We are offering two different day-long workshops this fall in South Philly, each dealing with social justice and internalized oppression. Pre-register to come to one or both. Descriptions and tuition information below.
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Saturday Oct. 10, 2015 • 10AM-5PM THE COP IN THE HEAD A one-day workshop led by Morgan Andrews at the Whole Shebang 1813 S. 11th Street Tuition: $25-75, sliding scale Click here to pre-register
When we fight for social justice, the first obstacle might be the police—the cop in the street, armed with weapons and the authority of the state. But what stands in our way in instances of personal justice? When we want to do what’s right but don’t act upon those desires, the only cops that thwart us are the ones in our own heads. Starting with group games and theatrical exercises, this workshop physically disarms our mental cops in order to put principles of personal and social justice into action.
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Saturday Nov. 14 • 10AM-5PM THE RAINBOW OF DESIRE A one-day workshop led by Morgan Andrews
Images, sounds, movement and words are the building blocks for this workshop about creating the world as we want it, with better schools, healthier workplaces, stronger relationships and whatever else we need. But when desires conflict, these goals don’t come easy and might even get muddled. This session builds from group games to theatrical simulations that put our desires in the spotlight where we can see their true colors. Then we’ll figure out whether each one is helpful, harmful, or a little of both.
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MORE INFO:
The Whole Shebang is located at 11th and Moore Streets. Enter through the parking lot.
Each workshop includes a one-hour lunch break plus additional shorter breaks.
Space is limited—pre-register early to reserve your spot.
Tuition for each workshop is sliding scale, $25-$75 (you decide).
Saturday, September 19th • 4-8PM
Mifflin Square Park • 6th & Wolf Streets
Food • Music • Art • Workshops
Open and Free for All!
The Mifflin Square Alliance Festival is a community celebration created by a growing coalition of South Philly residents. A culmination of this summer's Playgrounds for Useful Knowledge project, the festival unites neighborhood visions for a more sustainable Philadelphia with popular education, arts and culture. From late afternoon to early evening this Saturday, the Mifflin Square Park will feature five areas:
The PowerHouse Stage with music, dance and storytelling from neighborhood residents.
Exhibitions by local artists and organizations.
Useful Knowledge Workshops by individuals and organizations in South Philadelphia.
Kids Union features artistic and fun activities for young people.
Picnic Space where you can bring food to enjoy together. There will also be some food for sale and free samples from South Philly eateries..
T.O. Philly is helping to MC this event. Below is a full schedule of all the events. and right here is a video of the process that went into creating the festival, including a Forum Theatre piece created by T.O. Philly:
Times and presenters are subject to change—see the event's Facebook page for the latest info.
—————————————————— POWERHOUSE STAGE 4-8PM
4–4:30 DJ Rich Wexler spins
4:30–5 Award ceremony of South Philly Food Contest
5–5:30 Karen traditional dance troupe
5:30–6 Cambodian Psychedelic: trans-cultural rock band and Independent Rock Music School
6–6:30 Cambodian dance troupe
6:30–6:40 Young Chances Foundation: youth hip-hop
6:40–7:10 The Potential of South Philly’s Vacant Lots: a public discussion with East Passyunk Cross Civic Association, Lower Moyamensing Civic Association, 7th Street Civic Association and Liz Hersh (moderated by Miguel Robles-Durán)
7:10–7:30 Closing ceremony with Philadelphia Theatre of the Oppressed
7:30–8 DJ Rich Wexler spins
—————————————————— EXHIBITIONS 4-7PM
El Viaje de los Niños (The Children’s Journey) is an exhibition that tells the stories of Mexican immigrant children who have crossed the border to come to Philadelphia. Project by Puentes de Salud.
I Am Khmer, an exhibition that explores memory and identity in Cambodian American communities across the country. The project reconstructs family histories through civil war, genocide, and refugee resettlement. Project by Pete Pin in collaboration with the Cambodian Association of Greater Philadelphia. On view at Preah Buddha Rangsey Temple (corner of 6th and Ritner). Guided tours on the hour at the Temple.
Taggart Elementary Schoolyard Project: The Trust for Public Land and design consultant TEND Landscape, present a proposed schoolyard at John H. Taggart Elementary.
1. How to Create a Community Land Trust with Gabriela Rendon from Cohabitation Strategies
2. Yoga class with Adina Lieberman from Puentes de Salud
3. Keep the Neighborhood Clean with Trash Academy
5:30–6PM
4. Map Your Vision for an Ideal Neighborhood School, an interactive workshop with Southeast Philadelphia Collaborative
5. The Joy of Learning at El Futuro, a program with Gosia Sanchez from Mighty Writers
6. Growing Resilient Families: children's mental health services, becoming a foster family, and support for parents with Bethanna Community Umbrella Agency
6–6:30PM
7. Building Stronger Communities in Southeast Philadelphia with SEAMAAC
8. Bugs! Bugs! Bugs! Ideas for (prize)fighting, purging and preventing bedbugs, head lice and cockroaches with Lisa Grainge from Snyder Avenue Congregational Church
9. Mifflin Square Park: Past & Present with Friends of Mifflin Square Park
6:30–7PM
10. Language Lab: make a postcard and learn a word in another language, an art workshop with Shira Walinsky from Southeast by Southeast
11. Weatherizing for Winter: learn how to install materials to keep your house warm this winter with United Communities Southeast Philadelphia
12. Eligibility & Services with Kamal Adhikari from PA Migrant Education
—————————————————— KIDS’ UNION 4–7 p.m.
Join diverse activities at the Kids’ Union play area and soccer field
Obstacle courses, soccer goals, balls, hula hoops, drawings with sidewalk chalk by Friends of Mifflin Square
Video workshop with Messages in Motion by Laura Deutch
Face painting with Bethanna Community Umbrella Agency
Color Wheels by Fleisher Art Memorial
Soccer tournament with Snyder Avenue Congregational Church
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Playgrounds for Useful Knowledge is a project of Philadelphia's Mural Arts Program. For more info, email playgrounds@muralarts.org or call 215-685-0752
This year Philadelphia Theatre of the Oppressed has teamed up with neighbors in South Philly as part of two new projects: Playgrounds for Useful Knowledge at 6th and Jackson Streets, and the Whole Shebang at 11th and Moore. Both spaces have been fertile grounds for gathering people and ideas to foster new collaborations for years to come. As summer ends we offer a free workshop at the Playgrounds Hub and take part in an event in Mifflin Square before moving indoors to the Whole Shebang for the fall.
Sunday Sept. 13 • 2PM-4PM Intro to Theatre of the Oppressed a free two-hour workshop at Playgrounds for Useful Knowledge 632 Jackson Street (outdoors!) Theatre of the Oppressed ("T.O." for short) began in South America during the 1960s and has since spread to 70 countries where it's used by educators and activists to create community-driven social change. T.O. can take the form of theatrical games, human sculptures, improvisational dramas or even fully-staged plays that the audience has the power to affect. In this 2-hour workshop, we will play some of T.O.'s best games and explore how they relate to the world around us and changes we want to make in that world. Free and open to all, no experience needed.
Please RSVP via "tophilly@gmail.com" or 267-282-1057.Playgrounds for Useful Knowledge is an outdoor space. In case of rain, this workshop will be postponed to a later date, TBD.
Saturday Sep. 19 • 4PM-8PM
Mifflin Square Alliance Festival
a free eventfor all ages at Mifflin Square Park
on 6th St. between and Wolf and Ritner
T.O. Philly teams up with South Philly residents for a community-run celebration in Mifflin Square. Co-organized by the Playgrounds for Useful Knowledge committee, this outdoor festival is inspired by a growing alliance of the neighborhood’s diverse cultures.
PowerHouse Stage with music, dance and storytelling from neighborhood residents.
Useful Knowledge Workshops by individuals and organizations in South Philadelphia.
Kids Union features artistic and fun activities for young people.
South Philly Food Contest celebrates local cuisine in a juried contest.
Picnic Space where you can bring food to enjoy together.
Rain date: September 20, 4–8 p.m. For information, email playgrounds@muralarts.org or call 215-685-0752.
Saturday Oct. 10: The Cop in the Head
Saturday Nov. 14: The Rainbow of Desire Two separate day-long workshops • 10AM-5PM at the Whole Shebang • 1813 S. 11th Street Click here to pre-register
In these two workshops led by Morgan Andrews, we will deconstruct our daily actions into their base components: images, movements, sounds, words and ideas. These building blocks form the structure of the Cop in the Head/Rainbow of Desire techniques aimed at challenging internalized oppression. These techniques physicalize our inhibitions and desires by putting them "on stage" where we can deal them in the flesh. In each session the group will share, embody and unpack real-life situations while asking important questions about the shared goals of personal growth and social change.
TO PRE-REGISTER, send an email to "tophilly@gmail.com" or call 267-282-1057. Tuition is sliding scale, $25-$75 per session. Click here to pay online. Worktrade is available.
Got a question? Email "tophilly@gmail.com" or leave a message at 267-282-1057.
Saturday Nov. 14 • 10AM-5PM
