The Mission
Building a collective power of teenagers to transform schools and communities.
We organize with young people to fight for racial and education justice — for fully funded, safe spaces that honor your creativity, voice, and right to learn.
Our Goals
The Philly Student Union believes in a future where all young people have access to educational environments that are caring and restorative, while honoring students' creativity, humanity, and immense potential. We're a youth-led organization dedicated to building young people's power to demand a high-quality education in the Philadelphia public school system. We use artist activism-driven training and leadership development to empower young people to become lifelong learners and leaders capable of addressing the challenges facing their communities.
Our Story
Since 1995, the Philly Student Union has been a force for change — led by students, rooted in Philadelphia, and built for the long haul. We started as a collective of high school students calling out underfunded schools, harsh discipline, and the silencing of youth voices.
What We Do
Organize in Schools
Our members launch chapters and lead campaigns to advocate for change in their schools.
Develop Leaders
We host retreats, workshops, and training that help teenagers tap into their collective power and build the skills to use it.
Build Community
Our space is a second home — a place for organizing, healing, creating, and finding joy together.
MEET THE TEAM
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Chantelle is a mother, social impact entrepreneur, creative activist, and former PSU Youth Organizer with over 15 years of experience working to support processes of transformative justice in Philly and beyond. Chantelle is excited to bring her cross industry experience and artist perspective to the work of supporting PSU’s next phase of growth and is looking forward to collectively celebrating 30 years of PSU history.
Chantelle is also a long time member of About Face Veterans Against War, is the Co-Director of the theater company Practice Space, and can often be found in one of Philly’s great venues dancing out the stress of the imperialist white supremacist capitalist patriarchy.
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Kiian (they/them) is a central Jersey native, originally from Perth Amboy, New Jersey, who is now living in Philly. Kiian is a poet and writer who is passionate about using writing and other artistic mediums to make political statements and move us to action. When they're not organizing, they enjoy reading classic Black literature, finding new hobbies to try, and learning more about the environment.
They graduated from Rutgers University-New Brunswick with degrees in Africana Studies and Journalism.
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Cassidy Arrington is a nonbinary multi-media artist based in and from Philadelphia, PA. Arrington’s artwork centers survival, transience, and grief in queer and Black coming of age. Their poetry has been featured in places like Healing Verse Poetry Line, Sinister Wisdom Literary Journal, and the Yale University Art Gallery, while their photographs and films have been displayed at Scribe Video Center, Maysles Documentary Center, New York University, and beyond.
Arrington graduated from Yale College with a BA in Ethnicity, Race, & Migration Studies, and has served as a resident artist at the TILT Institute for the Contemporary Image, the Painted Bride Art Center and, currently the Da Vinci Art Alliance
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Lawrence Mahoney-Jones (he/him) Lawrence has been on the board for PSU since May 2022. This is his second stint on the board, as he was also a member as a high school student. Lawrence was a member of PSU from 2005 to 2008 and remained active in grassroots organizing throughout his life, including working with organizations like Media Mobilizing Project (now Movement Alliance Project).
He now works at Temple University as an Academic Advisor for the College of Science and Technology. He rejoined the board because he believes in the power of young people and how that power can move mountains. He wants to support the organization in any way he can!.
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Stormy Kelsey is a proud Philadelphia native! She graduated from Temple University with a BA in Media Studies and Production and a MS in Communication for Development and Social Change. She has created work that explores storytelling, youth activism, and social justice in both local communities and internationally. Stormy has spoken at numerous national conferences on the power of media and youth using it as a tool to make change. Currently, Stormy works as a Media Communication Coordinator of the University Community Collaborative and program manager for POPPYN.
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Kevin Burgess (he/him) is a Senior Research Analyst at Research for Action (RFA), where he primarily conducts qualitative research designed to amplify the voices of teachers and other stakeholders traditionally marginalized in the enactment of education policy. He has served as a researcher on the Voices for Change Black Educator Action project since its inception. Through this national project, which utilizes participatory methods, Burgess partners with Black teachers to examine the issues they confront in education and develop actionable solutions.
Burgess has also worked on other community-engaged projects, such as the Allegheny County Black Teacher Study, where he co-hosted an audio documentary called “Small But Mighty,” which expanded the reach of the work beyond a research audience. Before joining RFA, Burgess spent over a decade in the education field, including eight years as a high school social studies teacher.
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Ariel Taylor (she/her) Ariel is the Youth Media Manager at Philadelphia Community Access Media (PhillyCAM), brings over 15 years of expertise in youth development, media literacy, and curriculum creation to the table. Her dedication extends beyond conventional boundaries, focusing on Black and Brown voices in the queer community.
Through her work, Ariel actively engages students in analyzing and dissecting media through a lens of social justice and equity. She champion's thought-provoking content creation that not only amplifies the perspectives of youth but also sheds light on the intersectional issues faced by Black queer individuals. By fostering 21st-century skills, Ariel equips young people with the tools to navigate and challenge media narratives, supporting them to be producers of media not just consumers.