A Petition to Restore the Historic Ada H. Lewis Middle School in Philadelphia

For decades, the historic Ada H. Lewis Middle School stood as a proud symbol of education, resilience, and community in Northwest Philadelphia. Built during a pivotal time of racial integration in the city, it represented hope and progress for generations of African-American families.

But today, that same building sits abandoned — a reminder not of progress, but of neglect. It was never condemned for safety reasons. It was not structurally unsound. It was closed because of shifting priorities — the 2008–2012 K-8 school consolidation initiative and the rise of charter school funding that redirected critical resources away from public schools. These policies left countless children without adequate learning spaces, exposed younger students to overcrowded, under-staffed environments, and accelerated the decline of community-based education.

Meanwhile, developers and investors have circled these vacant properties for profit. What was once a thriving school has been allowed to deteriorate, not for lack of potential, but because its location — in a predominantly Black neighborhood — was undervalued.

We, the citizens and supporters of Philadelphia, demand that the Ada Lewis School be restored, not demolished — and reborn as the Kada Scott Community Empowerment Center, in memory of Kada Scott, a young woman whose tragic loss shed light on the dangers, neglect, and systemic failures in our city’s most vulnerable communities.

This project will:

Preserve a historical landmark that once played a role in the integration of Philadelphia’s public schools.

Create hundreds of community jobs through restoration, administration, and ongoing operations.
Provide youth development programs, trade training, and safe recreational spaces.
Reduce community violence by giving youth accessible outlets for education, mentorship, and connection.
Restore community pride in a neighborhood that has been overlooked and over-policed but under-served.

We call on Philadelphia City Council and the Office of the Mayor to:

Transfer the Ada Lewis School property to the community for $1, symbolizing restorative justice for decades of neglect.

Partner with state and federal programs to fund rehabilitation and training initiatives within the facility.
Support legislation for mandatory visibility and media coverage of missing children of color, so no family suffers in silence again.
Implement specialized community-based investigative units to strengthen trust, improve surveillance where appropriate, and close the gap between law enforcement and local residents.

Philadelphia has more than 20 vacant school properties sitting as scars of a broken system. We have the opportunity to turn those scars into symbols of healing — to make community over condos not just a slogan, but a movement.

As a United States Marine Corps Veteran, I have fought for freedom abroad. Now, I fight for freedom at home — the freedom for our children to learn, grow, and live safely in the neighborhoods that raised them.

The Ada Lewis School once stood as a monument to opportunity. Let it rise again as the Kada Scott Community Empowerment Center — a living legacy of hope, strength, and unity for generations to come.

✊🏽 Sign. Share. Stand with us.

Together, we can rebuild not just a building, but the spirit of Philadelphia.