacher relationships, and overcrowded classrooms as major reasons that students leave schools. Read the entire report at http://youthunitedforchange.org.

Annual Park Day @ Village of Arts + Humanities

On April 2nd, POPPYN joined the community in North Philly in cleaning up and beautifying the outside garden at Village of Arts + Humanities. Check out the great work volunteers did for this important organization in the community. For more information about the Village, go to www.villagearts.org.

PA State Budget Cuts 2011

A 15% decrease in funding for education, but an 11% increase in funding for correctional facilities. HUH? Sadly, if Governor Corbett's proposal is passed by the state congress, this will become Pennsylvania's reality. Watch and listen as POPPYN's own Mosi explains how this will affect YOU!

Fund Our Schools Not Prisons!

"NO EDUCATION, NO WHAT? NO EDUCATION, NO LIFE!" That was just one of many chants youth from all over the city yelled as they headed down Broad st. toward The School District of Philadelphia. On March 30th, the Philadelphia Student Union, along with dozens of other organizers, rallied at 13th Filbert and Temple University, before meeting to protest and speak out against Gov. Corbett's proposal to cut funding from our area's schools by 50 percent, while raising funding for prisons by at least 11 percent. Check out what the people who came out had to say.

FIRST FRIDAY: The Art Factory!

It's First Friday, ya'll! In this segment you'll see POPPYN's coverage of March's First Friday. We joined a community of youth and supporters in Kensington at the Art Factory. Here, youth displayed their paintings and spoken words, amongst other forms of art to get various messages across. Check it out!