I don’t mean to dump on Philly, but “The Next Great City” still has a lot of work to do before it is truly worthy of such a title. The city’s body count for 2006 is rapidly approaching 400 (and has already reached the highest total in 10 years), homelessness continues to plague the streets, and one in four Philadelphians live in poverty. More troublesome is the effect this crisis is having on the city’s youth, who are increasingly growing up in distressed households and even worse neighborhoods and schools. The digital divide is taking its toll, and these kids will soon enter the real world lacking the technological know-how that is becoming more and more of a necessity for success with each passing year. There is no quick fix, but luckily there are grass-roots activists and organizations around the city that are doing their part in offering aid.One such organization is 215hiphop.com. Alongside Outerspace and Q-Demented, 215hiphop.com is collecting toys and raising funds for Philly’s youth this Christmas at its “For The Kids” hip hop showcase this Saturday, December 23rd at The Khyber in Old City. On Christmas Eve, the toys will be given out to families in need at a recreation center in North Philadelphia.Featuring Philly heavy-weights Outerspace, Last Emperor, Maylay Sparks, Doap Nixon, and DJ Cru Cut, this event will go down as one of the livest hip hop jams in ‘06. To get in, all you need to do is bring an unwrapped gift and a $5 contribution, or $10 without a present. Everyone involved in this event is donating their own time, energy, and talents for the cause. Volunteers are being accepted to help out on the night of the show and on Christmas Eve distributing the presents. For more information on volunteering or receiving presents, contact info@215hiphop.com. To buy advance tickets, visit Ticket Web.

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