Over 100 organizations that are a part of Philly Youth Voices, the Kid’s Campaign, and United Voices for Philadelphia are issuing this joint statement to note the dismissal of youth and immigrant voices by a majority of the Mayoral Candidates.
In February, an invitation was sent to all Mayoral Candidates to attend the Philly Youth Voices listening session, the only city-wide youth-led and organized forum that allows for youth to speak to the candidates, as opposed to just asking questions.
Last Friday, on March 31st, a staffer from Derek Green’s campaign sent an email on behalf of Derek Green, Helen Gym, Allan Domb, Cherelle Parker, and Rebecca Rhynhart declining the invitation, suggesting that the youth leaders give up the event and instead attend another forum. “Mayoral candidates claim they care about the “future” of Philadelphia, but cannot dedicate their time to the actual future of Philadelphia, the youth,” says Sayda Adiba from GW Carver High School.
Le-Quyen Vu, a Kids Campaign leader, says, “It’s disappointing that the candidates made time to attend many, many forums for business leaders and special interests up to this point and are making a choice to drop out when it comes to forums for young people and immigrants.”
There was no acknowledgment of the hours of work these youth leaders have put into the event and how they have intentionally structured it to center on youth voices. There has already been frustration with candidates rarely asking youth what they think should be done and how candidates have spent forums talking at constituents instead of engaging in conversation with constituents. “If they cannot be there to listen to us and our concerns, they should not be in an office working for us,” says Sharnice Lowry from Philadelphia Virtual Academy.
Over and over again, candidates have repeated that “youth voices matter” but are failing to show up in youth spaces. “Our 17 and under populations are SEVERELY overlooked, simply because they can’t vote. A GENUINE candidate would stop pandering to the hearts of parents and young voters and actually show up for the youth in THEIR spaces,” says Jeron Williams II, President of Philadelphia City-Wide Student Government.
Amaiyahmonet Parker, from Central High School, says, “It is egregious! Y’all told us that they were gonna listen to us, but time and time again y’all don’t. How can you be mayor of a city when you do not care about the youth? The youth are being snatched away almost every day to gun violence. The youth have to fight for equitable education resources. Y’all don’t care, and I won’t allow you to use this platform to boost your own propaganda. We don’t work for you. You work for us, and quite frankly– your job depends on our vote. FYI, most of us are all 18 and will be voting…”
Throughout this campaign season, we have seen a deprioritization of voices that are viewed by campaigns as less likely to vote or have access to voting. This holds not just for youth voices, who represent over 20% of the city’s population, but also for other marginalized populations that makeup United Voices for Philadelphia (Latino, Asian, African, Caribbean, Arab, and immigrants), who represent at least 25% of the city’s population. The same candidates also declined in a similar email, an event where immigrants would have the opportunity to engage with campaigns, interpret into their languages, and speak to their concerns.
ShaMar Davis, from Frankford High School, says, “I am highly confused about the attendance of mayoral candidates who aren’t going to show. This is an important event hosted by youth that speaks about our problems and what we experience throughout our lives living in the city of Philadelphia. You cannot speak about the youth and how to fix our problems when you had an opportunity to listen. For the mayoral candidates who aren’t going to show we do not want to hear solutions and changes about youth.”
Kadiatou Balde, from Academy at Palumbo, says, “Mayoral candidates who have solutions to youth safety and education will have my vote, but how can I give them my vote when they don’t give me their time to hear my voice.”
The dismissal of youth and immigrant voices is short-sighted. Their voices matter too – they are working to increase civic engagement, registering voters, and leading change. And they are, most importantly, constituents. They have families, friends, and neighbors in Philadelphia. They live here too.
As of Wednesday, April 5th, Helen Gym’s campaign has reached out, stating that they will do their best to attend. The only Mayoral Candidate who has been confirmed is Amen Brown.
