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The Committee of Seventy was established in 1904 to combat corruption in Philadelphia, playing a major role in the adoption of civil service reforms and the passage of the 1919 and 1951 Home Rule Charters. A nonprofit and nonpartisan organization, Seventy does not endorse candidates or represent any special interests.
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2020
2021

Three Questions: A listening exercise

This exercise fits well near the launch of a Can We Talk? unit or initiative. It's a good way for students to get to know each other better while practicing the skills of active listening. It's also a relatively low-stress way for students to begin experiencing dialogue. Also, if you plan on using the lesson plan that digs into active listening, more explicitly teaches the skills and habits involved, this exercise is good preparation for that.

Asking Different Kinds of Questions

To introduce students to different kinds of questions they can ask themselves and others – whether in class, with friends and family, or in different conversation settings. And to give them practice in using different kinds of questions.

The Five Whys

To give students a helpful tool to identify the root problem beneath some frustration, dysfunction or obstacle that is bothering them, whether at an individual, family, social, community or societal level. And to share this wisdom: If you're working with a faulty grasp of the real problem, you're likely going to come up with faulty solutions.

The Kitchen Table Question

This exercise can help participants make an important discovery: that "their" key issues are not the only ones worth caring about, and that other people may frame a shared issue in a way very different from their own.

The Friend's Dilemma

To spark a conversation among students about the pros and cons of the community where they live, one which will reveal how people can view the same set of facts in multiple ways. To help them see that exploring multiple perspectives on a situation is a great way to gain insights and develop solutions.

How to Handle a Difficult Conversation

To help student understand the underlying nature of difficult conversations, and to give them tools to turn difficult conversations into productive ones, and even into opportunities for learning.

Governor’s Civic Engagement Awards (GCEA)

Every year, the Governor of Pennsylvania recognizes the efforts of Pennsylvania high school students “that educate, engage and inform” their peers in democratic processes.