The Citizens Convention

Great Expectations Citizens Convention

More than 500 people shrugged off the hype about yet another nonexistent "winter storm" to pack the room Dec. 2 for the Great Expectations Citizens Convention. Thanks to all who came, giving of their time, experience and emotions to review the draft Citizens Agenda for Philadelphia. You can add your comments and reflections on the day over on the Great Expectations blog. (Photo by Ed Hille/For PlanPhilly.com)

Those in attendance heard Mayor-elect Michael Nutter give a rousing speech about his own expectations for his administration, and for the people of Philadelphia. Along the way, Nutter gave the Great Expectations project a dollop of credit for the upbeat, substantive, civil tenor of the mayoral campaign just completed. And he welcomed the commitment expressed by Lenfest Foundation founder Gerry Lenfest, a key funder of the project, that Great Expectations would continue throughout Nutter's term, serving as a monitor and watchdog on the city's progress towards the goals expressed in the Agenda and embraced by Nutter.

The audience also responded warmly to an airing of the short film that won the project's independent filmmakers' competition, A Prayer for Philadelphia by Richard Power Hoffmann, and uproariously to an appearance by that noted sage, Patsy from South Philadelphia, played by Jen Childs of 1812 Productions. Citizens spent the bulk of the day in breakout sessions giving their comments and reactions to the draft Agenda, which provided civic to-do lists for the region on 12 issues. The agenda will be revised after the citizen comments from more than 36 breakout sessions are reviewed. The completed agenda will be presented to the new mayor and Council after they take office next year.

Check out the first of several photo galleries from the day along with audio of Michael Nutter's keynote address.

For citizen bloggers' observations from the convention, take a look at their blog entries:
Whitney Hoffman: "Citizen blogger Whitney Hoffman," "Making schools a cornerstone of community," and "Citizen blogger on education and crime"
Peak Johnson: "Expectations fulfilled"
Beth Lewis: "The next great agenda - Addressing poverty"
Margit Olsen: "Everyone must pitch in"
Bill Rowland: "Podcast from the Citizens Convention"
Albert Yee: "Albert Yee - Part 1," "How to support the arts," and "A spirited discussion of transportation"
Susan Zalenski: "Expecting more, starting now"

For media coverage of the event, take a look at:

PlanPhilly.com:
"Nutter turns up the heat and volume" (which includes video of Nutter's speech) and "Philadelphians say: 'Make it over citywide'"

The Inquirer:
"Nutter: Great ethical expectations"