Reflections: There’s Fear, Hope; Fighting for a Future at Strawberry Mansion
For some children, their reality is fear and instincts of survival. For some children, their reality has stolen the basic nature of vulnerability and childhood- and replaced it with a hardened sense of “doing what I have to do.” After watching ABC’s Nighline feature with Diane Sawyer at Strawberry Mansion High School, I was reminded of these facts, especially for children in Philadelphia. While watching this clip, it was easy to become discouraged- 430 students, 4 principals in 4 years, 94 security cameras, 11 serious incidents on one floor in one day- a recipe for dangerous failure. Strawberry Mansion High School is located in a neighborhood with a 40% poverty rate and the highest murder, assault and rape rates in the city. The odds are...
Read MoreSummer Preview Day on June 15th
If you are interested in a program that equips you to make sustainable change in urban communities, join us for the MA in Urban Studies Preview Day! Date: Saturday, June 15th from 12:30-2:30 Location: Eastern University’s Falls Center 3300 Henry Ave. Philadelphia, PA 19129 To get more information or RSVP contact 215-769-3121 or urbanstudies@eastern.edu.
Read MoreAlum Spotlight- Dustin Tommey
Dustin Tommey is a 2011 graduate of Eastern University’s MA in Urban Studies, Community Development concentration. After graduation, Dustin had the opportunity to begin working at Affordable Housing Centers of Pennsylvania (AHCOPA) as a housing counselor. Since there, Dustin has been promoted to the position of Executive Director. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s blog recently featured one of AHCOPA’s stories of success. Read more at this link.
Read MoreCelebrating the Class of 2013
On Saturday, May 11th, 17 people graduated from the Master of Arts in Urban Studies program. Graduation week is always an exciting time, and the Urban Studies Department has its share of celebration. Students arrived at Eastern University’s Main Campus in St. Davids on Wednesday, May 8th, to participate in the Urban Studies Research Forum, a time for students to share their accomplishments and celebrate one another’s hard work. This year, students focused a great deal on their home communities, and the effect of this focus was a global perspective throughout the presentations. Students focused on communities such as Chester, PA, Anderson, IN, Lac La Biche, Alberta, Hamilton, Ontario, rural Malawi, and Atlanta, GA. This year’s theses topics...
Read MoreAlum Spotlight: Julia Crawford
Since graduating in May 2012 with an MA in Urban Studies with a concentration in Community Arts, Julia has become an adjunct faculty member in the Dance Department at Eastern University. She teaches courses on the practice and history of dance as a form of sacred expression, as well as holistic development teaching methods. In the past, Julia has taught in an arts-integrated early-childhood program, using dance to support academic learning, which has given her a deep understanding of holistic teaching methods. In addition to her work at Eastern, Julia has become a teaching artist and trainer for BuildaBridge International. Currently, she leads a therapeutic movement class with Bhutanese refugee children in South Philadelphia, who think it is hysterical when we...
Read MoreThe Arts a Response to School Violence?
Time and again research has shown that the arts are effective in improving academic success. However, with the rise of violence in schools, how can the arts impact school violence? A couple of weeks ago, Jamaine Smith (2012 MAUS graduate), provided an excellent workshop entitled An Arts-based Response to Youth Violence. Jamaine discussed using art to help youth process the impact of violence on themselves, others, and their community. Jamaine’s presentation is an excellent example of how the MA in Urban Studies, Community Arts concentration is re-framing the arts. Indeed, the arts are not limited to ascetic enjoyment, because the art-making process is a powerful tool for healing, restoration, and celebration. In Boston, one school recognized...
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