Hello Neighbors, Friends and Community Partners,
 
As I write this message I am filled with the pain, sadness, frustration and anger that many are feeling in neighborhoods all across this country. The killing of yet another Black person at the hands of a police officer, this time George Floyd, reminds us of the purposeful imbalance and racial injustice that continues to fuel this country. It remains unacceptable that we are asked to move forward knowing this but changing nothing. In these moments it is important that we collectively call out inequities and discrimination, enact meaningful changes that positively impact those who have been disenfranchised, and create pathways for building trust between institutions and communities. We believe the Dornsife Center for Neighborhood Partnership can be a place for these goals.
 
I am also reminded that this month marks the 6th anniversary of the Dornsife Center. It is important that we reflect upon the “why” we are here and not “that” we are here. We are here because we believe that, as a university, we can partner our skills and resources with those of our neighboring communities to bring about change, to create opportunities, and to promote civic action. We are here because we believe that our students should apply what they are learning, and that our faculty and staff should act civically in order to move humanity forward to a more just reality. We always hope for the Dornsife Center to be a place of conversation and community, but we know it should be more than that. So we also push for it to be a place of action.
 
We hope these monthly newsletters highlighting the various services, programs, and opportunities we offer speak to that action, and we are always open to hearing how we can have a more positive impact. As you search through this June newsletter to find what best fits you and your family, please also take time to write us a note with other ideas or reflection. We believe that with your partnership we can be a part of the solution. Thank you for continuing to welcome us.
 
From neighbor to neighbor,
 
John Kirby
Executive Director
Dornsife Center for Neighborhood Partnership
Drexel University

Join the Dornsife Center's virtual office on Zoom where you can talk with a Dornsife Center representative live! ** New hours** 11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. Call in with your phone or connect on the internet with your computer to ask questions, find out more about our online programs, or get information about resources available in the community.

Join the Dornsife Center Zoom Room
https://drexel.zoom.us/j/475921923 
By phone + 1 646.518.9805
Meeting ID: 475921923 #  

BEACHELL FAMILY LEARNING CENTER (BFLC)

The Beachell Family Learning Center wants to be an online resource for community members during this challenging time.

Every Monday and Wednesday from 12:00 to 2:00 p.m., BFLC hosts a video and audio “Zoom room” where you can join via phone or computer. You can ask questions and get digital support in the areas of adult education, searching for employment or filing for unemployment benefits.

They will also be available to answer questions, provide technical support, and share resources.

Join the BFLC Zoom Room
https://drexel.zoom.us/j/433785316
By phone + 1 470.381.2552
Meeting ID: 433 785 316 #

Career Services with Drexel HR: Looking for a job? Need a resume review? Need help prepping for an interview? Meet with Drexel professional staff and volunteers for help with resume writing, job search assistance, and interview prep. Send over questions including:

• What brought you to Career Services at Dornsife?
• What would you like to improve about your resume?
• What type of jobs will you be applying too?
• What are your top skills?

HELMS ACADEMY

Goodwill Industries in partnership with Community College of Philadelphia provides a zero-cost community-based educational opportunity for adults over 18 to attain their high school equivalency credentials and up to 30 college credits, right at the Dornsife Center. Meeting students where they are, dedicated staff members provide the extensive support services needed to help participants complete the program and create their own strategy for personal success.

• Interested in preparing for the GED or HiSET test? Helms Academy is enrolling new students now! Fill out the interest form and a staff member will contact you to get started. At this time, you must have a computer and internet access at home to participate.
• Check out their new YouTube virtual workshops!
• Join them every Tuesday at 12:00 noon for Zoom Writing Club and every Thursday at 12:00 noon for Zoom Math Roundtable! You'll be able to participate in this live event, just like the workshops in the lab. Email aballard@goodwillnj.org to get the password to enter.  
• Have you been working on math? You can get a 90-day free trial of the TI-30XS calculator online so you can practice at home! Want to learn more about how to use the TI-30XS calculator? Take a look at these calculator tutorial videos.

Urban League of Philadelphia – Housing Counseling Services

If you are in the homebuying process, the ULP can help with a $1,000 grant. New to homebuying? Please call 215.985.3220 ext. 201 or email housing@urbanleaguephila.org to attend the next online housing workshop and schedule an individual counseling appointment over the phone.  During these difficult times, ULP offers $200 grants for households who qualify for financial assistance as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.  

BUSINESS IDEA GROUP (BIG)

COMMUNITY WELLNESS HUB

The Community Wellness HUB is a place-based, community-driven, health promotion partnership between Drexel University and the residents of Mantua and Powelton Village. The HUB seeks to HEAL the community through preventative care, UNITE the community around better health, and BRIDGE the community to health services and health education programming, while tackling the social determinants that underlie their health disparities.

During this COVID pandemic we are still deeply committed to the safety and health of our Community Wellness HUB members and the Promise Zone community. In these difficult times of social distancing due to  COVID-19, our on-site health and wellness services at the Community Wellness HUB continue to be temporarily suspended. However, we have established online programming to continue to provide services and would love for you to JOIN US!
 
COVID-19 AND YOU
It’s difficult to know what exactly to do to protect you and your family during a pandemic. Here are some recommendations from the CDC on how to stay precautious, be safe, and cope with your stress. Please press Ctrl+ right click to follow the links to get more information.
 
What YOU can do:

• Follow CDC’s Guidance for seeking medical care if you think you have been exposed to COVID-19 and develop a fever, cough or difficulty breathing. Follow steps to prevent the spread of COVID-19 if you are sick.
• If you or someone you care for is at higher risk of getting very sick from COVID-19, take steps to protect them and you from getting sick.
• Take precautions to protect yourself, your community, and others.
• Cope with stress to make yourself, the people you care about, and your community stronger.
• Find ways to connect with your friends and family members and engage with your community while limiting face-to-face contact with others.

NUTRITION & COOKING WITH DREXEL'S EAT RIGHT PHILLY

It’s June! Do you know what that means? It’s strawberry season!
 
Did you know that the average American consumes about eight pounds of strawberries per year? This month, Eat Right Philly is encouraging you to try strawberries. Strawberries make the perfect snack or dessert to satisfy our sweet tooth! Eight medium strawberries contain only about 50 calories! It is a low calorie food that is rich in Vitamin C, fiber, and potassium. Vitamin C helps the immune system fight off infections and other threats and also helps with skin repair. Strawberries also contain an antioxidant called anthocyanin, which contributes to its bright red color. 
 
Strawberries can be added to salads, eaten alone as a healthy snack, or made into smoothies. When they are not in season, frozen strawberries can be used instead of fresh. Click on our short video to learn how to make a nutritious  “ice-cream” with strawberries!
https://1513041.mediaspace.kaltura.com/media/Strawberry+Banana+Ice+Cream+Recipe/1_6wgubm7t
 
Check out our fact sheet on strawberries here: https://idph.iowa.gov/Portals/1/Files/INN/Strawberry.pdf
 
Our friends at The Food Trust encourage you to attend one of their weekly farmers markets. Remember, For every $2 you spend at Philadelphia farmers markets using your EBT card, you'll get $2 in Food Bucks to use on more fruits and veggies. You can find more information about the Food Bucks Network at thefoodtrust.org/foodbucks. For information on when and where farmers markets are held, and precautions to take during COVID-19, click here: http://thefoodtrust.org/farmers-markets.

Please follow EAT RIGHT PHILLY @NutrEd4Philly on Instagram and Twitter. We post daily tips and activities for our followers. The EAT RIGHT PHILLY team also invites you to the #MyHealthyChoice Promotion!  During this time at home, we invite you to join us in making healthy choices that over time, can lead to a healthier life.  Share what you are doing on Instagram or Twitter using the hash tag #MyHealthyChoice and tag @NutrEd4Philly . Help us encourage others to make healthy choices!

QIGONG

What IS Qigong? – Qigong can harmonize, strengthen, and have a healing effect on the body, both inside and out. It increases energy, is believed to increase longevity, and causes mental and emotional calm. 

Join us every Tuesday at 6pm as we practice QIGONG with the QIGONG Master Ken Kramer

Please use the link below to register for classes, invite a friend and join us in relaxing your mind, body, and soul.
https://drexel.zoom.us/meeting/register/vJIqcOiorzso99nMrGXnz7dWVK8gLoGthw

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Dornsife Center Community Garden

These beautiful spring days are helping the Dornsife Center Garden grow and grow! The Trellis 4 Tomorrow team harvested some of the garden’s spring vegetables, most of which still needs some time before it is ready to be harvested. This initial harvest of more than 60 pounds of produce made its way into the community very quickly. Trellis 4 Tomorrow also interplanted the new summer crops (tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, etc.) and cleared a few beds in order to make space for future planting. A full harvest day will happen soon - stay tuned for more on that and for details of where future harvests will be distributed. Check out a short video to learn how this garden grows and why it is so important here. You can also learn more about Trellis 4 Tomorrow’s Food for All program here: trellis4tomorrow.org/food-for-all/.

WRITERS ROOM

Writers Room at the Dornsife Center is a place for reading, writing, thinking, and being. Here, members of the Mantua, Powelton Village, and Drexel communities are creating a shared story. 

While we’ll miss holding our reading + release party at the Drexel University Dornsife Center for Neighborhood Partnerships this year, we’ll still come together and share work from this past season at WR. Please join us Tuesday, June 2 for a virtual celebration of ANTHOLOGY, our annual collection of work. Livestream starts at 5:45 PM. Reading starts at 6:00 PM. Check back for the link on our Website: https://www.writersroomdrexel.org/anthology-6

Follow us on social media for updates at Instagram: @writersroomdrexel, Facebook: Writers Room Drexel, and Twitter: @WritersRoomDU.

ANDY AND GWEN STERN COMMUNITY LAWYERING CLINIC (CLC)

FAB YOUTH PHILLY