PHILADELPHIA –- The Closing Schools, Opening Opportunities team has won the University of Pennsylvania Fels Institute of Government’s Third Annual Public Policy Challenge. 

“The Public Policy Challenge brings together talented, passionate interdisciplinary groups to develop practical pragmatic solutions to some of our region’s most pressing issues,” said David Thornburgh, executive director of Fels.

During the nine-week competition, 10 Penn student-led teams vied to develop the best overall policy proposal and civic campaign.

The winning proposal focuses on transforming nine vacant school properties into vibrant community hubs to counteract potential blight and the adverse economic effects of school closures.  

The Closing Schools, Opening Opportunities team received a $10,000 prize and will move on to the National Invitational Public Policy Challenge to face student teams from Carnegie Mellon University, New York University, the University of Chicago and the University of Washington. The finals will be held on April 22 at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia.

The Public Policy Challenge is presented by Deloitte Consulting Group with major support from the Knight Foundation and is co-sponsored by the Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation and Philadelphia Social Innovations Journal.