Highlighting emerging research and expert analysis on issues important to Philly, Delaware and Southern New Jersey.
Part of a pilot project funded by the Knight Foundation.
Latest news
Gov. Josh Shapiro has a reputation for getting things done in Pennsylvania – but not necessarily things all Democrats likeDaniel J. Mallinson, Penn State
Missy Elliott tours as a headliner − and it’s about timeElliott H. Powell, University of Minnesota
Xylazine wounds are a growing crisis among drug users in Philly − a nurse explains potential causes and proper treatmentRachel McFadden, University of Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania continues tradition as ‘keystone state’ in presidential electionsRobert Speel, Penn State
New research suggests estrogen and progesterone could play role in opioid addiction and relapseJessica Loweth, Rowan University and Daniel Manvich, Rowan University
Hello Readers! Our local team wants to hear your feedback and story ideas. Send an email to Emily Costello, Director of Local News + Collaborations, and Philadelphia Editor Kate Kilpatrick at philadelphia@theconversation.com
Neighborhoods
What Philadelphians need to know about the city’s 7,000-camera surveillance systemAlbert Fox Cahn, New York University
W.E.B. Du Bois’ study ‘The Philadelphia Negro’ at 125 still explains roots of the urban Black experience – sociologist Elijah Anderson tells why it should be on more reading listsElijah Anderson, Yale University
I analyzed 3,356 signs to see how language use is changing in three Latino neighborhoods in PhillyDaniel Guarin, Temple University
More vulnerable people live in Philadelphia neighborhoods that are less green and get hotterFarzad Hashemi, The University of Texas at San Antonio; Guangqing Chi, Penn State; Lisa D. Iulo, Penn State, and Ute Poerschke, Penn State
On its 125th anniversary, W.E.B. Du Bois’ ‘The Philadelphia Negro’ offers lasting lessons on gentrification in Philly’s historically Black neighborhoodsZawadi Rucks-Ahidiana, University at Albany, State University of New York and Freeden Blume Oeur, Tufts University
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Public safety and health
Immigrant moms feel unsafe and unheard when seeking pregnancy care – here’s how they’d improve Philly’s health care systemDiana Montoya-Williams, University of Pennsylvania
Nitazenes found in 5 overdose deaths in Philly – here’s what they are and why they’re so deadlyChristopher P. Holstege, University of Virginia
Philadelphia bans supervised injection sites – evidence suggests keeping drug users on the street could do more harm than goodJordan Hyatt, Drexel University; Jannet van der Veen, Drexel University; Synøve Nygaard Andersen, University of Oslo, and Tony Joakim Ananiassen Sandset, University of Oslo
Philly has highest STI rates in the country – improving sex ed in schools and access to at-home testing could lower ratesCarlos Mahaffey, Purdue University
How Philadelphia’s Black churches overcame disease, depression and civil strifeStephanie Clintonia Boddie, Baylor University
Philly media! Reach out to learn more about how to republish our content, request stories, data visualizations or expert sources to enrich your reporting -- or share your out-of-the-box idea for teaming up. You can reach our local team at philadelphia@theconversation.com. We have photos to share, too!
Meet our Philly team
Kate Kilpatrick, Philadelphia Editor
Emily Costello, Director of Collaborations + Local News
Some recent media pickups
Schools and teens
Most Philly public school students have college ambitions − but their level of preparation depends on which high school they attendJoseph Sageman, Princeton University
Philadelphia undercounts students who are homeless – here’s what parents need to know to advocate for their childStacey Havlik, Villanova University
Philadelphia hopes year-round schooling can catch kids up to grade level – will it make a difference?Daniel H. Robinson, University of Texas at Arlington
Philadelphia reduces school-based arrests by 91% since 2013 – researchers explain the effects of keeping kids out of the legal systemAmanda NeMoyer, Drexel University and Naomi Goldstein, Drexel University
Philly parents worry about kids’ digital media use but see some benefits, tooDenise E. Agosto, Drexel University
Pay and equity
Why courts aren’t the fastest or clearest ways to solve election disputes – a former federal judge explainsJohn E. Jones III, Dickinson College
Philadelphia’s minimum wage has been stuck at $7.25 an hour since 2009 – here’s why efforts to raise it have failedMichael O'Bryan, Drexel University and Alicia Atkinson, Drexel University
Students lose out as cities like Philadelphia give billions in property tax breaks to businessesChristine Wen, Texas A&M University; Danielle McLean, The Conversation; Kevin Welner, University of Colorado Boulder, and Nathan Jensen, The University of Texas at Austin
Philadelphia’s 200-year-old disability records show welfare reform movement’s early shift toward rationing care and punishing poor peopleNicole Lee Schroeder, Kean University
Culture
4 books by Black Philadelphia women that depict struggle and joy in the City of Sisterly LoveLouis Parascandola, Long Island University, Brooklyn
Brain scans of Philly jazz musicians reveal secrets to reaching creative flowJohn Kounios, Drexel University and Yvette Kounios, Widener University
Creative flow: what’s going on inside the brain when everything just clicks – podcastGemma Ware, The Conversation
How Jason Kelce built his personal brand and became a Philly legendAmy Lavin, Temple University and Sheri Lambert, Temple University
Conflict over William Penn statue removal in Philadelphia misses a point – Penn himself might have objected to itAndrew Murphy, University of Michigan
Thank you to our local university partners
