I’m Black and grew up in Philadelphia.

I disclaim that to say, I reserve the right to use the following nonsensical phrase or any of its variants whenever I am compelled to conjure my inner basic.

“Oh, ard. Jawns be drawln.  You Joe.”

Translation: (Note: Jawn, Drawln, and Joe have slightly different meanings depending on the context.)

 Jawn can be a person, place or thing. And if some one is being joe, they’re probably drawln, and if they’re drawln they’re probably a jo person.  Ard means alright, or an agreeance/realization in the affirmative.

“Okay, fine. I’m over this. You’re acting a bit out of line and it’s irksome.”

I selected to do the adoption for my bureaucracy project because I love kids. This was personal on a level because in the future I am actually considering adoption when I am ready to start a family. Basically the process for this project was simple finding the nuts and bolts of adoption but he hard part came in for the paperwork. Because you have to go through an actual agency to get any type of paper work for a child, we couldn't send any information out to be sent paper work. So that part would have been the most difficult about adoption because you need legal papers and really the process is all about giving families the run around. The adoptive process I think is as simple and complex as it needs to be. There needs to be a point of trust between these agencies and the potential adopters.  Other than doing this project alone after being confronted about not putting in much effort, I really just wanted to get this project done. I learned a lot from this project and it benefited me as well as others who may have been thinking about adoption.

Dear Senator Anthony Williams,     

          My name is Morgan Craig-Williams, and I am a senior at Science Leadership Academy. I live in Southwest Philadelphia and from what I believe you represent me.  This message is in regard to the trash that clutters the street within your jurisdiction. I am concerned about what our streets may look like in 3 years from now if we don’t take care of the problem. I feel like a lot of people have overviewed this situation before yet none have really addressed it, which is why I wanted to let you know there are teenagers who really want to help make a difference.     I would like a cleaner Philadelphia and want the trash clean up just as rigorous in the urban areas as they are in the city. We have the resources to make that happen even if there are a couple of community service projects put in place to clean up one street at a time.    I am willing to put together a group within my school’s community but I can’t do it all by myself. I believe with help from you and getting the right resources to advertise, this can become a wonderful thing. Lots of time you see kid sin jail suits cleaning up parks, community service for punishment. I want teenagers and adults even children to be able to walk along their streets a not have to be worried about stepping on a dirty needles or junk food trash.     Please consider what I am trying to start in my community; I would be very thankful if you took time out of your busy schedule to review all options.

            Sincerely,

                            Morgan Craig-Williams

              To further my lobbying for a cleaner Philadelphia, I was thinking about talking to someone from Build-On. Maybe teaming up with an already established community service project and making an event through them would be better than starting form scratch.

        I would say that this is a good year ad the city sweepers are coming along. They are not in all places  of the city, but I have seen them more around my house. Its not often that they come through back to back like they do in Center City, but there is a difference in my area that I live in.

           The essential stakeholders in this outcome are the hundreds of kids that live in Philadelphia that have to constantly walk over trash in the streets. This is for the elders who look at young children just disrespect the area by throwing trash on the ground, littering and it staying there forever. This out come effects pets and and their owners, having the confidence of going on a walk around the neighborhood and not having to limit their dog because  they don't know if they will eat some trash that was thrown about.

This is not just a problem of street sweepers not being prominent in urban areas, it basically just the trash that litters the street. Every one can help. If a group of kids volunteer just an hour of their time to cleaning up a park near them, or a busy street, they can make a difference.

 I can influence any one that is with ear shot.   It would be great to get a group of students to go out and clean, starting close like the school. People seem to get really motivated when things are visual. Even though this is a lobbying assignment for better city cleaning support in urban areas of Philadelphia, we can also help by at least making out school a cleaner place.

             All About My Legislator

                          Anthony H. Williams

• Anthony Hardy Williams  joined the Pennsylvania Senate in 1998, his second stop in the state Legislature.  
• He first won office as a state representative for the 191st Legislative District.

• The 8th Senatorial District represents the majority of the Commonwealth with its economic, ethnic, religious, and geographic diversity, stretching across Delaware and Philadelphia counties.

• Williams parts are in small towns such as Ridley Park, suburban areas such as Yeadon, and urban communities in South, West, and Southwest Philadelphia.

• As a legislator, Williams works to provide opportunities for residents of his district and beyond, with improving the protection of his people, educational access, and economic development underlying his initiatives.

I have actually met the senator on multiple occasions because my grandmother works for him. I’m added to the staff for his neighborhood to neighborhood festival every year before school starts back up. It’s a really neat change to bond with the community and come out and see the great acts lined up.

This year’s headline artists’ were Macy Grey and Chrisette Michele, but there were open mic sessions where people from the community could get on stage and show their talent.  There were many performers, singers, rappers and dancers who entertained the crown all day.

Here are some more pictures from the festival:  Many people came out supported the festival. 

I plan to ask the senator about my topic and what are his views on the subject. I’m sure that he would agree with me and is probably working on a solution.

Ever look around your neighborhood and see trash scattered every where? Ever talk a stroll down you block and see dirty streets and sidewalks slewed with garbage?

Well in Center City, you walk around and see a trash can, or recycle bin at the beginning, end and middle of each block. Besides the abundance of trash receptacles, you also see street sweepers riding past cleaning the street.

52nd Market is a prime example, go to West Philly any day and you will see trash in the gutters and the whole situation is not visitor friendly. My question is. .  . . .If you have it it in Center City, where visitors come to view our history, why can’t we have it all over? Why is it that when I step a foot out off Downtown, the trash seems to increase?

I am lobbying for the trash clean up in Center City to be as rigorous in the more urban parts of Philadelphia.

My motivation to lobby this topic, is just what i see everyday, to and from school where ever I go.  There are places in Center City that are spic and span like South st. but many places in south Philly have  piles of litter just waiting to be picked up by sanitation. There is the City sponsored group called S.W.E.E.P that educates citizens about there responsibilities and duties that will help keep Philadelphia clean. I’m sure regular pedestrians would support my lobbying idea, for the simple fact that it’s there you too. There aren’t and laws for my lobbying subject, but I propose we do something about the trash, and make the clean up more rigorous.