Thanks, Ray Murphy, for directing the blog toward solutions.

Solutions require actions, continuous actions. In my mind, Reform is a verb, it's based on acting in a way that will produce meaningful change. It's based on doing.

Unfortunately, I believe that many "reform" movement activities are more vocal and are often one-time, stunt-based press-release fodder for some annointed reformers. That said, it's not true of all reformers, including some who participate on this blog.

To me, progressivism is a belief or way of acting that looks for ground-up solutions, solutions that will grow and keep problems from coming back or getting worse in the future. Some of the suggestions I've read about here, including mid-night basketball, are more ground-up than others, but many ignore the root causes of violence and the systemic problems of the areas that need the most help. Essentially, these communities lack even the most basic institutions that other neighborhoods take for granted. One basic resource which we need to revive is the once-proud and much-larger network of youth cultural and sports organizations. Many on this blog who may not have grown up in Philadelphia may be unaware that, even ten to fifteen years ago, Philadelphia had a larger network of volunteer-based programs for kids in sports, drama, music and other activities. In many neighborhoods, black, white or hispanic, these organizations are gone. With their absence, kids in many of these neighborhoods have had little to no meaningful extra-curricular activity with other kids or adults in their community. This absence has been in place for almost a generation. I believe we are now dealing with some of the ramifications of this absence with the current escalation of violence.

Thus, one solution that I suggest is for progressives, including myself, as I wouldn't want to suggest others act without doing something to help, to go to the neighborhoods that have lost or are in need of these activities/organizations and to start them. We have a tremendous resource in our recreation centers, many of which have sat in fallow states as these organizations whithered and died, leaving kids with no positive options.

Most importantly, though, the progressives who do this must engage community volunteers to ensure the efforts aren't a one-time only affair. Some will poo-poo this idea, but, as someone who has been on the ground floor with this issue, I feel that there is a tremendous audience for this type of endeavor and a lot of "buy-in" (to use some b.s. term consultants use).

I'm looking to organize this effort in the coming year and to engage city officials to help. It will take action, but I believe the action will bring about true "ground-up" change.

To contact me, email ajthomson175@hotmail.com or 215-287-3492 or visit www.whatever-it-takes.net to find out more about our local community-based anti-drug program in my community of Fishtown.