Democracy in the Making – Feb 27

Posted by The Netter Center on January 28, 2025

Please join us at this event which has been inspired by Andrew Zitcer’s co-edited volume, Democracy as Creative Practice: Weaving a Culture of Civic Life. We plan to follow the formal speaking portion with breakout groups led by Philly based culture makers and end with an informal discussion on next steps for organizing and collaboration.

Introduction: Ira Harkavy, PhD, founder and Barbara and Edward Netter Director of the Netter Center for Community Partnerships, University of Pennsylvania

Keynote: Tom Finkelpearl, former Commissioner of Cultural Affairs for New York City, former director of the Queens Museum, and author of What We Made: Conversations on Art and Social Cooperation (2013)

Panelists:

• Jason Schupbach, Dean of the Westphal College of Media Arts & Design at Drexel University, and former Director of Design for the National Endowment of the Arts
• Michael O’Bryan, founder and CEO of humanature, and co-author of “Connected Community: A Trauma Informed Community Engagement Toolkit”
• Maori Holmes, Chief Executive & Artistic Officer of BlackStar Projects
• Ayesha Williams, Executive Director of The Laundromat Project

Moderator: Andrew Zitcer, Director of the Urban Strategy graduate program and associate professor of Arts Administration at Drexel University

Date and Time: February 27, 2025, 5:00-7:00 PM

Location: Public Trust, 4017 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA