Some #phled news: after careful consideration and a good chat with the brass, I’ve decided to move on from @ChalkbeatPHL. They’ve got their new system up and running, and my eyes keep rising to the horizon, so it’s a good time for us to part ways. 1/

I want wish the new venture all the best, and to thank @carriemelago, @johanncalhoun, @dalemezz and everyone who made the Notebook/ @Chalkbeat merger happen. CB-PHL has all it needs to succeed: a strong parent org, top talent, and a passionate and engaged readership …. 2/

… and normally I’d close with that and exit stage left. But I want to take a moment to share a couple thoughts about the Philadelphia Public School Notebook, the people I met beneath its banner, and wot’s next for me and us. Indulge me if you will … 3/

In 30 years, I’ve been recruited by three leaders: Alec Kopyt, a Ukrainian accordion player who needed a guitarist for a Swiss busking festival; Norbert Auerbach, a Hollywood producer who needed a screenplay about Communist bordellos, & @PaulSocolar, who wanted to help Philly. 4/

Paul reached out to me in about 2009 when I was at @WHYYNews. Told me the Notebook’s mission: use quality reporting to analyze law and practice, boost community voices, and improve local and state policy. Everybody wants “impact,” but this promised results. I was in ... 5/

…and what followed would prove the most important journalism of my eclectic career. The Notebook leaned on the the best of the reporter’s craft: go, see, hear, ask, analyze, ask some more. Never had to ask whether to go to that long boring meeting. The job was to be there …. 6/

… and in return for that diligence, the Notebook got its best and most consequential stories. Voices were heard; decisions scrutinized; contracts rejected; policies rewritten. ; Officials stepped down. A whole board stepped down … 7/

… and a new board arrived. Because of us? Mmmmmaybe. Officials **never** like to admit it when journalism makes a difference. They love to tell you it was all their idea. But methinks it fair to say the Public School Notebook planted a few ideas that sprouted and grew ... 8/

... and a few even cracked the sidewalk. That, in my opinion, is the most important part of the Notebook’s legacy. It was, as a friend put it, “mission driven”, and as a reporter that shaped what I covered, how I covered it, and what the public got in return. 9/

That legacy, a 25-year run whose broad impact has been officially commemorated by City Council, is now in @Chalkbeat's hands. Our new crew has ideas and ambition, national support, and experienced staff throughout. They want great things from their new Philadelphia bureau … 10/

… and the Notebook community can help. I told the CB team that my parting advice to old Notebookers is this: let the new team know what Philadelphia wants, and show the new team how Philadelphia can contribute. 11/

The Notebook community knows very well how to do this sort of thing. I cannot stress enough what a pleasure, honor, and education it has been to work with and for you all. Without your patience, brains and good will, I would never have produced a thing worth reading. 12/

As for me: not sure what’s next for me but I’ve been here before. My mags pay (most of ) my bills and Philly is my bone-deep home, so I’ll be around. Umma let my mind wander a bit but it knows where its bread is baked. 13/

A couple other thoughts if you don’t mind. First: our people. 14/

My Notebook assignments were a universal passport to Philadelphia. Our reporting took me to every corner of the city to meet face to face with every Philadelphian imaginable ... 15/

… and I found them to be this: uniformly themselves, and uniformly magnificent. Leather-backed, sharp-beaked and soft-bellied; smart, stylish, caring, aware; forever ready to laugh, cry, sing or eat … 16/

.. and perhaps all four at once; that’s us. Philly folk are, above all, as m’lady would put it, *game.* Ready. On point. All they need is a chance. They ask for nothing more. Hear that, America? All I ever heard any Philly kid or family ask for is, a chance. Just a chance … 17/

… and especially and incredibly, that includes those who start with the fewest chances. The Philloids who have it the worst routinely asked for the least and treated this guy the best …. 18/

… and perhaps nothing will break your heart in our town faster than seeing how little those who have the least ask for, and still can’t get. A safe walk to school. A loving teacher. Books to bring home. Music class, art class, gym class. So little, and they can’t have it? … 19/

… nope, they can’t, because it’s America, But they keep trying to get it, because it’s America …. 20/

… and to travel our city under the Notebook’s banner for a decade, and witness on every excursion our people’s enduring good will and good humor in the face of a relentless attempt to grind them into dust, was nothing short of inspiring. 21/

So to every single person who ever paid attention to our schools and our children: thank you. Journalism sucks when nobody cares. That was never a problem for me and the Notebook, and it won’t be a problem for @ChalkbeatPHL. 22/

Penultimately: our future. 23/

… as you know it needs good journalists. Anybody who knows eager young reporters – people of color especially; we *must* diversify newsrooms – please send them to @ChalkbeatPHL. No better beat on which to learn the craft, and no city that needs their talents more. 24/

It also needs support for good journalism. I’ll be signing up to be a Chalkbeat Philadelphia member, and I urge you to do the same. 25/ https://checkout.fundjournalism.org/memberform?org_id=chalkbeat

And finally: as the new venture settles in, raise a glass of your bevvie of choice to the Public School Notebook every now and then. Its masthead is gone, but its #phled legacy is sealed, and its community is still here. I’ll always be a member. You know where to find me. 26/fin