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Playlist: On Blast's Portfolio

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On Blast is the youth-produced radio show of the Philadelphia Student Union. On Blast is made by high school students who are actively organizing inside their schools to demand a high quality public education. Radio is one of the tools that we are using to educate and organize. Listen to a sample of our work.

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Creating Nonviolent Schools and Communities: Highlights from MLK Day

From On Blast | 05:47

How can we make schools safer without criminalizing youth? How can we confront bias violence? What kinds of restorative practices should we implement in place of harsh discipline policies? What role should students play in finding solutions?

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How can we make schools safer without criminalizing youth? How can we confront bias violence? What kinds of restorative practices should we implement in place of harsh discipline policies? What role should students play in finding solutions?

These are some of the questions that were discussed and answered during the Campaign for Nonviolent Schools'MLK Day event.  The Campaign for Nonviolent Schools hosted an expert panel of youth and adults, to offer solutions for ending structural, interpersonal, and bias violence in our schools and communities. Panelists included: Steve Korr, International Institute for Restorative Practices; Helen Gym, Asian Americans United; Bummi Samuels, Philadelphia Freedom Schools; Josh Glenn, Youth Art and Self Empowerment Project and Campaign for Nonviolent Schools; Neil Geyette, Philadelphia High School Teacher; Azeem Hill, Philadelphia Student Union and Campaign for Nonviolent Schools.

Here are some highlights from the event. This piece was edited by Andrea Jobe, and narrated by Shayla Johnson.

"We need a penny!" Farmworkers Fight For Justice

From On Blast | 03:04

The Coalition of Immokalee Workers organized a rally in front of a center city Trader Joes and the Philly Student Union was there to help support.

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The Coalition of Immokalee Workers organized a rally in front of a center city Trader Joes and the Philly Student Union was there to help support.
Immigrant farmworkers across southwest Florida have been working under low wages and have been treated unfairly for many years. Back in 1993 they began organizing and between there hunger strike and their historic 230-mile march in 2000, their organizing ended over declining wages in the tomato industry. By 1998 they won industry-wide raises but wages still remained below poverty level. Today they are called the Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW) and they are currently fighting for big chain companies like Trader Joes, Walmart, Stop and Shop, ect to sing off on their fair food agreement.
 This radio piece was produced by Ericka Johnson and it includes a interview with Oscar from the CIW.

Students Tell Gov. Corbett: Education is a Human Right. Fund it that Way

From On Blast | 04:26

On Valentine's Day, more than 400 students and parents from across Pennsylvania held a rally for public education at the State Capitol. This action came a week after Gov. Corbett announced his plan for the next state budget -- a proposal that would carry over last year's $1 billion cuts to education funding. Students demanded that Gov. Corbett restores the cuts and makes equitable school funding be a top priority in the next state budget.

The action was organized by Philadelphia Student Union, Project Peace, Chester student leaders, and A+ Schools' TeenBloc. It was co-sponsored by Juntos and the Campaign for Nonviolent Schools.

This radio piece features highlights from the action. It was edited by Ericka Johnson

Gov_corbett_fall_in_love_small On Valentine's Day, more than 400 students and parents from across Pennsylvania held a rally for public education at the State Capitol. This action came a week after Gov. Corbett announced his plan for the next state budget -- a proposal that would carry over last year's $1 billion cuts to education funding. Students demanded that Gov. Corbett restores the cuts and makes equitable school funding be a top priority in the next state budget. The action was organized by Philadelphia Student Union, Project Peace, Chester student leaders, and A+ Schools' TeenBloc. It was co-sponsored by Juntos and the Campaign for Nonviolent Schools. This radio piece features highlights from the action. It was edited by Ericka Johnson

Students Organize Around the Root Causes of School Pushout

From On Blast | 03:45

Students all over Philadelphia are being pushed out of schools and right into the school to prison pipeline. This is happening because of the lack of resources inside schools and the use of harsh discipline practices that force students into the criminal justice system.

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Students all over Philadelphia are being pushed out of schools and right into the school to prison pipeline. This is happening because of the lack of resources inside schools and the use of harsh discipline practices that force students into the criminal justice system.

But students from several organizations are fighting to end the school to prison pipeline, as members of theCampaign for Nonviolent Schools. Many of these students shared their experiences at an event calledYouth Speak-Out Against Push Out. It was a part of theDignity in Schools National Week of Action on School Pushout.

This radio piece features students' voices from this powerful event. It was produced by Shayla Johnson and Andrea Jobe.