| Throughout the 1950s and early 1960s, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, had a thriving economy, due mostly to its location near attractive development sites, a good supply of unskilled, low-cost labor, and easy access to both river and rail transportation. Unfortunately, these assets are no longer competitive advantages for the city. Philadelphia's manufacturing base is virtually gone, and jobs in the city's new economy require education and training that many Philadelphians lack.
City demographics tell the story clearly. Philadelphia has lost 25 percent of its population since 1960, with nearly 200,000 people--or 13 percent of the population--leaving between 1980 and 1996 alone. Within West/Southwest Philadelphia neighborhoods, where the Community Outreach Partnership Center (COPC) at the University of Pennsylvania is targeting its activities, the picture is even bleaker. The area's 12-percent unemployment rate is double the city's rate. In the three COPC target neighborhoods--Mill Creek, West Powelton, and Kingsessing--poverty rates average 38 percent and only one-third (33 percent) of residents have high school diplomas. Low school attendance, high dropout rates, and low graduation rates prevail in neighborhood schools. These problems disproportionately affect African Americans, who comprise 72 percent of West Philadelphia's population. The COPC target neighborhoods are 95 percent African American.
Despite these challenges, however, Philadelphia neighborhoods possess inherent strategic advantages that can strongly influence their future stabilization and improvement. Of particular note are such assets as the physical plan of the city's neighborhoods, which integrate housing, schools, churches, and institutions. With appropriate stabilization and financial incentives, an affordable housing stock can become home to low- and moderate-income residents. Finally, there is an institutional network in or accessible to Philadelphia neighborhoods that can address critical social needs.
The COPC at the University of Pennsylvania has been working since 1996 to help residents in West Philadelphia stabilize and improve their neighborhoods. The addition of a New Directions grant will help strengthen and broaden COPC efforts. During the grant period, project partners will help local residents develop neighborhood strategic plans, and will sponsor programs to enhance the capacity of local nonprofit organizations.
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