Recognizing and honoring the Philadelphia Writing Project on the occasion of its 30th Anniversary.

WHEREAS, The Philadelphia Writing Project became a National Writing Project site at the University of Pennsylvania’s Graduate School of Education in 1986; and

WHEREAS, The Philadelphia Writing Project consists of a network of over 700 teacher consultants who work with other teachers and educators to explore literacy, writing, teaching, and learning in their classrooms and schools regardless of grade or discipline. The teacher consultants serve on committees and collaborate outside of traditional school time to carry out the Philadelphia Writing Project’s mission; and

WHEREAS, The Philadelphia Writing Project operates under a set core of values, including centering writing and literacy in all learning, teaching writing as a path to educational equity and social justice, ensuring diversity in all communities of practice, respecting the culture and linguistic resources of all students and all teachers, enhancing student learning through inquiry into teaching practices, serving as leaders in education and as teachers of other teachers, and collaborating and supporting collegiality among educators; and

WHEREAS, The Philadelphia Writing Project also sponsors a broad array of unique and specific programs that focus on the teaching of writing and using writing as a critical tool for learning. These programs include summer institutes, summer practicum schools, seminars, workshops, programs for teachers of English language learners, continuing education courses, study groups, tutoring sessions, teacher research communities, and social action forums; and

WHEREAS, In the past five years, 4,250 educators have provided over 126,000 contact hours across the greater Philadelphia region through the Philadelphia Writing Project. These educators have taken what they have learned and practiced with the Philadelphia Writing Project and implemented it back into the classrooms and schools, reaching over 255,300 students; and

WHEREAS, The Philadelphia Writing Project's Walk for Literacy is an annual tradition that brings together students, alumni, and friends of the University of Pennsylvania and the community during Penn's Homecoming weekend. This year, the walk will start at Shoemaker Green and pass through Penn Park. Funds raised during the walk will support writing camp scholarships for students and community-based writing programs; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That we hereby recognize and honor the Philadelphia Writing Project on the occasion of its 30th Anniversary.

FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to Dr. Diane Waff, the director of the Philadelphia Writing Project, evidencing the sincere admiration and respect of this legislative body.

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