Some Facts about Philly Philly!

Population: 5, 400,000

5th Largest City in the United States.

In 1800 Philadelphia was our country’s largest city, a distinction it held until 1830.

International reputation for rowing competitions.

Pennsylvania was the first state of the 50 U.S. states to list their website URL on a license plate.

The world’s first computer, ENICA, was built at the University of Pennsylvania in 1946.

The first daily newspaper was published in Philadelphia on September 21, 1784.

Fairmont Park in Philadelphia is the largest city-park with 9,200 acres.

Philadelphia is the home of the first public library. (1773).

First U.S. mint is located in Philadelphia (1782).

Home of the first department store to open- Wannamaker’s- (1877)

Oldest continuously used theater- Walnut Street Theater (1809)

The first University in America, The University of Pennsylvania was founded in 1779.

Philadelphia is home to the nations first medical school, first children’s hospital, first cancer hospital, first eye hospital, first nursing school and first dental school.

Movies filmed in Philadelphia
The Sixth Sense (1999)
Philadelphia (1993)
The Age of Innocence (1993)
Signs (2002)
Unbreakable (2000)
12 Monkeys (1995)
National Treasure (2004)
Beloved (1998)
The Village (2004)
Other Facts and Information

African Rhythms show

Last Saturday night, my mom and I attended African Rhythms 15th Anniversary show. It was all that! The constumes were beautiful and the drummers where amazing! African Rhythms is a student-run African Drum and Dance Troupe at the University of Pennsylvania, African Rhythms, affectionately known as "AR", represents the strength and beauty of African culture. Established in 1993 by College of Arts and Sciences senior Raqiba Sealy, the company serves to educate and entertain the University of Pennsylvania and surrounding community through the richness and diversity of the black cultural experience. Ultimately, the group aims to perform dances from Africa and the African Diaspora, specifically: West Africa, the Caribbean, and South America. African Rhythms performs a number of dances which are beautiful, energetic, and exemplify the history and culture of the people and land of Africa and the African Diaspora. The drum is the focal point and serves various functions, such as a voice, telling the story of the dance or a signal to bring the community together.

I sincerely wish I had enough time to be apart of the group.

Interview with a Reading Specialist at Center for Literacy

For the requirements for one of my courses, I interview a lady named Sunday, who is a reading specialist for the Center of Literacy.Sunday is also a current student in the Reading/Writing/Literacy program at the Graduate School of Education at UPenn. Since 1968, The Center for Literacy has been the nation's largest community-based nonprofit literacy provider, and the first in Pennsylvania. The main building in Philadelphia is located on 48th and Baltimore. Its mission is to provide a range of literacy services, including reading, writing, math, life and work skills, to help a diverse population of learners meet their needs and achieve their personal and employment-related goals. Although, Sunday’s direct employer is the Center for Literacy, she is subcontracted to teach in an “E3 center” in North Philadelphia. The expanding E3 Power Centers, which stands for Empowerment, Education, and Employment, are in response to the rising numbers of out-of-school youth. Currently, there are five sites located throughout the city. The centers are community-based programs currently serving both at-risk-in-school youth and out-of-school youth between the ages of 14-21. The E3 model is designed to promote self-sufficiency through advancement opportunities for education, employment and/or skills training. Depending on the E3 site, there are a range of activities and classes offered (e.g. Pre GED, GED, tutoring, Mural Arts, Work Readiness Training, Work Exposure, etc.).Since they are community-based, different reputable organizations are responsible for operating the Centers, while the Philadelphia Youth Network (PYN) is considered the ‘funder.’ Sunday shares with me, that the contract is granted through DHS, and other funding sources (including the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation). Her primary responsibility as the Literacy Specialist is to support learners who are reading below a fourth grade reading level, among other functions. The academic goal for out-of-school youth is obtaining a GED, while in-school youth seek support in obtaining a high school diploma. Sunday suggests that there are various definitions of out-of-school-youth, as many students may have left school due to personal reasons, or, adjudicated youth, for example. She also shared with me, that there are generally more out-of-school youth than in school youth served in a fiscal year.

Leadership at Parkway Northwest Peace High School

For my fieldwork and tutorial experiences for three of my courses this semester...I have been placed at Parkway NW Peace High School, a very unqiue public high school in the city of Philadelphia. The schools framework is surrounded by social justice and peace, with classes such as, "social justice and leadership"Parkway Northwest Peace High School itself advocates for peace and justice in society through education, and thus, its very existence, shows leadership in advocating for students in education and society. It is Philadelphia's first college preparatory public high school committed to the principles of peace, social justice and conflict resolution. However, I feel that the very principles the school chose to create its framework and missions upon: peace and social justice, which is infused into the curriculum and instruction, highlights the very definition of leadership, specifically in the education culture and mainstream society. Parkway Northwest Peace High School has seminar days where they invite local and national speakers and programs, peer mediation program, as well as, mentors for all incoming students. My teacher, Mr. Winocur, plays a very intricate role in leadership and change within the school. His very liberal instructional and curriculum practices speak to the change necessary in the education field. He allows students to express themselves and engage in activities often rejected, unconsidered, and excluded by traditional schools and standards. For instance, he brings in African films (by African producers and directors, filmed in Africa) and literature so that students are exposed to ‘Africa’ in a context that debates to biased, and very often, racial context that Africa is seen in America or the Western world.

Black History Showcase at the PA Convention Center

This weekend my and my mom got dressed to impressed in African cultural attire and attended the Black History Showcase, which lasted all weekend, at the Pennslyvania Convention Center. The event featured a diverse mix of exhibits and activities that used REAL people, such as Negro League Players, Tuskegee Airmen and Buffalo Soldiers, real objects including replicas and other information about items invented by African Americans, and real stories to accurately present important eras and extraordinary achievements or events in African American history. The free event was a tribute which utilized different interactive, educational, inspirational exhibits along with award winning documentary films, stage plays and panel discussions. There was a theatre area where documentary and films were shown. The man who Cuba Gooding portrayed in Man of Honor, hes son was there representing his father and their organization, with pictures, film, and othe artifacts.
A priceless experience and moment indeed. I wish I had nieces and nephews or cousins, in the area and old enough..because it was a vital and neccessary essential opporotunity for a young African-American child to experience.
For more info visit www.blackhistoryshowcase.org/

EDUC Psychology of the African-American

My EDUC 522 Psychology of the African American was probably the most highly anticipated courses I’ve ever taken. Dr. Stevenson, the professor of the course is a cool dude. He is very serious, knowledgeable, passionate, and something like a comedian. Some of the articles and readings are so refreshing, inspiring and especially informative. Some of the topics included in the classroom conversations and articles were: stereotypes and racism, the source of the anger and aggression in Black boys, white privilege, and heinous acts of violence towards Black people like lynching (Emmett Till). The readings and the classroom conversations inspired me to brush up on classic African-American films. So when I was at the library, I borrowed the Color Purple DVD . Watching the movie, it occurred to me how it was very reminiscent of the readings and conversations of the class. Things such as, the unfair treatment of Blacks, the lack of certain amenities such as running water, the unique language and likeness of Black culture. Something of the things made me smile with proud and affirmation and others that filled me with sorrow, frustration, and fuel for my life’s passion and purpose.

Ph.D weekend

This weekend was a busy weekend for some of the top PH.D applicants from the various programs at GSE. These 35 applicants were flew in, or drove in some cases, to a chilly but sunny Philadelphia’s University City. They stayed at the luxurious Inn at Penn, of which several of the applicants divulged to me the loveliness of the king size bed with numerous pillows. The applicants had a very busy schedule. They meet with professors and chairs of their programs, the dean and vice dean, admissions and financial aid, current students and alumni. The potential student’s who represented states from all over the country such as Florida, Michigan and Vermont, also meet individually with at least two members of their program in a “conversation”. The PH.D weekend wasn’t strictly business for the prospects, there were many opportunity for mingling with one another and current students, they were also given a trolley tour of the city of Brotherly Love, and many of them ventured out to explore Philly’s night life.
I truly hope, and am pretty confident, many of the applicants walked away with a great feeling about Penn, their individual programs, but more importantly, a genuinely welcomed feeling.