Art/action: Community Creating Safety and Awareness

People's Emergency Center CDC

Funding Received: 2016
Philadelphia, PA
$100,000
Funding Period: 2 years and 11 months
Design & Architecture | Public Safety | Urban
https://www.facebook.com/lancasteravephilly/
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Community members pose with U.S. Rep Dwight Evans and Community Relations Officer Jesse Woodhouse during Lancaster Avenue Day. The 16th Police District partnered with a number of arts organizations to host a community BBQ during this day-long event.
photo credit: Cass Green
A dancer performs during “Puzzle: People + Police of the 16th”, a performance created by Community Education Center exploring how our community assesses safety, including who feels safe, who doesn’t, and why.
photo credit: Jennifer Turnbull
Graffiti artists from West Philadelphia prtoduced a public safety mural on the side of the New Africa Center, a Muslim-American museum and archive that works to preserve the rich cultural heritage of African-American Muslims. "Keep It Safe @ The Bottom" references The Black Bottom, the unofficial yet widely-embraced name for this part of West Philadelphia.
photo credit: Kevin Musselman
Arts partner Spiral Q and Drexel University partnered with PEC and others on a community discussion called "Bridging the Gap", a conversation addressing issues regarding community / police relations. Participants included Former Philadelphia Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey and Drexel Police Community Relations officers.
photo credit: Latiyanna Tabb
Traction Company and PEC Community Connectors participate in youth portrait drawing classes, a series of workshops focused on the perceived sense of safety for young people in our community. These portrait workshops will culminate in a special gallery exhibition at the 16th Police District during the spring of 2019.
photo credit: Sedakial Gebremedhin

People's Emergency Center CDC and its arts partners are hosting a series of workshops, public performances, and design-build events along the Lancaster Avenue commerical corrdior in an effort to foster dialogue around public safety and cultural identity. Partnering with Philadelphia Police Department's 16th District, this arts-centric approach to community organizing is helping to address issues related to public safety through arts programming and creative placemaking. Goals include improved police/community relations, an increased sense of public safety, and the promotion of an inclusive and accessible community in which all residents can feel safe and can thrive in place.

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See below for recent updates, press, and events from this project

press
Generocity: Young people should be partners in the fight to end youth homelessness in Philly
Jan 4, 2018
As 2018 begins, Philly continues the fight to end homelessness for teens and young adults through collaboration and advocacy. Read More