[UC] EPA looks at poison in water, INQ
Neighbors, From a few neighborhood conversations, it appears that neighbors have also seen the spraying of Clark Park over the years! Of course, we can only expect silence or repetition of the brief statement from UCD-nothing but organic DRY fertilizer has ever been used. Many neighbors will remember the pattern of the cover-up during the Fenton affair. A brief statement immediately pinned the blame of UCD's incompetence on a scapegoat and announced an internal UCD investigation. Then, there was continued silence and business as usual. (Of course, UCD committeemen launched personal character attacks against community members, whom discussed the issues on public forums.) Please remember, UCD does not need to be accountable to the people of West Philadelphia. Their entire mission is to appear vital to the marketing and homogenization of Penn's domain. It has nothing to do with the well being of the real community or its real people. They want the credit for a total redesign of the park, upscale uniform facades, and hording/wasting state and local resources. Chemicals used on the park are the type of details beneath their experts! Here is a report about a new look into the poisoning of our water. The EPA was deliberately crippled for nearly a decade. From a brief look into the various lawn poisons used across America, I've seen that independent researchers have been raising various concerns for quite some time, (health effects and environmental damage.) We are never going to learn which poisons have been used on Clark Park! (UCD points to Moon, who points to Trugreen. And Trugreen don't know nothing but safe and organic as they repeat the brief UCD statement!) http://www.philly.com/inquirer/world_us/20091008_EPA_to_give_new_look_to_weed_killer_in_water.html This is a time our neighborhood could use an FOCP/SHCA organization that was trusted and respected in the community. However, because it is an insular organization completely dependent on UCD for its leaders' power inside the iron triangle; the entrenched leadership will defend UCD the same way as they did when the violations of federal law were exposed. There are people on the FOCP/SHCA boards who are respectable and trustworthy! While we like them, I think, we have the right to demand accountability and push hard on this issue. They are only volunteers with power, but community members have a duty to protect our families, our dogs, and our earth! I repeat, if you have seen the spraying of Clark Park; please call and lobby the reasonable members of the FOCP/SHCA organization to stand up! Demand that they replace their entrenched life time leadership, and demand the processes consistent with a democratic society! Sincerely, Glenn You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the list named UnivCity. To unsubscribe or for archive information, see http://www.purple.com/list.html.
[UC] Penn and the community -- take, er, I lost count when it hit six digits
From today's DP. Emphasis (color) and snide remarks (parentheses) added You read it here, first, on the ever-popular Popu-List Courtesy of Al Krigman University seeks to build more bridges with community partnerships Maanvi Singh While Penn's relationship with the West Philadelphia community has been tumultuous in the past, last night a group of community leaders and educators discussed Penn's recent focus on interacting positively with its neighbor. (Recent focus? Maybe they mean dumping Lewis Wendell.) The audience of community members, who filled a little over half the chairs (nobody I know was aware of this... so -- little wonder that only half the chairs were filled and I can only imagine who from the community was there) set up in the Arthur Ross Gallery, listened as the panel recounted Penn's historical interactions with West Philadelphia, as well as the University's current programs for community involvement. Ira Harkavy, associate vice president of Penn's Netter Center for Community Partnerships, moderated the discussion on what he said was the single most important issue that the University is focusing on - helping to develop neighboring West Philadelphia. (This is the single most important issue that the University is focusing on ??? I would have thought that a world class research university would be focusing on less important things like education, research, bringing their endowment back up to the point where they don't have to fire people or raise fees to give it's president a big raise and otherwise stay afloat, etc.) West Philadelphia has come a long way since the 1990s, when crime was on a major upspring, said panelist and member of the Spruce Hill Community Trust Board of Directors Barry Grossbach. (See. Someone still thinks Barry is a community leader. Maybe they don't know about the sad fall from grace and standing of the Spruce Hill Community Association.) Penn faculty and students, as well as West Philadelphia community members, have many more opportunities today to help ameliorate their neighborhoods, he added, citing the recent success of tutoring endeavors in the community and the Penn Alexander Elementary School. (Well, we can give them that one, anyway -- ignoring the real reason for Penn's involvement with the school.) According to Grossbach, these outreach programs have been so successful that outside organizations have started to follow Penn's footsteps. For instance, the Teacher's College of Columbia University wants to create a program similar to that of Alexander Elementary School. (Do you think they hired Omar Blaik as a consultant?) I've seen the change, Leslie Rogers, a Penn doctoral candidate, said. As a Penn undergraduate and graduate student, she said, she felt that West Philadelphia community members were very skeptical of her intentions when she went to volunteer and later teach there. Now, Penn faculty and students are more warmly welcomed, she said. Rogers said Penn undergraduates getting involved in West Philadelphia is a key to community-building. Thanks to an array of recently established programs, these students now get to actually problem-solve in the community, she said. (These students are like the bright-eyed busy-tailed types that get hired at UCD. They are enthusiastic and well meaning -- but naive as newborn lambs and haven't a clue about the problems faced by people from a side of the tracks other than where they, themselves, were born and raised.) Still, attendee Glenwood Charles, a Penn graduate who now oversees the Netter Center's tutoring program and reading initiative, argued that there is still more to be done. (Yes, but how can they raise the probability of doing more good than harm? Is there anything in the Penn curriculum that teaches the facts of life? ... no, not those facts; the other facts.) Get more involved, he told students. There are a lot of opportunities. (As above... to do harm unless they somehow are brought to understand the situations in which they are getting involved.) _plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_French_phrases_used_by_English_speakers#P) - Jean-Baptiste Alphonse Karr
[UC-Announce] Open Call for Thriller-ing Dancers! All Are Welcome! Please forward widely!
Announcing... THRILLER-ING IN THE STREETS Open Call for Dancers! ALL ARE WELCOME! Performances on Saturday evening, October 31, 2009, HALLOWEEN Rehearsals To Be Announced Choreographed and Co-Directed by Charles Tyson of Underground Dance Works *Part of A Series of Events Celebrating The Rotunda's 10th Anniversary * Be there for a night of performing a short Thriller-inspired improv dance routine in the streets all to benefit West Philly's premiere community arts venue, The Rotunda. In full costume and zombie make-up! * Four 2-hour rehearsals to be announced * A $20 participation fee includes all four dance classes !* (No one turned away for lack of funds) * Pre-registration is required as space is limited!*Must be 18 or older or accompanied by parent. Dance is for everyone so we especially encourage people of all sizes, shapes, ages, physical abilities and dance levels to join us for a night of terror and fun! If you would like to reserve a space and/or get on the mailing list, please contact: *phillythril...@gmail.com*
[UC] Put some coffee on your wall - Fundraiser
I know this is last minute but if?you're interested, stop by the cafe tonight.?There's some great art on our walls and it's all for sale to?support a good cause and in celebration of Fair Trade month. Thanks! Jim Lilly Owner Metropolitan Bakery Cafe 4013 Walnut Street Philadelphia, PA 19104 215-222-1492 Metropolitan Bakery 8607 Germantown Avenue Philadelphia, PA 19118 215-753-9001 ~ Beans-N-Screens Oct 5 - Oct 31 ~ As part of the Independents Coffee Cooperative, we not only have access to some of the best Fair Trade coffees in the world, we have a direct connection to the farmers who grow the beans. That's why Metropolitan is supporting the Beans-N-Screens art show and sale to benefit?the?Cooperativa San Fernando, a collective of farmers who grow Arabica beans 6,000 ft from sea level in the Andes Mountains. The coffee-themed art (all less than $40) will be on display at Metropolitan's West Philly and Chestnut Hill shops starting October 5. Opening receptions?(with refreshments!) will be held in West Philly on October 8th and in Chestnut Hill on October 15th starting at 5:00pm. All are welcome.? Together, we can keep that great Arabica coffee flowing from Peru... to you! Web-friendly version ~ Send this to a friend ~ Unsubscribe
[UC] Re: [UC-Announce] Open Call for Thriller-ing Dancers! All Are Welcome! Please forward widely!
What a fabulous idea! I hope the street performance comes to fruition. -- Tony West Rashida Holmes wrote: Announcing... THRILLER-ING IN THE STREETS You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the list named UnivCity. To unsubscribe or for archive information, see http://www.purple.com/list.html.
