Holding Space and Making Place: Creating Community in West Philadelphia Schools

Catalog description

In this ABCS course, students will work with faculty and OurSpace, a student organization affiliated with the Netter Center, to create curriculum and programming for Gender & Sexuality Alliances (GSAs) in University Assisted Community Schools (UACS) in West Philadelphia. The objective of the programming is to foster consistent and accessible spaces for youth to express themselves, engage with other students, learn, and thrive. For Penn students, this course offers an opportunity to genuinely engage with youth in the West Philadelphia community; engagement in the context of this course is informed by social justice and restorative justice values, which prioritize bidirectional relationships, accountability, agency, and inclusivity. Previous experience with GSWS courses is helpful, but not necessary.