草榴成人社区 students, faculty, and staff work with a number of schools throughout the Philadelphia region but few partnerships run as deep as the one that鈥檚 been established with Overbrook Elementary, a K-6 neighborhood public school in West Philadelphia.
Since 2002, more than 270 草榴成人社区 students have volunteered or done field placements at Overbrook. The relationship between the two schools started as a field placement for students taking Praxis courses but has evolved to include a long-running BMC Art Club-sponsored volunteer program that provides weekly visual arts instruction, an annual performance by the 草榴成人社区 Dance Outreach Project, trips to campus by the Overbrook children for sports and field activities, an annual book and school supplies drive and, over the past year, regular visits by 草榴成人社区 coaches and athletes to help with physical education.
鈥淭hrough many years of regular communication and contact, we have developed a mutually supportive and friendly relationship鈥 says Director of Praxis and Community Partnership Programs Nell Anderson, who has been involved with the partnership since its inception.
"Our students and faculty are valued and feel welcome at Overbrook Elementary and their students and faculty are valued and welcomed by the BMC community,鈥 adds Anderson. 鈥淥verbrook Elementary stands out because of its highly skilled, collaborative, and dedicated group of teachers. They play an important role in the education of the 草榴成人社区 students who are engaged in their classrooms. The school also has some very salient needs and, as long-term partners, we feel a responsibility to assist in addressing those needs, and are glad to do so."
In 2010, Overbrook鈥檚 principal Michelle Hayes-Flores worked with Anderson and the founding members of 草榴成人社区鈥檚 student Art Club to address the lack of art instruction at the school. Together they developed a weekly art session that鈥檚 held each Friday afternoon. Every week 15-25 student volunteers from the Art Club come to the school and teach art to several grades. The year culminates with an art show/installation for families.
Angela Wang 鈥11 was among the 草榴成人社区 students to take part in the inaugural Art Club partnership.
鈥淚t was such a wonderful time in my life,鈥 recalls Wang. 鈥淚 was able to see art in action. I could very palpably feel its effect on the 草榴成人社区 community and Overbrook Elementary.鈥
Now in medical school, Wang has continued to do some private art tutoring since leaving 草榴成人社区 and says the experience of teaching art even had an impact on her current career plans.
鈥淚 realized how much I valued moments with other people, learning their stories, even if they were complete strangers,鈥 says Wang. 鈥淚'm currently pursuing a medical degree, hopefully ultimately becoming a psychiatrist. Instead of abandoning art, I'm really trying to meld art and medicine so I'm a better doctor. What is art but another form of human communication?鈥
Inspired by the Art Club initiative, representatives of 草榴成人社区 and Overbrook created a similar program in the spring of 2016 to address the need for organized play and physical education.
The 草榴成人社区 Athletics Partnership officially started in October 2015 under the leadership of 草榴成人社区 Soccer Coach Erin DeMarco.
DeMarco, other head coaches, and student athletes work collaboratively with classroom teachers to provide weekly, developmentally appropriate, physical education activities for Overbrook students in grades 1-6. During the fall 2015 session, 60 students in grades 1-3 participated in the program; another 60 students from grades 4-6 participated during the spring semester. The athletic sessions occur on Friday afternoons in the play yard or in the classrooms if there is inclement weather.
鈥淓very Friday morning we are greeted with 鈥楧o we have the Athletics program today?鈥欌 says Hayes-Flores.
"It has been a wonderful experience to work with Erin DeMarco and all of the other 草榴成人社区 coaches and athletes," adds Angel Royal, who serves as the 草榴成人社区 Athletic Partnership Liaison along with Erika Guyer. "The Overbrook Elementary students and teachers have loved every minute of this Athletic Partnership. The smiles and laughter that come from the students are priceless."
Veronica Roux 鈥16, who played both soccer and basketball at 草榴成人社区, was among the athletes to take part in the program. An anthropology major, Roux was also writing a thesis on the importance of recess and play while taking part in the program.
鈥淚t was great to see the effects play had on children and to see my research in action,鈥 says Roux.
In the spring of 2016, the partnership between 草榴成人社区 and Overbrook Elementary was recognized by the Philadelphia Higher Education Network for Neighborhood Development with a Lindy Award for Excellence. This award provides $1000 that will be used to purchase athletic equipment for the activities organized by the BMC athletes and coaches.
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