Media Mobilizing Project is beginning the initiative "Community Journalism in Times of Economic Crisis." The initiative is a response to both the economic crisis, which is hitting Philadelphians hard, and the growing problems with the for-profit journalism model, which is making it difficult for local newspapers to cover stories about the struggles of everyday Philadelphians. The goal of this project is to report on and collect the real stories of Philadelphia and beyond on MMP's community blog, so we can begin to get a picture of the economic crisis from the ground up. Here is a copy of our latest newsletter: The Human Right to Healthcare: Northeastern Hospital is Groundzero . SIGN UP to receive future newsletters!

Education is a progressive discovery of our own ignorance.
~Will Durant

    Gov. Rendell has named a new head to PA's State Board of Education. That person is the president and CEO of Philadelphia's National Constitution Center Joseph Torsella. Mr. Torsella who was in charge of the constitution center from 1997 through it's opening in 2003. He left it's opening year and reemerged in 2004 in an unsuccessful campaign for the Democratic nomination for the 13th Congressional District, which includes parts of Montgomery County and Northeast Philadelphia. In 2006 he came back to the Constitution Center. "I am excited and honored to have this opportunity to serve the commonwealth," Torsella said in a statement "No issue is more important to our common future, both economic and civic, than education in Pennsylvania."