By Ari S. Merretazon, M.S.CED

Since being hired in May 2006 as the ninth president of Temple University, Ann Weaver Hart, the first female president in the University’s 123 year history has initiated the devolution of its flagship community education program, the Pan-African Studies Community Education Program (PASCEP), a world class model of community education over the last 33 years, under a national eminent domain education movement, some call Community-based Learning.

Community-based Learning is a community engagement model presented as a national education movement in which universities expand their campuses into low and moderate income communities. This movement is presented as a collaborative approach to upgrading community infrastructure, businesses, housing conditions and community collaboration.

Within this model Temple is able to leverage massive amounts of development dollars based on research and socio-economic and housing data collected by professionals, most of whom are white and don’t live in North Philadelphia. This is how Temple has entered the Community-based Learning movement, much like other urban-based universities.

Granted, the concept of this movement is marketable in terms of expanding entrepreneurship, new capital improvements, and strengthening ties to its surrounding neighborhoods. Its process of implementation, however, is likened to an apartheid state or plantation administration.

Here is how it operates within well used principles of apartheid and plantation rule. A new president/administration comes in with a deceptive public relationship strategy of community engagement, collaboration, and promises of community inclusion. The vision of development is done with a standard community impact assessment; department heads are treated as 3/5ths of a human with no rights the administration is bound to respect; successful community education programs are dismantled or downsized beyond recognition under memoranda and news releases from the office of the president indicating a grand university/community vision such as “Broad Street and Beyond.”

The clearest case of this approach is the relocation/downsizing of the Temple University Pan-African Studies Community Education Program (PASCEP). This started only months after Temple’s first women president took office. She, without involving any of the current PASCEP staff in any collaborative discussion and decision-making, decided to relocate PASCEP off the main campus into a much smaller and unaccommodating facility with the distracting name of Community “Entertainment” Center. This suggests that Temple has no intention to continue PASCEP as a quality community education program.

With this apartheid and plantation handling of the director and program, the faculty, alumni association, and supporters are seeking to meet with Pres. Weaver Hart to discuss the negative impact of the relocation and downsizing with goal of keeping PASCEP on campus in Anderson Hall.

Pres. Weaver Hart has yet to give basic recognition, respect to the highly successful program or to its director. She has not responded directly to his letters and information packet about PASCEP which provided her with milestones achieved by PASCEP at its current capacity. To date supporters have received the same boiler-plate form letter response to each of their distinctly different letters of support for the program.

If the relocation proceeds in this apartheid/plantation process, the following successful programs will be terminated: The East Coast Black Age of Comics Convention. This is Philadelphia’s premiere comic book and literacy initiative; The PASCEP Black Male Development Symposium Rites of Passage Program; The PASCEP Prison Outreach; The PASCEP Community Consortiums; and the PASCEP Vendors Association. All of these vital community engagement programs with great exponential positive impact will leave Temple because of the apartheid and plantation incursion of Pres. Weaver Hart.
A vetting of Pres. Weaver Hart reveals, among other things, that she previously served as president of the University of New Hampshire and provost and vice president for Academic Affairs at Claremont Graduate University, neither similar to the Pan-African community in which Temple sets. Her prior education at every higher education level has been from the University of Utah, not nearly the multicultural environment of Temple.
Well, which way forward from here? Do the North Philadelphia community leaders know that PASCEP will never be the same if relocated? Will Pres. Weaver Hart open talks with the PASCEP director and the PASCEP faculty? When will the appropriate City Council and State Representatives intervene in this local disruption of a successful education program with a grand legacy of community-based learning and engagement for more than 33 years?
PASCEP is at a critical junction. The date set for this unjustified relocation has been set, un-officially, for fall 2008. Why must one successful community-based learning program be displaced by any new ones without a collaborative community process?
To collaborate in theory and practice is when at least two entities with similar interests come together to do something neither could do alone. As a faculty member of PASCEP, I know firsthand that Pres. Weaver Hart has not met with the director of PASCEP as a collaborative partner. If PASCEP’s director had been included in the decision-making process, perhaps there would have been a relatively seamless transition and supporters of PASCEP would not have to write such commentary and continue to oppose such apartheid/plantation approach to community-based learning.
ASM - April 29, 2008

DON’T MOVE PASCEP

Temple University has initiated the dismantling of the prestigious community education program, the Pan-African Studies Community Education Program (PASCEP), a world class model of multi cultural community education for the past 33 years.

Temple’s administration without involving the director or staff of PASCEP in any collaborative discussion, decided to relocate PASCEP off the main campus. With this move, several of PASCEP’s community outreach initiatives will be terminated and many of its classes will be eliminated.

Some of the PASCEP initiatives slated for EXTINCTION:

• The East Coast Black Age of Comics Convention (ECBACC),
which is Philadelphia’s premiere comic book and literacy initiative.

• The PASCEP/BMDS Rites-of-Passage Programs.

• The PASCEP Prison Outreach will be reduced by 75%.

• The PASCEP Community Consortiums.

• The PASCEP Vendors Association.

With an average population of over 1100 students per semester, 85 classes running four nights per week, all run by volunteers, PASCEP qualifies as the 5th largest “school” under the Temple University banner. Yet they fail to respect the citizens of Philadelphia, who are its students and faculty, essentially …

PASCEP is under SEIGE!!

If you want to learn more or interested in volunteering to stop this madness,

Please e-mail us at: friendsofpascep@yahoo.com
or learn more at our blog at http://360.yahoo.com/friendsofpascep

APARTHEID MISTRUST BETRAYAL

Above is a shot of several of the volunteers hard at work at a POP planting at 8/Poplar on the 19th. It was a gorgeous day and a ton of volunteers showed up from POP, Teens 4 Good and Greater Philadelphia Federation of Settlements. Young and old alike picked up wheel barrows, shovels, rakes and loads of dirt to plant a multitude of trees, berries and vines. I had my cousin in town for a last minute visit so I couldn't stick around for too long, but I was there for an hour documenting part of the process of planting a small orchard.

Learn more about the project here. You can donate, via PayPal or check, via the website as well. It's a very cool project and I was there for the initial meeting. My job at PhillyCarShare didn't allow me to do much last year, but now that I'm free of that place, I can take photos and get my hands into the dirt with the rest of the gang.

A flickr set up starting here of the afternoon's planting.

what hillary has to hide.... why isnt anyone talking about this???? why isnt the media talking about this????
WHY WONT SHE SHOW HER TAX RECORDS?
WHAY WONT SHE UNSEAL HER RECORDS AT ALL?

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7007109937779036019

Judge delays setting trial in Clinton fraud case
But accuser begins seeking sworn testimony from high-profile witnesses
Posted: February 22, 2008 1:00 am Eastern
© 2008 WorldNetDaily
A judge in Los Angeles yesterday allowed Hollywood mogul Peter F. Paul to begin taking sworn testimony in his $17 million fraud suit against former President Bill Clinton, but a technicality delayed establishment of a trial date.
California Superior Court Judge Aurelio N. Munoz ruled Paul's legal team can begin seeking depositions from a host of big names – including Bill, Hillary and Chelsea Clinton – that allegedly were witnesses to an effort by the Clintons and top Democratic leaders to extract millions of dollars from Paul in illegal donations and then cover it up.
Munoz is expected to set the trial date at an April 25 hearing. He said yesterday in court he could not set the date, because defendant Jim Levin, an aide to President Clinton, must be served notice again. Levin did not respond to the original complaint, and Paul's legal counsel at the time – the Washington watchdog Judicial Watch – did not file a notice of default to verify that fact before filing an amended complaint.
The complaint says Bill Clinton promised to promote Paul's Internet entertainment company, Stan Lee Media, in exchange for stock, cash options and massive contributions to his wife's 2000 Senate campaign. Paul contends he was directed by the Clintons and Democratic Party leaders to produce, pay for and then join them in lying about footing the bill for an August 2000 Hollywood gala and fundraiser.

(Excerpt) Read more at worldnetdaily.com ...
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1974419/posts

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If you are a Philadelphia resident who is unemployed, employed part-time, or under-employed, JEVS/Orleans Technical Institute has a FREE Job Placement Program available throughout January to May.

Applicants must be Philadelphia residents 18 years of age or older who are seeking full-time employment. The program will do a complete assessment of skills and work history to help determine a job that will be a good match. Participants must also meet the low-income government guidelines but not receiving cash assistance from welfare.

All participants will attend an intensive two-day job readiness program where they will learn to set up an email account for jobs and practice interviewing skills. The staff will prepare an effective resume and cover letter. They will also learn how to do a thorough Internet job search to help assist in their employment goals. Successful participants who find employment will be eligible to receive a gift card for $50.00 after their first month of employment.

The program is located at 1330 Rhawn Street in Northeast Philadelphia, accessible to public transportation from anywhere within the city. If you would like to join this excellent source of job searching support, please call Stephanie Scotton at at 215-728-4709 for more information.###

I tagged along with Peggy Banaszek on Monday on a trip to Benjamin Franklin High School to deliver about 250 books for her 10,000 Pages Book Drive (more books are ready for another drop off at another school soon). I briefly wrote about the initial getting the word out event at Rittenhouse Square last month. I met Peggy, Florence and a bunch of students to unload the boxes of books up at Broad & Spring Garden Sts.

Peggy took a PhillyCarShare Honda Fit and it was packed to the brim with books. I could only stick my head in for a photo of the unloading after half of the books were already taken out.

Last summer I [Mike Dorn] had the pleasure of working with a group of Philadelphia high school students calling themselves Project Beta. They were participating in an afterschool enrichment program calls bITS, funded by the National Science Foundation and hosted by Temple University's Information Technology and Society Research Group. While exploring high end Web 2.0 applications, students were challenged to derive insights from the fields of science, technology and mathematics to solve problems that were familiar to them in their everyday lives. Carol Marfisi and I provided the topical introduction to the themes that students would be exploring during the week-long model, "Towards Enabling Spaces?" Project Beta's explorations of the Temple University campus from the perspective of a person using a wheelchair produced the hilarious film entitled "Access of Admissions," since posted to YouTube and Temple University's site on CampusVid.

I am so impressed by the work of Geography and Urban Studies graduate student Langston Clement and the entire Project Beta team.

Philadelphia HUNE, Inc., (Hispanos Unidos para Ninos Excepcionales) a non profit organization and although we have been around for 9 years alot of people are not aware of our services that are provided for free. We offer assitance to parents of children with disabilities. We have workshops that parents can attend (you have to register) to obtain information that will help them become more pro active in their childs education. We also provide general education information. We want to announce our new Helpine 215-425-5112. We offer services in both english and spanish. As a parent of child with disabilities I know how hard and fustrating it is not knowimg what to do when your child is being deprived of an education the he or she is intitled to umong other things.
Our office is located at 202 West Cecil B Moore Avenue Philadelphia PA 19122. If you have any questions or comments please feel free to contact me M-F between the hours 9am to 4pm at 215-425-6203. Thank you so much for your time. Have a wonderful day.

Sincerely,
Armindelis Toledo

"Dropout and Graduation rates are highly correlated with a high school’s poverty level. 29,000 students attend 24 high schools in Philadelphia in which 75% OR MORE of students are eligible for free lunch or reduced price lunch. These high schools have an annual dropout rate of 25%* (formal dropouts and near-dropouts combined)" says New STUDY

I was walking back from the Fairmount farmers' market and saw the flag at half mast over by the 21st & Hamilton Sts police station. A 25-year veteran of the force, Officer Charles Cassidy died this morning.

The Mayor is holding an interdenominational prayer service in the Mayor's Reception Room at 10a tomorrow. There will be a "unity and peace" rally against violence at Love Park at Noon.

Random notes and impressions on the 2007 ACORN Presidential Candidates Forum featuring Hilary Clinton, Dennis Kucinich and John Edwards

It all began (as Marisa noted) with a medley of mantras in organic surround sound. It all began in a church that's seen notable leaders, from Martin Luther King, Jr. to former Senior Pastor William Gray, pounding the pulpit many times before.

*
1:00 p.m. - ACORN volunteers poured in on the fringes of Bright Hope Baptist Church repeating various social justice chants in succession. It was a thematic element of the day's events, echoed by at least one candidate during his address to those in attendance. (At one point, low-toned voices in the press section could be heard making up their own chants as the crowd waited for Bright Hope Senior Pastor Kevin Johnson's belated arrival to the podium for an opening prayer. Instead of "No justice, no peace," there was a slightly mischievous, under-the-breath round of "No pastor, no prayer.")

For most of the next two hours, several speakers took the podium, starting with Democratic mayoral candidate Michael Nutter and U.S. Congressman Chaka Fattah. The crowd of hundreds was then regaled with first-person stories from folks who'd seen the underbelly of American society, folks who wanted to impress upon the gathered throng the worthiness of ACORN's mission.

For more comprehensive thoughts on each of the candidate's addresses, one might try John Morgan's rundown at Pennsylvania Progressive. Booman offered some thoughts, and ACORN had their own running tally of sorts.

But here are my impressions of the candidates, in order of their appearances:

Monday July 2nd, 2007, Philadelphia will host ACORN's Presidential Candidate Forum at the Bright Hope Baptist Church at 12th St and Cecil B Moore Ave up by Temple. The event is open to the public and there is a suggested donation of $10 - call 215.765.0042 for tickets.

Scheduled to be present at the event are the following Democratic Presidential hopefuls:

• Senator Hillary Clinton (D-NY)
• Former Senator and VP candidate John Edwards (D-NC)
• US House Representative Dennis Kucinich (D-OH)

Covering the event will be some of the Philadelphia area's finest bloggers from:

• A Smoke Filled Room
• Above Average Jane
• Booman Tribune
• Eschaton
• Future Majority
• Max Speak
• My Direct Democracy
• Philadelphia Metroblogs
• Philly for Change
• Philly Future
• The Pennsylvania Progressive
• Tomorrow's Media Conspiracy Today
• Young Philly Politics

Schedule for the day here and an explanation as to what the forum hopes to address here. Hopefully they'll have internet access within the church. I'll definitely be taking photos and notes throughout the day. For those who cannot make it out, you can watch the webcast starting at 1p here.

Girls Rock Philly (GRP), a non-profit organization presenting Philadelphia’s only rock camp for girls, is now accepting camper applications for the inaugural summer camp session, August 6 – 11, 2007. The week-long summer day camp for girls ages 10 to 18 will be held on the campus of Girard College in Philadelphia. For more information and to submit an application, please visit www.girlsrockphilly.org or call (215) 525-9927.

GRP provides girls with the desire to rock out with opportunities to learn guitar, bass, keyboards, drums, DJ’ing and vocals. No musical experience is necessary and all equipment and instruments will be provided. Campers will form bands and write their own songs over the course of a week, allowing the aspiring young musicians a space in which to figure out what and how they want to play, while working in a team setting.