State of Young Philadelphia (SOYP)
State of Young Philadelphia is YiP's annual flagship event that brings together a diverse group of local organizations, young professionals, elected officials, and community leaders to explore Philadelphia's civic landscape and work collaboratively on practical solutions to shape the city's future.
The 2025 convening was held at the African American Museum in Philadelphia on October 18.
The theme was Philadelphia Civic Engagement: Neighborhoods, Narratives, & Next Steps.
We were proud to feature one of our earliest board members, Pennsylvania State Representative, Tarik S. Khan as our keynote speaker for this event.
We also marked 25 years of YIP's existence amplifying young voices and helping shape our city’s civic, and social future. All photos by Liyiran Shelly Xia at Aix Photography LLC
Sponsor 2026
!
Sponsor 2026 !
Interested in sponsoring in 2026? Reach out to info@yiphilly.org for opportunities. YiP accepts both in-kind and monetary sponsors.
The 2025 YiP Board with YiP alumni who helped with planning the 25th celebration! Including by not limited to: Andrew Hohns and Troy Madres (Co-Founders), Nico Meyering, Rishaun Hall, Ashlei Tracy, Gary Wooten, Irene Cedano, Anton Krotenok, Kevin Waters, Wei Liu, Haley Burrowes and Kristin Robert-Ondrey.
Having a good time!
Troy Madres, YiP Founder opens up the 25th Anniversary SOYP
Keynote speaker, Rep. Tarik Khan speaks to the audience about his time at YiP as a young man
Panelists take questions from the audience. Panelists are from left to right: Lauren Vidas (moderator), Hillary Do (PhillyBOLT) , Sec. of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt, Christopher Johnson (The School District of Philadelphia)
Rep. Carroll speaks to the crowd
Councilmember Landau address the crowd
Thankful for the CM’s beautiful impromptu words!
Previous Years' Themes:
2024: This one-day symposium featured a powerful lineup of community organizations offering dynamic programming. Participants engaged in critical discussions on topics such as education, mental health, local government, the environment, and substance abuse, tackling key issues facing the city and identifying pathways forward.
2023: This vibrant series of events focused on empowering individuals to take action, invest in their communities, and celebrate Philadelphia's rich cultural tapestry. Through life-saving training, entrepreneurial development, community investment, and culinary exploration, attendees explored ways to build a stronger, more connected city.
2022: Under the theme "Gritty But Open: Ensuring Access for All Philadelphians," we addressed the question: "How can young adults in Philadelphia ensure that services and public life are accessible to everyone?" Through discussions and collaborative efforts, we explored solutions for creating a more inclusive and equitable Philadelphia.
