Meet Fast Forward Presenter >> Will Herzog

What is your Big Idea for Philadelphia?

Connecting Youth with their Communities 

"Connecting Youth with their Communities," envisions the most inclusive city in the United States for young people. We have two simultaneous, co-existing problems; students are not finishing high school and matriculating to college, and once they arrive, transportation emerges as a significant barrier towards completion. On the other hand, college graduates leave Philadelphia for NY/SF/LA/etc in droves, and we desperately need them to contribute their skills and spending power to our local economy. But we grapple with a workforce that does not look like the City of Philadelphia as a whole. I envision granting every young person in the City of Philadelphia universal access to the SEPTA system to access opportunity, which will ensure that young people from all backgrounds can participate in the opportunities in the Philadelphia of tomorrow. There is clear research that, by doing this, we can increase workforce inclusion of native Philadelphians and the retention of recent college graduates by 20% respectively.

Will Herzog is the Executive Chair of the SEPTA Youth Advisory Council (YAC), an internal leadership arm and external advocacy organization that brings the voices of young people (aged 14-23) to the governance of public transit. Will joined the organization as a high school sophomore in 2013. A native of Philadelphia, Will is passionate about strengthening communities and their governments, creating environments where opportunity can thrive. Will is a senior at Haverford/Bryn Mawr College, studying Growth and Structure of Cities, and a Master of City Planning candidate at the University of Pennsylvania.