May 2017

Chester Youth Speaks

May 23, 2017 

• Location: Stetser Elementary, Chester, PA

• Chester Youth Speaks was a seed money project, facilitated by Sunni Tarver, a Widener student, and Wilquann “Que” Dorsey, resident of Chester.

• Chester Youth Speaks was a weekly spoken word club at Chester's Stetser Elementary. The goal was to create a safe space where participants can share stories, write, and practice speaking and performing in front of an audience. The focus was teaching figurative language and performance skills, while encouraging teamwork and collaboration and promoting leadership and self-esteem. 

• Sunni and Que organized a surprise pizza party and final meeting for all of the participants in the club. At the party, Sunni and Que presented journals, t-shirts, and hoodies to the participants. 

 

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April 2017

Theatrical Bridges: A Theater & Film Festival, Final Performances

April 8, 2017 

• Location: Alumni Auditorium, Widener University, 7:00pm

• This was the culminating event of Theatrical Bridges: A Theater and Film Festival. Widener students and Chester residents worked for two weeks to put together original film and theater pieces. This was the event where the theater piece was performed and the films were shown. A total of eight short films were shown, and one theater piece that included all participants interested in theater.

• The evening also included the first showing of the Boundaries and Bridges documentary, poetry reading, spoken word, live painting, and a facilitated discussion by Ulysses “Butch” Slaughter.

• At intermission, free snacks were provided by the coordinators of “Sowing Good Seeds,” LaNoana Odom and Bonita Taylor. 

Invisible People

April 11, 2017 

• Location: University Center atrium, Widener University.

• Boundaries and Bridges partnered with the Social Work department to offer an exhibit of paintings by Mary Lapos. This exhibit was a collection of pastel and oil pieces, which feature people “often living on or beyond the fringes of society and affected by poverty, either economic or of the spirit, as a result of their circumstances in life.”

• The exhibit was open in the University Center atrium from 12:00 – 3:00pm, and a community discussion on the exhibit was held from 3:00 – 5:00pm. 

World Split Open Reading

April 18, 2017 

• Location: Avenue Brew, Chester, PA. 6:30pm

• The World Split Open was one of Boundaries and Bridges’ most successful seed money projects. 

• This event was a night to celebrate the project, and listen to readings from two anthologies of stories submitted and edited by women who live, work, or study in Chester and incarcerated women from around the world. 

Tactical Urbanism: A Community Conversation and Workshop

April 22, 2017 

• Location: The Maker Space, Chester, PA. 1:00 – 5:00pm

• Boundaries and Bridges partnered with the Pennsylvania Humanities Council through the Chester Made project to bring Mike Lydon to Chester, PA.

• Mike Lydon introduced community members to tactical urbanism and provided an opportunity for participants to think about projects that could take place in Chester. 

Making Your Art, Making Your Life: Resources & Tools for Chester Artists

April 25, 2017 

• Location: Avenue Brew, Chester, PA. 6:00 – 9:00pm

• Boundaries and Bridges partnered with Philadelphia based organizations (Artists U, CultureWorks, Leeway Foundation, and Small but Mighty Arts) to provide information about resources available to support artists and their work. Participants had the opportunity to talk with representatives of these organizations one on one. 

 

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March 2017

John Vanore and Abstract Truth Concert

• Location: Kapelski Recital Hall, Widener University, 3:00pm

• As part of the Widener University Recital Series, John Vanore and Abstract Truth performed on Widener’s campus. Free admission for all. 

Theatrical Bridges: A Theater & Film Festival, Kick-Off Workshop

March 18, 2017 

• Location: MJ Freed Theater, Chester, PA. 9:00am – 5:00pm

• All participants of the Theater & Film Festival were required to attend this opening workshop. The workshop included group building, free writing, creating tableaux from photographs, IPhone movie making, and script writing. Participants were then split between their interest in film or theater, and spent the afternoon session focusing on that medium and gaining knowledge from the experts. 

• Teams had access to the team of experts throughout the remainder of the festival, to help with project development and completion. 

Theatrical Bridges: A Theater & Film Festival, Dress Rehearsal and Rough Cut Presentations

March 30, 2017 

• Location: MJ Freed Theater, Chester, PA.

• As part of the Theater & Film Festival, all participants were brought back together in this event to discuss and share details about their project, show rough cuts of their films, and/or provide a walkthrough of the theater piece. 

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February 2017 

CultureWorks Workshop: To nonprofit or not to nonprofit?

February 1, 2017 

• Location: Abstract Space, 513 Avenue of the States, Chester, PA. 6:00 – 9:00pm

• CultureWorks Greater Philadelphia teamed up with Boundaries & Bridges to help participants navigate the “to nonprofit or not to nonprofit” question. Participants also had the chance to meet one-on-one with CultureWorks staff to discuss their work and ask additional questions. 

NACHMO

February 17 & 18, 2017 

• Location: MJ Freed Theater, dance studio.

• NACHMO is a national organization that offers “your annual choreographic kick in the pants.” This was the first year that Chester, PA was listed as a location. Both nights were showcases of performances and performers from Chester, Widener University, and the greater Philadelphia area.

• The event was facilitated and organized by Jessica Warchal-King, dance instructor at Widener University

 

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January 2017

Deshong’s Chester: Left Behind

January 18, 2017 

• Location: Widener University Art Gallery, 7:30pm

• A dance performance inspired by the Alfred O. Deshong collection that is housed at the Widener University Art Gallery, the history of Chester, and the resilience of individuals and communities. Dancers in the performance were from Widener University, Chester, and Philadelphia.

• Choreographed by Jessica C. Warchal-King 

Relache Concert

January 22, 2017 

• Location: Kapelski Recital Hall, Widener University, 3:00pm

• As part of the Widener University Recital Series, this was the second of three free concerts offered on campus and open to the public with free admission. 

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November 2016

3rd Annual Gems on Fire Empowerment Celebration & Workshop

November 5, 2017 

• Location: Widener University, Lathem Hall, 10:30am

• A seed money project, facilitated by LaKesha Logan. For the day of the workshop, LaKesha had assistance from Widener students and other community members.

• The Phenomenal Women's Network provided the 3rd Annual Gems on Fire Empowerment Workshop and Celebration for girls and women. Their theme this year was "Discovering & Walking in Your Purpose."

• They provided add appropriate empowerment workshops for girls aged 7-12 and 13-17 and women aged 18 and older. The goal was to promote community, sisterhood, and unity utilizing the arts. 

Building Bridges Through the Lens: Exhibit

November 11, 2017 

• Location: Art On Avenue of the States Gallery, Chester, PA

• The exhibit of photographs taken during the workshop opened on this day. Two photographs from each student were displayed in the exhibit. Linda also presented each student with a collage of the additional photos they took during the workshop. 

Urban Harvest Festival

November 12, 2016 

• Location: 500 Block, Avenue of the States, Chester, PA. 11:00am – 2:00pm

• The Urban Harvest Festival celebrated the seed projects, as part of Boundaries and Bridges.

• Food was available for purchase from Carters a’la Cart and Open Mike’s Cafe. Chef Tavia, Chester resident and Chopped Junior Champion, brought some of her baked goods to sell.

• “Sowing Good Seeds” offered an interactive demonstration, an outside market included the Ruth Bennett Farm and Fare & Square grocery store, “Chester Summer Challenge” highlighted their knowledge of making homemade ice cream, “The Art Spot” exhibited artwork from the camp participants, “Building Bridges Through the Lens” exhibited photographs taken by the workshop participants in the Art on Avenue of the States gallery, “World Split Open” did a reading of some entries they received, and “Chester Youth Speaks” provided a spoken word performance. 

 

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October 2016

Building Bridges Through the Lens

October 1, 2016 

• Location: Art On Avenue of the States Gallery, Chester, PA, 12:00pm

• All participants met at the gallery, and then traveled to different locations in Chester to photograph their partner’s world. Each group ended photography portion of the day at Widener for some additional photos, and a group photo. 

Building Bridges Through the Lens

October 7, 2016 

• Location: Art On Avenue of the States Gallery, Chester, PA, 6:00pm

• All participants met at the gallery to review everyone’s photos and selected the two best from each students. The goal was to capture something about your partner. 

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September 2016

A Bridge Apart Performance

September 9, 2016 

• Location: Alumni Auditorium, Widener University. 6:30pm

• This was the kickoff event for the theater and creative placemaking workshop, and required for the workshop participants.

• This performance was intended to act as the dress rehearsal before A Bridge Apart would appear in the Philadelphia Fringe Festival. A Bridge Apart was a collaboration between Devon Walls and Robert Reutter, utilizing the stories gathered during the walking tours. The walking tours were facilitated by Devon Walls to learn about people’s views on perceived boundaries between Widener University and the City of Chester. 

Building Bridges and Creating from Place: An Interactive Theater Workshop

September 10, 2016 

• Location: MJ Freed Theater, Chester, PA. 9:00am – 5:00pm

• Facilitated by Hank Willenbrink, a playwright and scholar, and David Bradley, a director and teaching artist.

• This workshop engaged participants in methods for generating work from place and personal and community stories, and offered opportunities for conversation, brainstorming and envisioning art projects inspired by the city of Chester. 

Building Bridges Through the Lens

September 30, 2016 

• Location: Art On Avenue of the States Gallery, Chester, PA, 6:00pm

• This was one of the seed money projects, facilitated by Linda Braceland, assisted by Jessica Barber and Courtlandt Craig.

• The project took place over three separate days. The opening event of this photography workshop included icebreaker activities, basic photography training, and were put into teams for the following day. Participants included Chester High School and Widener students. 

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August 2016

Sowing Good Seeds

August 4 – 27, 2016 

• Location: Ruth Bennett Community Farm, Chester, PA

• Facilitated by LaNoana Odom and Bonita Taylor, Sowing Good Seeds was one of the seed money projects.

• Sowing Good Seeds offered a family health/wellness and creative placemaking food workshop every week from August 4th to August 27th. They explored produce, making healthy snacks, canning, exercise, meal preparation for the family, and created a book that documented the full workshop. 

Freshmen Day of Service and A&S Faculty Retreat

August 25, 2016 

• Location: MJ Freed Theater, Chester, PA.

• All freshmen students, who chose the civic engagement orientation track, along with the A&S faculty came together at the MJ Freed Theater to learn about creative placemaking and to see the renaissance taking place on the 500 block of Avenue of the States.

• President Julie Wollman addressed the freshmen students and A&S faculty.

• Students and faculty participated in eight creative placemaking activities together, which included a dance mandala, theater and storytelling, set building, found word poetry, painting, public place making, solo cup art, and creating street games.

• Students stayed into the afternoon to assist with clean up and set up for the One Day in Chester Festival that was taking place that weekend. 

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July 2016

Chester Summer Canning and Ice Cream

July 1, 2016 

• One of the seed money projects, facilitated by Jayne Thompson, Ruth Cairy, Bruce Grant, Misty Sol, and Paul Trefz. This was an going project throughout the summer of 2016.

• Each week of the summer, they took the students out of the classroom and into the natural world. Their reading materials and research projects provided a backdrop for these forays. The students visited Taylor Arboretum and the Stetser Elementary farm. After these visits, they taught the students how to make low sugar fruit freezer jam, taking the process from stem to Mason jar. Opportunities for creative writing were plentiful as they explored their five senses and their connection to the natural world. In addition, they focused on the science of the canning process. Students took home a jar of the fruit at the end of the program. Students prepared a reflection on the experience, either the sensory, the science, or the feeling of being involved in community revitalization and education.

• In addition, with the help of community members Misty Sol and Paul Trefz, they taught the students to make ice cream with ice and plastic bags and an old-fashioned hand crank ice cream maker. They added fresh fruit and experimented with flavors. They served this ice cream at the culminating event. 

• July 6, 2016 – Art Connects Us Camp Program

• Location: MJ Freed Theater, Chester, PA

• A seed money project, facilitated by Marcy Morris.

• Art Connects Us summer camp merged with The Art Spot summer camp, to provide an all encompassing summer experience for Chester youth. The summer camp took place over five weeks, two days a week for three hours. Students gained experience in figure drawing, acrylic painting on canvas, mosaic, and creative writing. Each session focused on observation, reflection, collaboration, and healing. 

• Art instruction was taught by Marcy Morris and Devon Walls. Creative writing was taught by Jayne Thompson. The camp was coordinated by Devon Walls and Annette Pyatt. 

Art Connects Us Camp Program

July 6, 2016 

• Location: MJ Freed Theater, Chester, PA

• A seed money project, facilitated by Marcy Morris.

• Art Connects Us summer camp merged with The Art Spot summer camp, to provide an all encompassing summer experience for Chester youth. The summer camp took place over five weeks, two days a week for three hours. Students gained experience in figure drawing, acrylic painting on canvas, mosaic, and creative writing. Each session focused on observation, reflection, collaboration, and healing. 

• Art instruction was taught by Marcy Morris and Devon Walls. Creative writing was taught by Jayne Thompson. The camp was coordinated by Devon Walls and Annette Pyatt. 

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June 2016

Moving Stories, Embodied Communities

June 24, 2016 

• Location: MJ Freed Theater, Chester, PA. 6:00pm

• This was the kickoff event for the Dance and Creative Placemaking Workshop, which was required for workshop participants.

• Moving Stories, Embodied Communities Diverse was a diverse evening of dance performed and created by student and professional dance artists who are also members of the Chester and Widener communities. 

The Embodiment Project: Dance and Creative Placemaking Workshop

June 25, 2016 

• Location: Widener University Dance Studio. 9:00am – 5:00pm

• Facilitated by Jessica Warchal-King, an adjunct instructor of dance at Widener University and a Philadelphia-based performer, choreographer, educator, and arts advocate.

• The workshop helped dancers, along with people who are interested in working with dancers, learn how to put dance and creative placemaking into practice. Topics included non-verbal communication, story-telling through dance, performance and observation, creating movement, and more.

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May 2016

Author’s Corner

May 6, 2016 

• Location: Open Mike’s Café, Chester, PA. 5:30pm

• This event was required for any of the participants of the Writing and Creative Placemaking Workshop.

• Tables were provided for all of the local authors and poets who signed up to participate, so participants were able to look at the authors’ work, purchase items, and have open dialogue. The night also included spoken word performances, readings, food, books for purchase, and a special performance by Greg Corbin from the Philly Youth Poetry Movement. 

House/Home: Creative Placemaking & Creative Writing Workshop

May 7, 2016 

• Location: MJ Freed Theater, Chester, PA. 9:00am – 5:00pm

• Facilitated by Maryan Captan, who is heavily involved in Philadelphia’s literary community as a writer, performance poet, and advocate for social change.

• This workshop utilized various writing and textual exercises to help participants better understand the many ways that writing builds and strengthens community and our sense of place. 

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April 2016

Food and Creative Placemaking Workshop

April 2, 2016 

• Location: Widener University, Freedom Hall, 9:00am – 5:00pm

• Facilitated by Judy Wicks, an entrepreneur, author, speaker, mentor, and owner of Philadelphia’s White Dog Café.

• Topics included event planning and the use of food for community building; community gardens and urban gardening; buying and sourcing locally; nonprofit and for profit business models. 

A Night of Sustainable Thinking

April 6, 2016 

• Location: MJ Freed Theater, Chester, PA. 4:00 – 6:30pm

• Organized by Jayne Thompson, a member of the core team and English instructor at Widener University.

• Jayne gathered Widener faculty, students, and community members who have been doing work related to sustainability. Each presenter spoke about their projects, research, or experiences and provided an opportunity for questions and answers.

• Sponsored by Boundaries and Bridges, Widener University College of Arts & Sciences and Office for Community Engagement & Diversity Initiatives. 

Rain Barrel Workshop and Decoration

April 18, 2016 

• Location: Kapelski Learning Center Portico, 5:00pm

• Participants worked together to decorate rain barrels on Widener’s campus

• Free rain barrel workshop followed the decorating portion. All attendees received a free rain barrel and fittings, and learned how to build a rain barrel to manage storm water on their property. The workshop was being offered by another department of Widener University. 

A Work in Progress: Building Bridges

April 29, 2016

• Location: Widener University; Lathem Hall and Alumni Auditorium, 7:30pm

• Co-written, co-directed, and co-produced by Devon Walls and Rob Reutter. Chester Renaissance Artist Troupe was accompanied by Widener students.

• This performance was based on the stories told to Devon Walls when Widener and greater Chester community members gave Devon tours of their perceptions of boundaries between Widener and the City of Chester. A smaller group of individuals were invited to attend this performance to provide feedback for further development and future performances.

• The performance was followed by a talk back, facilitated by Butch Slaughter. 

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March 2016​

F is for Fake: Art, Forgery, Forensics and Curating Crime

March 18, 2016 

•   Location: Widener University Art Gallery and LC 1 recital hall, 3:30 – 6:30pm

•    Prior to the lecture: There were behind- the-scenes tours of the Widener University Art Gallery to show how and where the Deshong Collection is preserved and restored.

•      The lecture was given by Dr. Jeffrey Taylor who discussed the psychological intrigue of master forgers along with other topics related to the corruption of art and the assessment of arts value and authenticity. Dr. Taylor is an art and forensics expert and Assistant Professor of Arts Management and Entrepreneurship at Purchase College, State University of New York.

•    Following the lecture: There was a public reception with light refreshments in the Widener University Art Gallery along with additional behind-the-scenes tours if attendees were not able to take a tour prior to the lecture.

Cake Boss

March 31, 2016 

• Location: Widener University, Academic Center North, Marriott Dining Room, 6:00 – 9:00pm

• Im headThis was the kickoff event for the Food and Creative Placemaking workshop; attendance was required for all workshop participants, but the event was open for everyone to attend. Attendees had the opportunity to taste and vote for their favorite cake in 3 categories. Community members entered a few cakes to be judged.

• The Cake Boss event was organized and facilitated by the Widener University Center for Hospitality Management.

• There was a guest lecture by Judy Wicks, prior to the event - "Running a Sustainable Restaurant: Green, Fair, and Fun"

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February 2016​

Making our Mark: Building Bridges in Chester

February 9, 2016 

• Location: MJ Freed Theater, Chester, PA, 6:00-8:00pm

• Purpose: A special arts event for teens and young adults from the city of Chester and Widener University. Participants were put into small groups and asked to create a monument that represents Chester; there was duct tape, cardboard, pvc pipes, zip ties, and markers provided. This event was advertised as part of Widener University’s Community Week, a week created by the Office of Civic Engagement. 

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January 2015​

Information session

January 27, 2015 

• Location: MJ Freed Theater, Chester, PA, 6:00-8:00pm

• Purpose: Provide an opportunity to learn more about the Boundaries and Bridges project and upcoming grant opportunities. The Leeway Foundation attended and provided information about their Art and Change Grant and Transformation Award.  ​

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November 2015

Information Session

November 6, 2015 

• Location: MJ Freed Theater, Chester, PA, 6:00 – 8:00pm

• Purpose: To communicate the goals of the project and get feedback and ideas from community members. 

Poetic Bridges

November 13, 2015 

• Location: Walnut Street pedestrian bridge, 4:00 – 5:00pm

• Purpose: To kick off the Boundaries and Bridges project. Provide a space for spoken word and readings from community members and Widener students, faculty, and staff. ​