$25,000 / 2016
Philadelphia, PA
YUC’s mission is to support low-income youth, primarily youth of color, to organize for adequately funded high quality education. A long-time Hazen grantee, YUC has won significant victories in improving Philadelphia’s disciplinary processes and is a leading participant in campaigns for equitable funding and local control of schools and against privatization. Last year, due to student complaints of lack of clean water in schools, YUC pressured the Philadelphia school district to take an inventory of every fountain in the district. The data revealed that 15% of the water fountains were not working, forcing the district to begin systematically repairing fountains. YUC allied with other community based groups and won $1million to install three water hydration stations in every Philly public school. YUC also partnered with Philadelphia Student Union, ACLU, and Education Law Center to push the District to end all suspensions for kindergartners and students who violate dress code. Hazen’s $25,000 renewal grant will support the strengthening of campaigns focused on school climate and discipline reform, education equity, and food justice.