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Indy apparel marketplace Colabination launches from Quorum
Scott Latham, Colabination
Tuesday, July 26, 2016
As a young fashion designer out of
Penn State
, Scott Latham learned how hard it is to reach the marketplace. Now he is founder and CEO of
, a site he describes as an
for independent streetwear apparel brands.
Latham launched the company less than a year ago, and found a welcoming home at the
University City Science Center's Quorum
. Today, Colabination employs 16, offers more than 200 hard-to-find streetwear labels from around the world, and recently moved into its own space in Fishtown.
The enterprise boasts a three-member fashion buying team -- they scour the globe looking for cool independent brands that represent quality and value (most items are under $100), and have "a great story to tell," which often means a socially or environmentally conscious mission, a unique aesthetic or intriguing origin tale.
The site charges a 30 percent commission for every sale in exchange for its web-optimized sales platform and sophisticated marketing. The brands do their own order fulfillment.
Latham is effusive in his praise for the help he got at Quorum. Free workspace alone was huge for the startup, and they benefited mightily from the camaraderie and networking opportunities. He recruited his chief technology officer at Quorum. Upstairs neighbors Nick Siciliano and Ben Pascal, founders of
Invisible Sentinel
, became trusted mentors. And he still can't get over the day last fall when Science Center President Steve Tang introduced him to "Jim," who turned out to be then Mayor-Elect Jim Kenney.
"Quorum was a huge stepping stone for us," he enthuses.
For now, Colabination is focused on streetwear for millennials, but Latham hopes to expand to a broader selection of men's and women's apparel. The company is testing its XCollection, now in beta, which allows customers to shop their personally curated brands with an algorithm that reacts to their preferences.
The goal is to be "a destination to discover new brands for all types of products and shop them on demand," he concludes. "A modern day mall."
WRITER IN RESIDENCE is a partnership between the University City Science Center and Flying Kite Media that embeds a reporter on-site at 3711 Market Street. The resulting coverage will provide an inside look at the most intriguing companies, discoveries and technological innovations coming out of this essential Philadelphia institution.
This September, the Philadelphia Fringe Festival celebrates 20 years
Nick Stuccio and Jarrod Markman, FringeArts
Tuesday, July 26, 2016
After three years in its new headquarters at the foot of the Ben Franklin Bridge, the Philadelphia Fringe Festival -- presented by
-- is celebrating its 20th anniversary. The 15-day extravaganza, which will feature 178 shows all over the city (a handful curated by FringeArts and the rest mounted independently), is running September 9 through 24.
On July 19, FringeArts gathered media and presenters for a look at this year's curated lineup of shows from homegrown and international artists. President and producing director Nick Stuccio, who assembles the slate along with FringeArts programming director Sarah Bishop-Stone, touched on some notable returning artists along with those new to the festival.
Fringe audiences of two years ago might remember the inaugural production of
The Sincerity Project
, an ambitious theatrical happening from Philly's Team Sunshine Performance Corporation, with plans to span 24 years. Every two years, the same seven-person ensemble will converge for a performance mixing theater, music, ritual and dance "to reveal stories from the performers' respective pasts, to display their bodies in the now, and to reveal their evolving desires and aspirations for the future."
Italian director Romeo Castellucci is also returning (after past festival hits
The Four Seasons Restaurant
On the Concept of the Face, Regarding the Son of God
) with
Julius Caesar. Spared Parts
A man with no vocal cords performs Mark Anthony's funeral oration while another holds forth with an endoscope displaying his vocal cords in real time.
Other notable artists include Stew & Heidi Rodewald, who are partnering with the
The Wilma Theater
to offer
Notes of a Native Song
a "concert novel" homage to James Baldwin. Cesar Alvarez will mount his extraordinary musical
The Elementary Spacetime Show
(about a girl who has to play her way through a surreal game show to win her right to suicide) in partnership with
University of the Arts
. (The show premiered at UArts' inaugural Polyphone Festival in 2015.) Three-time FringeArts presenter Reggie Wilson's Fist & Heel Performance Group will open the fest with
, which Stuccio said is inspired in part by "famous African Americans who left this country to fulfill their identities."
This year's "masthead show" is coming from director Brett Bailey, a white South African whose controversial work probes post-colonial Africa. Bailey's Third World Bunfight will present a condensed 100-minute version of Verdi's
in partnership with Opera Philadelphia, reimagining Shakespeare's tragic figure as a dictator in the Democratic Republic of Congo. (It comes with a host of associated
discussions and events
Find the
full lineup of curated shows
As for the rest of the fest, audiences can find 11 types of shows in the categories of music, dance, comedy, film, theater, spoken word, interdisciplinary, happenings, visual art and circus. 2016's iteration will branch out into West Philadelphia, and there will also be lots of work in Fishtown/Kensington, the Northwest, Northern Liberties, Old City, South Philly and more, including the second year of the Digital Fringe, with work presented exclusively online.
Audiences can sit in graveyards, forage on a farm, drink, laugh, interact, share stories and more. Shows will take place in venues including a yoga studio, a gay nightclub, Elfreth's Alley, museums and parks. The full lineup will be available in print and
August 5.
Markman especially appreciates "artists who use our platform to find their own unique audience."
And for local beer lovers, FringeArts announced one more new partnership: "Fringe Benefit," a limited-edition pale ale from Kensington's
Saint Benjamin Brewing Company
Writer: Alaina Mabaso
Sources: Nick Stuccio and Jarrod Markman, FringeArts
The 9th annual ACANA Festival will draw thousands to Penn's Landing
Voffee Jabateh, ACANA
Tuesday, July 26, 2016
ACANA Festival
started small, but after eight years, it's exploded into an event that draws thousands to Penn's Landing. Attendees come to explore the modern and traditional music, foods, crafts, and cultures of the African diaspora.
The African Cultural Alliance of North America
(ACANA) is our current
On the Ground
home in Southwest Philadelphia (check out this
recent profile
of the broad-based African and Afro-Caribbean social services organization). August 7 will mark the ninth year that ACANA has hosted the event as part of the
PECO Multicultural Festival Series
, which brings eight free festivals to the waterfront between June and September.
ACANA originally made the series roster nine years ago with the help of a recommendation from the Kimmel Center. The nonprofit's founder and executive director Voffee Jabateh served on the community advisory board.
In 2015, the ACANA Festival drew an estimated 10 to 12 thousand people to the Great Plaza at Penn's Landing in a single day. This year, with headlining singer Pape Diouf -- a Senegalese star -- those numbers will only grow. Other performers at this year's festival include Sharon Katz and the Peace Train South Africa, Chilton James Reggae Band, Deng, and the Universal African Dance & Drum Ensemble.
Jabateh says the festival is gaining international traction and becoming a destination for African artists who want to connect with the vibrant African diaspora in the United States.
"[Diouf] is top of the charts in Africa," says Jabateh, but "many in the [American] community cannot afford the cost" of traveling to see him. So the ACANA Festival is bringing him here, free of charge to fans.
"Most of the artists in the ACANA Festival for the last five years have come from outside the United States," he adds. They're "doing very well in their career back in Africa, and the diaspora group wants to see those artists here in America."
ACANA makes it happen.
The fest will also feature a huge range of African food, arts and crafts, and activities for kids.
The ninth annual ACANA Festival is coming to Penn's Landing on
Sunday, August 7 from 2 - 8 p.m.
The event is free and open to the public.
Writer: Alaina Mabaso
Source: Voffee Jabateh, ACANA
Follow all our work
via twitter (
) and Instagram (
On the Ground is made possible by the Knight Foundation, an organization that supports transformational ideas, promotes quality journalism, advances media innovation, engages communities and fosters the arts. The foundation believes that democracy thrives when people and communities are informed and engaged. For more,
visit knightfoundation.org
MilkCrate for Communities helps companies and institutions reward sustainable living
Morgan Berman, MilkCrate
Tuesday, July 19, 2016
About a year and a half ago, local startup
began an incubator residency through
Project Liberty
. This came after a potent mix of bartering, bootstrapping and crowdfunding helped to launch the sustainable-living app. Now the company is ready to add a major new level to their platform that goes beyond individual users.
The free MilkCrate app officially launched in early 2015 as a resource for people who want an easy way to connect to socially and environmentally conscious businesses and services. It has since expanded beyond Philly to Denver, Boston and Asheville. Co-founder and CEO Morgan Berman, who earned a master's degree in sustainable design from
Philadelphia University
, was pleased to see traction from the original concept, but the team quickly realized that more was on the table.
"We actually took a pretty radical approach to both our business model and our product," she says of the revamp, launching this month.
MilkCrate for Communities
isn't replacing the original free app -- it's an add-on service that companies, universities and other enterprises will be able to purchase and extend as a perk to their employees, students or residents. It will also let buyers quantify and collect data on real-life social- and eco-conscious practices within their organizations, which can be harnessed both for external branding and marketing as well as internal messaging, all while encouraging sustainable living.
The company realizes that app platforms aimed at boosting sustainable practices at large institutions or companies already exist, but MilkCrate has a major edge because they already have a comprehensive localized directory and calendar within their existing product.
Berman says MilkCrate for Communities is a premium, private "game-ified" social experience that clients can tailor for their users. Members of participating groups can download the free app and, unlike in the public version, log in and begin earning points for things like checking into a farm-to-table restaurant or fair-trade coffee shop, signing up for a composting service or CSA, or volunteering.
Participating companies and schools can use MilkCrate to tabulate the eco-friendly and socially conscious steps users make, and incentivize them with quarterly or semester-based rewards.
The first official buyer of the MilkCrate for Communities platform is Berman's own alma mater, Philadelphia University, which will launch the experience for students and faculty this summer. Other clients are already in the pipeline, including the co-working provider
Benjamin's Desk
, home to MilkCrate's offices. Berman says a customized pilot product for Comcast is also in the works.
"We are looking for more corporate and academic clients that want to be part of the big launch this summer,"she adds. Anyone who wants to bring a demo of MilkCrate for Communities to their campus or office can
get in touch
Writer: Alaina Mabaso
Source: Morgan Berman, MilkCrate
Teaching the Teachers: Science Center launches FirstHand Institute for Educators
David Clayton and Danielle Stollak, FirstHand
Tuesday, July 19, 2016
For years, the
program has brought Philadelphia schoolchildren to the
University City Science Center
, aiming to spark interest in the STEM disciplines of science, technology, engineering and math. Now FirstHand is adding a professional development program targeting middle school teachers to further boost STEM learning.
The goal of the pilot FirstHand Institute for Educators is to integrate the classroom with the 21st century science- and technology-oriented workplace. For three days (August 16-18) about 14 teachers from Philadelphia School District middle schools will meet with Science Center scientists, technologists and entrepreneurs, taking what Danielle Stollak, FirstHand program manager, calls a "deep dive into careers here." The participants will visit working labs at the Science Center's
Port Business Incubator
and, working in teams at the FirstHand Lab, develop projects for their students that can inculcate the real-world skills that employers are looking for.
Those skills are not all technical -- the focus will be on what educators call the "Four Cs": critical thinking, communication, collaboration and creativity.
"Technical skills are teachable," says FirstHand Director David Clayton. "These are experiential."
The expectation is that the teacher teams will implement their projects in classrooms this fall as part of ongoing engagement with FirstHand, bringing their students to the Science Center and reconvening in January. A further benefit, adds Stollak, is the multiplier effect of training teachers, who not only reach many students, but can also become "brand ambassadors" and mentors for other educators.
This year's pilot program, supported by a grant from the
William Penn Foundation
, offers participants continuing education credits and a modest stipend. Teachers who are interested should
email Stollak.
Meanwhile, FirstHand continues to challenge young minds with Taste Test, a new summer program that is introducing 15 youth from
Sunrise of Philadelphia
to molecular gastronomy and culinary innovations through active experimentation.
WRITER IN RESIDENCE is a partnership between the University City Science Center and Flying Kite Media that embeds a reporter on-site at 3711 Market Street. The resulting coverage will provide an inside look at the most intriguing companies, discoveries and technological innovations coming out of this essential Philadelphia institution.
Primal Supply Meats brings sustainably-raised, nose-to-tail products to the masses
Heather Marold Thomason, Primal Supply Meats
Tuesday, July 19, 2016
Even for farm-to-table chefs who are invested in serving humanely and sustainably sourced meat, connecting to the right supplier is difficult.
"It's just a really broken chain," explains former
Kensington Quarters
(KQ) head butcher Heather Marold Thomason. Many chefs and home cooks want to minimize waste and know exactly where their meat comes from, "but it's not easy for anybody to use whole animals."
Enter Thomason's new company
Primal Supply Meats
Over the last year, the idea for the startup evolved as she got to know her customers at KQ's retail meat counter. Word was spreading around the city about the quality of the locally sourced meat for sale at this Frankford Avenue retail/restaurant hybrid.
"More and more people were approaching us," she recalls. "We had a really awesome relationship with people in the Fishtown area who were our everyday customers." She also began to notice shoppers coming from other parts of town -- from South Philly to Mt. Airy -- saying they wished KQ delivered or had other locations. "I also had a lot of chefs approaching me, saying, 'How are you getting this meat? Can you help me?'"
She realized there were farm-to-table chefs all over the city who aren't able to take a whole animal into their kitchen, but didn't want pre-cut frozen meat either.
Primal Supply Meats, while not a retail counter like KQ's, bridges that gap, acting as a liaison between farmers and chefs. The entire butchered animal is used, but shared among as many as three or four different clients asking for different cuts.
"I think that our customers have actually been receptive to what we're doing and their responsibility as customers," says Thomason. With a fresh, whole-animal model at the KQ counter, part of her job was guiding customers to what was available that would also suit their tastes and needs. "Our customers were super-receptive to that."
That's part of why she has high hopes for the CSA-like subscription model Primal will launch in a few weeks (those interested can visit
the website
). Individuals or families will be able to purchase meat packages on a rolling month-to-month basis, and have confidence in knowing where their meat is coming from.
While she hopes Primal will eventually gain its own space, it's currently operating in West Philly via a partnership with the new FDA-certified facility
1732 Meats
. For trucking and cold storage, Primal is partnering with North Philly's
Common Market
This summer, things are still getting off the ground -- Thomason is visiting farmers one-on-one, learning both sides of the business.
"We're working on getting all the infrastructure in place, making sure our supply chain works and our production processes are solid," she says. "[That way] we can make sure we're ready to meet demand as it comes."
Writer: Alaina Mabaso
Source: Heather Marold Thomason, Primal Supply Meats
Temple nabs nationwide grant to develop the archives of the future
Joseph Lucia, Temple University
Tuesday, July 12, 2016
Joseph Lucia, Dean of Libraries at
Temple University
, is ready to start work on what he calls a "monumental challenge" of the 21st century.
"How do we render the digital records durable for the longterm in the way that physical records have been?" he asks. "What does digital permanence look like? [How can we achieve it] in a complex inter-organizational way that's not just about one place and its records?"
In late June, Temple University School of Media and Communications received a $35,000 grant -- it lasts through December 20, 2016 -- from the
Knight News Challenge
, which awarded grants totaling $1.6 million to libraries across the country "for ideas that help libraries serve 21st century information needs."
Future-Proofing Civic Data
, the Temple-led project helmed by Lucia, was conceived for this grant, but it relates closely to a lot of work Temple has been involved with for a long time.
First, Temple is home to a collecting enterprise called
Urban Archives
, which focuses on "social, cultural, ethnic and demographic history of 19th through 21st century Philadelphia," explains Lucia. "It's a very broad and fairly unique archival collection of materials documenting urban life in a major American city."
Temple has also been a leading partner in the Pennsylvania metadata service hub of
the Digital Public Library of America
(DPLA), which works to "narrow the cultural and intellectual record into a public space that is not commercially oriented, and fill the library mission in the digital world."
That work means diving deep into the realms of both traditional collections and digital data.
"We've been looking at ways of expanding that collecting motion and focus," adds Lucia, "making sure that the digital, cultural, and social record becomes part of what we can provide access to."
That in turn led to close ties with
, which, while it identifies and aggregates data from a wide range of city institutions and organizations, does not have the mission of developing a permanent archive.
It's what Lucia calls "an essentially unaddressed emerging issue." The days of poring over nineteenth century census data on paper archives, for example, are limited. As the world goes digital, what will archives look like and how will they function? Who will own, fund, maintain and access them?
"What happens right now with a lot of digital data is that it's very ephemeral," he says. "It's online for the duration that its providers see some value or benefit in having it there," but most providers of digital content aren't thinking about its life in the long term.
$35,000 from Knight won't solve the issue or even finish defining it, but it will "help us put time and thought into describing the scope of the problem and some possible solutions that could be deployed over time to address the problem," Lucia continues.
The initiative will involve partners at OpenDataPhilly as well as professionals from Temple's School of Media and Communications.
"[It's] a project to really build a conceptual foundation for how would this look," he concludes. "What would the technical requirements be? What would the organizational requirements be? And who would come to the table to work on something like that?"
Writer: Alaina Mabaso
Source: Joseph Lucia, Temple University
Newest resident at Port Business Incubator plans to disrupt cancer treatment
Joe Camaratta, Quantitative Radiology Solutions
Tuesday, July 12, 2016
Quantitative Radiology Solutions
is the latest company to hang its shingle at the
University City Science Center's Port Business Incubator
By taking up residency at the Port, Quantitative gains access to an extensive network of resources to grow its business. Quantitative is also a participant in the
Phase I Ventures Program
, which allows early-stage companies to test their business feasibility in a low-risk environment. Quantitative received $213,000 in direct financing from P1V and additional grants from the
National Institutes of Health
and the
National Science Foundation
The startup is developing a technology that promises to disrupt radiation therapy and treatment for cancer patients. We asked Joe Camaratta, Quantitative's president and CEO to tell us more.
What is your big idea?
Quantitative Radiology Solutions helps physicians make optimal treatment decisions through analysis of medical images. Our initial product, Automatic Anatomy Recognition (AAR), supports recognition, delineation and quantification of anatomical objects and diseased tissues in multiple body regions using CT, PET/CT and MR images.
Unlike existing automatic segmentation approaches that work on only three to five objects in a specific body region and require an unacceptable number of manual adjustments, AAR recognizes and delineates all anatomical structures in a given body region accurately and efficiently.
What is your origin tale?
The company was [founded by] Drs. Jayaram Udupa (computer science) and Drew Torigian (radiology) at the University of Pennsylvania.
Dr. Udupa was developing a novel image segmentation algorithm that used hierarchical modeling and machine learning techniques for object identification and delineation. Dr. Torigian, who focuses on quantification of disorders using computer-assisted techniques, applied the algorithm in body fat quantification and obstructive sleep apnea to demonstrate its usefulness in radiology.
Dr. Udupa presented the new approach during a seminar to physicians and physicists from the Department of Radiation Oncology, and was approached by Drs. Peter Bloch (medical physics) and Charles Simone (radiation oncology) about its application in radiotherapy planning. Drs. Udupa and Torigian contacted the
Penn Center for Innovation
and created Quantitative Radiology Solutions as part of the
program to commercialize technology. I joined as president and CEO to lead these efforts.
What is ahead for Quantitative Radiology Solutions?
Our initial application area is radiation therapy planning. We believe there are applications of our technology in medical oncology to help assess tumor response to therapeutic interventions. There are also potential applications in surgical planning and 3-D printing using medical images.
Why does the marketplace need your company?
The global market for medical imaging is forecasted to reach $50 billion by 2020, and advanced modalities such as CT, MR and molecular imaging will account for 50 percent of that market. The rise in the number of imaging exams and number of images per exams necessitates new approaches to augment a physician's ability to effectively evaluate exam results in a timely manner. A quantitative approach to medical imaging interpretation can improve early disease diagnosis, standardize assessment of disease response to treatment, and enable the discovery of new disease biomarkers.
What is your elevator speech?
We combine 75 years of expertise in clinical imaging, computational theory and algorithm development, and product development and commercialization [experience] from industry-leading organizations in medical imaging. When applied to the field of radiation therapy planning, our approach enables a robust standalone software solution that significantly improves the speed and accuracy of imaging contouring to support initial treatment planning and adaptive radiotherapy.
WRITER IN RESIDENCE is a partnership between the University City Science Center and Flying Kite Media that embeds a reporter on-site at 3711 Market Street. The resulting coverage will provide an inside look at the most intriguing companies, discoveries and technological innovations coming out of this essential Philadelphia institution.
Strawberry Mansion celebrates first Schuylkill River Arts Day
Sylvana Joseph, INVISIBLE RIVER
Tuesday, July 12, 2016
The Strawberry Mansion area (our recent
On the Ground
home) has plenty of artists, but there's rarely an opportunity for them to come together on their home turf, says
spokesperson Sylvana Joseph. The
Schuylkill River Arts Day
(SRAD) on July 16 is going to change that.
Founded in 2009 by Artistic and Executive Director Alie Vidich, INVISIBLE RIVER has been "celebrating our local rivers through live public performances and river advocacy." A mix of art, programming and interactive outdoor offerings serve the mission of engaging the public with both the Schuylkill and the Delaware.
For the last few years, Vidich has created one of Philly's most eye-popping interdisciplinary performance events: an aerial dance suspended from the Strawberry Mansion Bridge, with audience members watching on shore or from boats on the river below.
Beck Epoch
, this year's incarnation of the show (an "aerial exploration of swinging, swimming, swiveling and suspension from above the Schuylkill River") is coming up on Friday, July 15 and Saturday, July 16. Audience members will be able to watch for free from the eastern shore near the bridge, or they can buy a ticket to watch by boat on the river itself (everyone should arrive by 6:15 p.m.).
SRAD will kick off at 10 a.m. at Mander Recreation Center with an interactive drum and dance procession led by the Strawberry Mansion-based group Positive Movement and the African Diaspora Artist Collective. The group will take
Boxers' Trail
from the rec center to Kelly Drive, where the arts fest will take over until 2 p.m. Other performers include
Kulu Mele
Anne-Marie Mulgrew & Dancers Co
Almanac Dance Circus Theatre
and many more. (
Here's the full line-up
of participating artists.) There will be visual arts, crafts, and even fishing and boating lessons. Families are encouraged to bring a picnic and stay for the day.
"We're really focused on getting the Strawberry Mansion area and the people in that area to come, to use the Schuylkill River [and] learn about the river," says Joseph. "All of us that live in the Philadelphia live right in proximity to all of these great things, but we never use them. There are many musicians and dancers and artists of all stripes that live in that area but leave the area to perform -- it's great to have this opportunity to have people from the area perform in the area."
Writer: Alaina Mabaso
Source: Sylvana Joseph, INVISIBLE RIVER
Follow all our work
via twitter (
) and Instagram (
On the Ground is made possible by the Knight Foundation, an organization that supports transformational ideas, promotes quality journalism, advances media innovation, engages communities and fosters the arts. The foundation believes that democracy thrives when people and communities are informed and engaged. For more,
visit knightfoundation.org
What's next for the Philadelphia School District?
Donna Frisby-Greenwood, Fund for the School District of Philadelphia
Tuesday, June 28, 2016
Last Tuesday, the latest
Exchange PHL
Breakfast Series drew a crowd of over forty people for a special conversation on the future of the School District of Philadelphia.
Hosted by the nonprofit-centric co-working space, these morning meetups bring a dynamic group to the
Friends Center
on Cheery Street. On June 21, attendees represented a wide range of organizations eager to hear
Fund for the School District of Philadelphia
President and CEO Donna Frisby-Greenwood discuss "Engaging with the School District of Philadelphia."
Those organizations included People's Emergency Center, Philly Fellows, Women of Tomorrow, the Fleischer Art Memorial, Philadelphia Young Playwrights, the William Penn Foundation, the Pennsylvania Council of Children, Youth & Family Services, and many more.
Frisby-Greenwood provided a snapshot of the District and its challenges: It serves a total of 135,000 children (not including the 50,000 students who attend charter schools), 39 percent of whom live below the poverty line. It encompasses 149 elementary schools, and 69 middle and high schools. During the 2014-2015 school year, PSSA performance at District schools reached a proficient or advanced level in 37 percent of schools for science, 32 percent for English, and just 17 percent for math.
So what is the District doing to better harness resources for its students?
The Fund for the School District of Philadelphia is a reactivation of the former Philadelphia Children First Fund. Upon assuming his role as superintendent, Dr. William Hite "wanted a more robust fund," explained Frisby-Greenwood. Under its new name, this arm of the School District went from being a passive "fiscal agent" for dollars already arriving at the School District to a much more active development force as well as a way to "identify and coordinate partnerships on behalf of the District."
One major funding goal supports the District's ongoing efforts to make sure every child is reading at grade level by fourth grade. (Last year, we
took a closer look
at this initiative for teacher coaching and new classroom libraries, funded in part by grants from the William Penn and Lenfest foundations.)
Other initiatives on deck include the continued roll-out of sustainability and recycling goals within the School District's GreenFutures program (
here's our piece
from earlier this year), and a push to get automatic electric defibrillators into every elementary school, which, unlike middle and high schools, often lack the life-saving devices.
The organization also aims to create a database of Philadelphia School District alumni; develop a comprehensive listing and map of private, nonprofit, and corporate partners for individual city schools; and improve outreach to garner more school partners, especially in schools which currently lack this community investment.
"I'll remind everyone we're just a year in as a team," said Frisby-Greenwood of the revamped Fund and its staff -- she envisions good things ahead for the District.
Writer: Alaina Mabaso
Source: Donna Frisby-Greenwood, the Fund for the School District of Philadelphia
Flying Kite is the media partner for the Exchange PHL's Breakfast Series.
Flying Kite is #OnTheGround in Kingsessing!
Marjorie Anderson, ACANA
Tuesday, June 28, 2016
Flying Kite
has been searching for an
home in Kingsessing, and we're happy to announce that we've landed at the nonprofit
African Cultural Alliance of North America
(ACANA) near 55th Street and Chester Avenue.
Founded in 1999 by a group of African immigrants, ACANA worked to support African and Caribbean artists and musicians in their efforts to integrate into the U.S., while preserving their community and cultural values.
Over the last 15 years, that mission has expanded as the organization's target population of immigrants, refugees and asylum-seekers grew, particularly in ACANA's Southwest Philadelphia neighborhood. The nonprofit began offering a wide range of social services, including ESL (English as a second language) and literacy classes, youth and after-school programs, a food bank, healthcare-related services, and more.
ACANA Wellness Coalition Coordinator Marjorie Anderson says people often don't realize the breadth of ACANA's programs or the fact that they're available to everyone.
"[ACANA] is open to serving the entire Southwest Philadelphia community, and African and Caribbean people no matter where they were born," explains Anderson. "I think that's something folks don't know. It's a resource that's for the entire community."
For those who want to get to know ACANA better, the organization's youth activities arm is hosting a day-long youth arts showcase on July 9 out of its Chester Avenue space. The event will feature food, art and talks from the kids about what they learned in the programs. And on Sunday, August 7 from 2 - 8 p.m., the ACANA African Festival will take over Penn's Landing.
Anderson is excited about partnering with On the Ground because of the opportunity to expand ACANA's relevance to the entire neighborhood.
"I think a lot of organizations are familiar with ACANA [and executive director Voffee Jabateh]," she continues, but she hopes the residency will help "organizations as well as individuals in the community know that there's a social service resource for the entire community."
Come say hello during our On the Ground hours at ACANA: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays through August.
Writer: Alaina Mabaso
Source: Marjorie Anderson, African Cultural Alliance of North America
Follow all our work
via twitter (
) and Instagram (
On the Ground is made possible by the Knight Foundation, an organization that supports transformational ideas, promotes quality journalism, advances media innovation, engages communities and fosters the arts. The foundation believes that democracy thrives when people and communities are informed and engaged. For more,
visit knightfoundation.org
Intergalactic Geographic Retrospective lands at the Science (fiction!) Center
Angela McQuillan, Esther Klein Gallery
Tuesday, June 21, 2016
Alien lifeforms. Time machines. Comic books.
It's not the usual
University City Science Center
material, but the Center's
Esther Klein Gallery
is greeting summer with a lighthearted, farcical exhibition that spans 3,000 years and promises to "offer some answers to those who are willing to suspend reality and take a trip into the future."
Angela McQuillan, the gallery curator, agrees that the show is "more imaginative and fun. There's not a lot of real science going on."
The sci-fi and comic book-inspired exhibition features the work of Philadelphia artist
Pat Aulisio
and New York artist
Josh Burggraf
. The two have created a multi-media exhibition that incorporates sculpture, video and a special-edition printed copy of the "scientific journal"
Intergalactic Geographic
, which will be available for sale. The farcical publication features work by "the future's galactic journalists, photographers, holographers, dark mirror reporters and primetime superstars."
A fan and hobbyist in Philly's comic book scene, McQuillan was very familiar with the collaborators. Aulisio is a local artist and educator primarily focused on comics featuring hobbies such as amateur time travel. Burggraf works as a commercial animator and storyboard artist, and is editor of the
Astro Plus Press
where he constructs alternate personal universes on paper, the web and on screen.
According to McQuillan, comic books and science fiction "can be a portal to real science." And she has another motive in mounting the show: "Philadelphia has a big scene of people who make comic books and self-published art books. I wanted to draw attention to that scene and bring it to the Science Center."
Intergalactic Geographic Retrospective
launches Thursday with an opening reception from 5 to 7:30 p.m. at 3600 Market Street. It closes Saturday, July 30 with a closing reception from 5 to 8 p.m. at Innovation Plaza, the Center's pocket park located on 37th Street between Market and Chestnut streets.
WRITER IN RESIDENCE is a partnership between the University City Science Center and Flying Kite Media that embeds a reporter on-site at 3711 Market Street. The resulting coverage will provide an inside look at the most intriguing companies, discoveries and technological innovations coming out of this essential Philadelphia institution.
Empowered CDC expands community-driven change in Southwest Philly
Regina Young, Empowered CDC
Tuesday, June 21, 2016
Regina Young never set out to found a community development corporation. A New Haven, Conn., native who now lives and works in Southwest Philadelphia, she had a career in teaching and social work before going back to school for her masters in community development.
She says her inspiration for the CDC simply came from living in the neighborhood and interacting with friends and family there. In 2014, she launched
Empowered Community Development Corporation
out of
Meyers Recreation Center
at 58th Street and Kingsessing Avenue, not far from
Flying Kite
's new
On the Ground
Southwest CDC
has been operating in the neighborhood for decades, but Young still saw a need for her group.
"The geographic area of Southwest is so large," she says. "It's just pretty evident that one organization cannot possibly effectively handle all of the community in this particular area."
Young sees Empowered CDC as part of a local matrix that will see success in cooperation.
"This has to be a collaborative approach," she explains. "There's not anything that can be done that's sustainable if we're an island. We have to deal with other organizations; we have to really get the community reinvested in beautifying and building and transforming the Southwest area."
Currently, Empowered holds some programs out of Myers, but because of needed building repairs there, the organization has moved its offices temporarily to nearby
Tilden Middle School
Their health and wellness program is the one Young is most excited about: A recent community garden initiative in a former vacant lot has spurred beautification, education, healthy food access, safe space for seniors and youth, and community cohesion. Empowered obtained a lease for three lots on the 2000 block of Cecil Street, and in the course of a year, formed a community garden club and installed benches and garden beds for flowers, fruits and veggies. This summer, the CDC is launching new educational programs around the garden for youth, seniors and everyone in between.
"I charged the community with really leading the design of what this parcel of land looks like," says Young.
And the transformation there is spreading.
"It started with the garden," she explains, but now locals are saying, "if we can do this with a parcel of land, what can we do with our own block?" It's lead to new painting, more street cleaning, a movement to get planters installed, and "really being a more cohesive block. That's what Empowered is all about."
The organization is still new, but Young has high hopes for building and utilizing the skills of community members.
"Our biggest asset as an organization, being very new, is simply human capital: understanding how relationships matter, how communities have a voice," she says. "That's what really propels us as an organization."
Writer: Alaina Mabaso
Source: Regina Young, Empowered CDC
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via twitter (
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On the Ground is made possible by the Knight Foundation, an organization that supports transformational ideas, promotes quality journalism, advances media innovation, engages communities and fosters the arts. The foundation believes that democracy thrives when people and communities are informed and engaged. For more,
visit knightfoundation.org
Pennovation Center wants to get inventors into the garage
Paul Sehnert, Pennovation Works
Tuesday, June 21, 2016
Last week,
we looked at
Pennovation Works
Director of Development Paul Sehnert calls "a real differentiator" for the new campus's flagship building: wet labs for small local start-ups.
But the wet labs aren't the only assets that might catch the eye of Philly entrepreneurs in need of space. The ground floor of the
Pennovation Center
(slated to open later this summer on the banks of the Schuylkill) features twelve units the designers have dubbed "inventor garages," and they're available for lease.
These 500-square-foot spaces are pretty simple: they're finished and painted on the inside, and have a small complement of moveable (or removable) desks and chairs that can accommodate three or four people.
"They're super-cool," explains Sehnert. "They actually have a garage-style door opening onto a small plaza, and a glass and wood door on the inside. It's a fun and useful feature, but it's about more than just function. We all know that Apple and Hewlett Packard started in a garage. That's why we called [them] 'inventor garages.'"
Companies who lease the spaces (as of mid-June, seven were spoken for, with five still available) will also be part of the larger community at the Pennovation Center and be entitled to six hours of meeting space outside the garage each month.
But "you've got your own clubhouse," Sehnert continues. "You retreat to your garage and on a pleasant day, you can open the garage door and get daylight. You can actually use the garage door if you have equipment that you load or have materials that you're moving in and out."
Uses for the garages might include a combo of storage and work space, light duty fabrication, space for programmers or coders to get working, or simply a welcoming, utilitarian spot for folks who need to roll in a whiteboard and brainstorm.
And as with the wet labs, the inventor garages are designed as a launch pad -- not a permanent home -- for the companies who land there (some of whom may progress into larger lab space Pennovation is developing). The garages will have lease terms of one year, though this is negotiable.
"We want you to start your company and then graduate," insists Sehnert. "We want you to face the world and move on."
Writer: Alaina Mabaso
Source: Paul Sehnert, Pennovation Works
Sick pet? The One Health Company sends clinical trials to the dogs
Benjamn Lewis, One Health Company
Tuesday, June 14, 2016
The One Health Company
is sending clinical trials to the dogs. And cats. And horses.
The startup, a participant in the
University City Science Center Digital Health Accelerator
, offers a new model of contract research by conducting pre-clinical trials on already ill patients: aka peoples' pets.
The science behind the idea is strong, says founder and CEO Benjamin Lewis. Disease induced in lab animals is often a poor proxy for natural human disease. Currently, 92 percent of animal cancer trials fail in people.
But pets, many of them genetically similar to humans -- and who typically share our environment -- are ideal proxies for 350 natural human diseases. Lhasa Apsos and male cats develop bladder stones. Poodles are frequently afflicted by cataracts. Golden Retrievers get Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma. Horses suffer from osteoarthritis.
The approach, says Lewis, is also far more humane that inducing disease in lab animals.
"We have so many sick animals," he says. "Why create more so we can kill them and study them?"
One Health operates out of 350 specialty animal hospitals across the United States. Founded only this year, it already has 450,000 animals in its database and expects to have millions by the end of the year.
The company is currently conducting two trials. Details are proprietary, but their testing is mostly in cancer and endocrine diseases. One Health will test only for efficacy of pharmaceuticals, biologics, injectables, large molecules, medical devices and diagnostics. Testing for toxicology or safety is far too risky for client-owned pets.
Animals enrolled in One Health clinical trials remain with their owners and stay at home for care, returning to the hospital for evaluation by veterinary specialists, rather than being shipped to a lab or a longterm veterinary clinic. At the conclusion of the study, the hope is that the animal is cured or its symptoms ameliorated.
"I'm not asking anyone to do anything I haven't done with my own pet," adds Lewis. One of his three rescue dogs -- Lulo, a Doberman -- participated in an osteosarcoma trial three years ago. Lulo lost a leg, but is going strong three years later. The prognosis is usually just three months.
WRITER IN RESIDENCE is a partnership between the University City Science Center and Flying Kite Media that embeds a reporter on-site at 3711 Market Street. The resulting coverage will provide an inside look at the most intriguing companies, discoveries and technological innovations coming out of this essential Philadelphia institution.
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text:
I want to use my HP Mini as an eBook reader, but I would like to hold it like a book and rotate the screen. Ctrl + Alt + Arrow Keys does not work on this model.
EeeRotate - A tiny program to rotate your screen and touchpad at the same time. Especially designed for EeePC but should work with all computers.
Ctrl + Alt + Right: rotate screen and touchpad by 270 degrees
Ctrl + Alt + Up: back to normal
EeeRotate is freeware and portable, no installation required.
p.s.: this works like a charm with my HP mini, the touchpad rotation is a real blessing.
Try a screen rotation utility, such as iRotate.
Your video driver must have the required capacity for this (but most now do).
You'll want to install the graphics card control panel, you can generally get these bundled with the drivers from whoever your card/chipset's manufacturer is' website.
If you are using Intel Graphics you would need to enable hotkeys from the Intel dropdown menu when right-clicking the desktop.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
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text:
Nicole Brown's Mother Had Feeling About Killings
The moment she heard Arnelle Simpson sobbing over the telephone, Juditha Brown felt that her daughter Nicole had been killed - and probably by O.J. Simpson, she testified Wednesday in a deposition.
Sources close to the case told The Associated Press that Judith Brown immediately recognized the voice of Simpson's adult daughter in the June 13, 1994, phone call from Simpson's house - and thought that Simpson's long history of abuse against Nicole had ended violently.
"She said that even before Arnelle started talking she knew that Nicole was dead, and she knew that Simpson had done it," said one source familiar with Judith Brown's testimony.
Simpson was acquitted last year in the murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman. The wrongful death suit against him, on behalf of the victims, seeks to hold him liable in civil court.
Judith Brown also said that on the night of the murders, Simpson was in a dark mood and his eyes were glassy as he stared at Nicole at their daughter's dance recital, the sources said. Simpson appeared upset that he wasn't being allowed to give flowers to Sydney.
The sources also confirmed that on Monday, Nicole's father Louis Brown and sister Dominique Brown both testified that Simpson offered Nicole $5,000 for sex just weeks before she was killed. The Browns said Nicole told them he had made the offer during an argument when they were in Laguna Beach for Mother's Day weekend.
Also Wednesday, Al "A.C." Cowlings testified that Simpson told him he fled on foot and jumped a neighbor's fence - dropping his car keys - after a violent New Year's Day fight with Nicole that left her hospitalized. The Associated Press obtained a transcript of his deposition testimony.
Simpson would later plead no contest to spousal battery for the fight.
Cowlings said he saw Simpson after the fight and agreed to go out and find his car keys - as well as retrieve a velvet bag of his wife's jewelry that he had hidden in the garbage can several houses away.
Saving for the future
sponsored According to two 2015 surveys, 62 percent of Americans do not have enough savings to handle an unexpected emergency, much less any long-term plans.


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The Assistant Professors' Community is an informal discussion group open to all faculty, with a special emphasis on issues of importance to assistant professors. The learning community meets approximately three times each semester to discuss topics related to teaching, research, and faculty life. It provides an informal setting to meet other faculty and discuss issues of common interest to those who are teaching, conducting research, and working toward tenure. The intent is to enhance faculty experience and provide an ongoing discussion group for faculty working toward promotion or tenure. Each meeting will focus on a different aspect of faculty experience and help make connections with people in many different spheres of the university.
- Training videos on writing grant proposals for several agencies, including a webinar on "How to Write Successful Proposals to NSF CAREER and other Early Career Grant Programs": http://research.ncsu.edu/intranet/rdo/
- What to do if you are stuck in the middle of a writing or other project: http://cgi.stanford.edu/~dept-ctl/cgi-bin/tomprof/enewsletter.php?msgno=1417
To Register for APC Meetings
Please register on the Office of Faculty Development (OFD) Event Registration Form for upcoming APC meetings! Snacks and water will be provided.
Spring 2016 Meetings
- *Thursday, January 14, 2016, 12:25-1:15, 405 Clark Hall: Talking with the media about faculty work
In our 24/7 streaming news culture, how should faculty talk with the media about their work? What should I know about reporters (deadlines; format of radio, tv, or print)? Are there ground rules, benefits or strategies to be effective? Join this discussion and bring your own questions.
* Indicates that this is a joint meeting of all the faculty communities (Assistant, Associate, and Full Professors).
- Wednesday, March 2, 2016, 12:25-1:15, 405 Clark Hall (Office of Faculty Development Conference Room): Responding to reviews of journal or grant submissions.
You worked hard on your journal or grant submission and the feedback just arrived. Join this discussion about how to craft a response to reviewers and communicate with the editor or program officer. Discuss tips for responding to comments by peer reviewers such as taking time to compose yourself and your reasoning, point-by-point responses, details, and tone.
- Friday, February 19, 2016, 12:25-1:15, 463 Monteith Research Center (MRC): The grant application review process: An insider's perspective.
Come gain insights about the grant proposal review process from NC State faculty who have served on key program review committees (NIH, NSF). Bring your questions for discussion.
- Thursday, March 17, 2016, 12:25-1:15, Clark Hall 405: Staying on top of it all: Tracking activities for reappointment, promotion and tenure.
What information is required for the RPT process? How can I best track and report all my teaching, research and service activities? Bring your questions, and come hear Dr. Stewart share tips and strategies for your success.
Presenter: Katharine Stewart, Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs
Resource: https://www.provost.ncsu.edu/promotion-tenure/
Past Workshops
- Thursday, September 17, 2015: What does this job entail?
– Min Liu. Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering – Marce Lorenzen, Entomology – Louie Rivers, Forestry and Environmental Resources – Celilia Mouat, Art + Design
- *Tuesday, October 13, 2015: Creating and Sustaining Effective Mentoring Relationships with Graduate StudentsIntroduction by Maureen Grasso, Dean of the Graduate School,
- Friday, October 23, Webinar 10:30-12:00, 2015 (45 min presentation, 45 min Q&A): Writing a Research Grant Application: Tips for Success
Featuring Marie Davidian, William Neal Reynolds Professor, Department of Statistics
The slides and the recording of the presentation are available at http://research.ncsu.edu/
- *Wednesday, November 11, 2015: Entrepreneurship, Commercialization of Research
– Kelly Sexton, Director, Office of Technology Transfer – Christian Melander, Howard Schaeffer Distinguished Professor, Bio-organic Chemistry
– Rosanna Garcia, Associate Professor of Marketing and Innovation, Department of Business Management
* Indicates that this is a joint meeting of all the faculty communities (Assistant, Associate, and Full Professors).
- Wednesday, November 18, 2015: Importance of Having Your Own Mentors; Establishing Efficient Mentoring Relationships
Presenter: Christine Grant, Associate Dean for Faculty Advancement, College of Engineering, and Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
- Thursday, September 18, 2014: Writing and Accountability Groups
- Joy Gaston Gayles, Associate Professor, Leadership, Policy and Adult and Higher Education
- Kate Annett-Hitchcock, Assistant Professor, Textile and Apparel, Technology and Management
- Friday, October 10, 2014. Webinar: Writing a Successful Proposal to NSF's Faculty Early Career Development Program (CAREER)
- Tuesday, October 14, 2014: How to attract very good graduate students
- Harald Ade, Distinguished Professor, Department of Physics
- Sam Jones, Herbert Benjamin Distinguished Professor, College of Veterinary Medicine
- Alyssa Rockenbach, Associate Professor, Department of Leadership, Policy, Adult and Higher Education
- Monday, November 10, 2014: Ten Habits of Star Professors for Mentoring Graduate Students
- Elizabeth Dickey, Professor and Director of Graduate Programs, Department of Materials Science and Engineering
- Chris Moorman, Professor, Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources
- Jocelyn Taliaferro, Associate Professor and Director of Graduate Program, Department of Social Work
- Friday, January 16, 2015: What is Your Job as an Assistant Professor?
- Marianne Bradford, Associate Professor, Accounting
- Sudipta Dasmohapatra, Associate Professor, Forest Biomaterials and Institute for Advanced Analytics
- Sharon Joines, Associate Professor, Graphic and Industrial Design
- Matt Koci, Associate Professor, Poultry Science
- Wednesday, February 18, 2015. Managing a Lab or Group
- Christian Melander, Howard Schaeffer Distinguished Professor of Chemistry
- Melissa Pasquinelli, Associate Professor, Textile Engineering, Chemistry and Science
- Joe Tracy, Associate Professor, Materials Science and Engineering
- Tuesday, September 24, 2013. What is your job as an assistant professor? What are all the elements you need to learn?
- Joy Gaston Gayles, Associate Professor, Leadership, Policy and Adult and Higher Education
- Wesley Henderson, Associate Professor, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
- Brad Kirkman, Professor and Head, Management, Innovation and Entrepreneurship
- Walter Robinson, Professor and Head, Marine Earth and Atmospheric Sciences
- Tuesday, October 22, 2013. External mentors: The benefits and practicalities
- Rich Spontak, Professor, Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
- Mary Ann Danowitz, Professor and Head, Department of Leadership, Policy and Adult and Higher Education
- Eric Laber, Assistant Professor, Department of Statistics
- Friday, November 22, 2013. Making effective use of your start-up package and internal grant funds
- Willa Casstevens, Associate Professor, Department of Social Work
- Kenan Gundogdu, Assistant Professor, Department of Physics
- Christine McGahan, Professor and Head, Department of Molecular Biomedical Sciences
- Xiangwu Zhang, Associate Professor, Department of Textile Engineering, Chemistry and Science
- Friday, January 24, 2014. Panel of Recently Promoted Associate Professors
- Michael Dickey, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
- Melissa Pasquinelli, Textile Engineering, Chemistry and Science
- Anne McLoughlin, Psychology
- Tuesday, February 25, 2014. Dealing with Perfectionism
- Presenter: Angel Bowers, NCSU Counseling Center
- Assistant Professor's Community: Research Development at NC State
- Assistant Professor's Community: Juggling Flaming Chainsaws: Work/Life Integration
- Monday, January 28, 2013: Making the Right Moves: A Practical Guide to Scientific Management
- Tuesday, March 12, 2013: A Conversation with Recently Tenured Faculty
- Monday, April 8, 2013: Planning for the Next One to Three Years
- Monday, October 3, 2011: Managing Research
- Tuesday, October 18, 2011, Networking for Peer Review
- Friday, November 11, 2011, Obtaining Research Funding
- Thursday, January 26, 2012, Tips and Tricks from Recently Tenured Faculty
- Tuesday, March 13, 2012, Best Practices for Professional Success
- Tuesday, April 3, 2012, Planning Your Focus
- Friday, August 13, 2010: Panel of Outstanding Teachers: What Do You Do to Start the Semester Off Right? (Related reading: Your ASAP List)
- Wednesday, September 22, 2010: Grant Writing and Initiating Research (Related reading: How Your Grant Proposal Compares and 10 Tips on How to Write Less Badly)
- Wednesday, November 3, 2010: Panel of Representatives of College RPT Committees (NC State's RPT website)
- Thursday, January 13, 2011: How to Direct and Mentor Students
- Thursday, February 24, 2011: Keeping all the Balls in the Air
- Thursday, June 2, 2011: Teaching Something You've Never Taught (Related Reading: Teaching What You Don't Know)
- August 2009: Panel of Outstanding Teachers: What Do You Do to Start the Semester Off Right?
- October 2009: Tactics for Getting Grants Funded Beyond the Technical Content
- November 2009: Preparing a Dossier
- January 2010: Panel of Representatives of College RPT Committees
- February 2010: Balancing Research and Writing Time with Other Responsibilities
- April 2010: Effective Networking – Strategies for Approaching People and Selling your Capabilities/Ideas
- September 2008: Getting Started on a Research Project
- October 7, 2008: Where to Find Help, Answers to Questions
- October 31, 2008: Writing "Broader Impact" Sections of Grant Proposals
- February 6, 2009: Meet with Representatives of College RPT Committees
- March 12, 2009: How to Review a Paper
- April 7, 2009: Annual Reports and Dossiers
- September 2007: Working together: collaboration in academia
- October 2007: Grantsmanship
- November 2007: Directing graduate student research
- January 2008:The Promotion and Tenure Process: A Discussion with Chairs of College Reappointment, Promotion, and Tenure Committees
- February 2008: When to Say Yes, How to Say No
- March 2008: Managing Classes, Proposals, Graduate Students
- September 2006: Pacing a Presentation for High Impact
- November 2006: Focusing Your Research – Getting a Research Program Going
- February 2007: What Can the Library Do for You?
- March 2007: The Art of Oral Scientific Presentation
- April 2007: Developing graduate research problems
The Advisory Board
- Kimberly Allen, Youth, Family and Community Sciences
- Veronica Augustyn, Materials Science and Engineering
- Alper Bozkurt, Electrical and Computer Engineering
- Willa Casstevens, Social Work
- Sudipta Dasmohapatra, Institute for Advanced Analytics and Dept of Forest Biomaterials
- Stacy De Coster, Sociology and Anthropology
- Sarah Desmarais, Psychology
- Julie Earp, Business Management
- Beth Fath, Health and Exercise Studies
- Jing Feng, Psychology
- Joy Gayles, Leadership, Policy, Adult and Higher Education
- Pierre Gremaud, Mathematics
- Steffen Heber, Bioinformatics
- Elan Hope, Psychology
- Jay Levine, Population Health and Pathobiology
- Terri Long, Plant Biology
- Marce Lorenzen, Entomology
- Jim Martin, Chemistry
- Cecilia Mouat, Art + Design
- Nancy Moore, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
- Melissa Pasquinelli, Textile Engineering, Chemistry and Science
- Emil Polyak, Art + Design
- Pradip Pramanik, Proposal Development Unit
- Roderick Rejesus, Agriculture and Resource Economics
- Louie Rivers, Forestry and Environmental Resources
- Katharine Stewart, Office of Faculty Affairs
- Paola Sztajn, Teacher Education and Learning Sciences
- Jocelyn Taliaferro, Social Work
Previous Advisory Board members
- Betsy Brown, Office of Faculty Development
- Michael Dickey, Chemical Engineering
- Nancy Fire, Office of Faculty Development
- Christine Grant, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
- Hoon Joo Lee, Textile and Apparel, Technology and Management
- Janice Wells, Social Work
- Colleen Wiessner, Adult Education
- Tao Xie, Computer Science
If you would like to serve on the Advisory Board, please contact Marcia Gumpertz.


text:
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Democrats Announce Major Shakeup After New Scandal Is ExposedThe Associated Press
Leaked Email Scandal Rocks The Democratic Party
On Sunday, the Democratic National Comittee made a big announcement
Was This Blue Hole 'Dug By The Devil?'
Many long-time residents around the famed 663-feet-deep Dean's Blue Hole in the Bahamas believe it was 'dug by the devil' and refuse to approach it for fear of death.
The Latest: Obama criticizes Trump for his NATO comments
President Barack Obama says Donald Trump's suggestion that the U.S. might not come to the defense of NATO allies is another sign of what he calls Trump's "lack of preparedness" on foreign policy
Top 10 Dealing With Bullies Movie Scenes
Enough is enough and it's time to kick some meanies' asses. Join http://www.WatchMojo.com as we count down our picks for the Top 10 Dealing With Bullies Movie Scenes.
Brie Larson Will Star As Captain Marvel — And Make History
The studio made the announcement Saturday.
Cops, protesters gear up for hot day of marches ahead of DNC
Police officers are posted at street corners in downtown Philadelphia as protesters prepare for a sweltering day of marches and rallies ahead of the Democratic National Convention
Socially Liberal, Fiscally Conservative Bloomberg Will Endorse Clinton
Michael Bloomberg is an independent who supports politicians from both sides of the aisle, but this time, he chose Hillary Clinton.
Bobby Brown and Alicia Etheridge Welcome Baby Girl
Bobby Brown is a father again! The singer welcomes a new baby girl with Alicia Etheridge.
Hollywood stars hold climate rally ahead of DNC
More than 1,000 people have joined Hollywood stars including Shailene Woodley, Susan Sarandon and Danny Glover in Philadelphia for a climate rally on the eve of the Democratic National Convention
Officer Injured, Shots Fired After Suspect Steals Squad Car
An officer is injured and two suspects are in custody after a squad car was stolen in Wisconsin
Sports Style Swipe: Athlete stylist Dex Robinson's favorite best dressed athletes
Athlete stylist and brand manager Dex Robinson talks about his favorite best dressed athletes and also gives his thoughts on Russell Westbrook, Dwyane Wade and Iman Shumpert's style.
Behavior changes offer clues that dementia could be brewing
Memory loss may not always be the first warning sign that dementia is brewing _ changes in behavior or personality might be an early clue
Scientists capture rare images of wolverine in Sierra Nevada
Scientists investigating a rare wolverine sighting in the Sierra Nevada set up cameras and have captured video of the animal scurrying around and scaling a tree
Airbnb sues hometown San Francisco over rental regulation
San Francisco wants people who rent out their homes through Airbnb and other online platforms to follow some rules and it wants those platforms to only list those who do _ or else face steep fines
Asian shares cheered by Wall Street, dollar, Group of 20
Asian shares were mostly higher Monday, cheered by upbeat signs from Wall Street, a strengthening U.S. dollar and promises from the Group of 20 nations over the weekend to support global growth
California fires threaten thousands of homes; 1 body found
Thousands of homes have been evacuated as two massive wildfires rage in tinder-dry California hills and canyons, and authorities say a burned body was found in one neighborhood swept by the flames
Bloomberg To Endorse Clinton In DNC Speech
Michael Bloomberg, who was elected mayor of New York City as a Republican, to speak at the Democratic National Convention to endorse Hillary Clinton for president


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海東龍宮寺 Haedong Yonggungsa Temple, Korea
Other special sites at the Haedong Yonggungsa Temple are the 108 stairs and stone lanterns lining the rocky landscape. After going down the 108 steps, one will be delighted with the beauty of the temple. Midway down the 108 steps one can stop and enjoy the calming sounds of the waves as well view the majestic sunrise. Many people often come to this spot on New Year's Day to make a wish for the new year as they watch the sun come up. April is an especially beautiful time of year with cherry blossoms in full bloom. The birth of Buddha is also celebrated in April (following the lunar calendar) and offers a spectacular night view as the temple area is aglow with electrically lit lanterns.
@Busan, Korea
海東龍宮寺 Haedong Yonggungsa Temple
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Taken on November 7, 2007


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FACULTY Directory
Search by:
View Bio
David Dent Martin
AMDA Artistic Director, New York and Los Angeles
With a passion for the performing arts and a devotion to developing and inspiring new talent, there is no better person to creatively and artistically lead AMDA than David Martin. As a producer, director, actor and teacher, Martin has done it all, from staging New York, London and regional productions of Shakespeare, Chekhov, Ibsen and Wilde, to producing numerous television shows with actors John Houseman, James Earl Jones, Edward Herrmann and Sam Waterson, to gala events such as Broadway Plays Washington at the Kennedy Center featuring Beatrice Arthur, Pearl Bailey, Ellen Burstyn and Debbie Reynolds. In his early days at AMDA, Martin produced and directed many critically acclaimed fundraising productions that helped establish the school's reputation as a world-class performing arts conservatory, includingSing Happy, a tribute to John Kander and Fred Ebb starring Liza Minnelli, Gwen Verdon and Chita Rivera; You're the Top, a tribute to Cole Porter featuring Kevin Kline, Dick Cavett and Lucie Arnaz; and Hey, Look Me Over, a tribute to Cy Coleman starring Neil Simon, Imogene Coca and Mel Torme. Then, in the late 1970s, AMDA founder Philip H. Burton passed the torch on to Martin, who took over as Artistic Director. In the three decades since, Martin has overseen significant expansion, transforming the school into a thriving, fully accredited institution with campuses in both New York and Los Angeles.
Degrees, Studies and Affiliations:
B.A., Baylor University Graduate study at Trinity University Additional study with Charles Laughton, Alice Gachet, Etienne Decroux, Martha Graham and Agna Enters SSD&C
AMDA Faculty since: 1968
View Bio
Sharon Chohi Kim
Music, Los Angeles
Sharon is a voice artist based in Los Angeles as well as a singer, actress, teacher, choral conductor and arranger. She explores vocal sounds and possibilities, then applies them to a wide range of music, such as baroque, opera, contemporary, experimental, electronic and musical theatre.
She has performed in solo and ensemble concerts, operas and musical theatre productions in venues such as The Roy and Edna Disney/CalArts Theater (REDCAT) and the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA), Los Angeles; Spectrum, New York; El Paso Opera; the Chamizal National Memorial, Texas; and Jang Chun Art Hall and Yeoungdeungpogu Theatre in Seoul, South Korea.
Her versatility shines in performances such as La Boheme (Musetta); The Magic Flute (Pamina); Rent (Mimi); Steve Reich's Music for 18 Musicians; and Luciano Berio's Sequenza III, among many others.
Degrees, Studies and Affiliations:
M.F.A., Voice, California Institute of the Arts B.M., Voice Performance, University of Texas at El Paso
AMDA Faculty since: 2014
View Bio
Rod Kinter
Stage Combat, New York
Fight Director, Stage Combat Teacher, Stunt Performer. From 1995 to 2009 Rod was the in-house Fight Director for New York City Opera. In that venue he staged the fights/violence for over 40 productions and revivals, including televised productions of "Porgy and Bess" and "Tosca" as well as several NY premieres such as "Dead Man Walking", "Harvey Milk", "Margret Garner" and "Mathis der Mahler".
Currently Rod is the Resident Fight Director for Off- Broadway's The Pearl Theatre Company; productions include: Richard II, Twelfth Night, Playboy of the Western World, the Subject was Roses, and the Sneeze. Other Off – Broadway credits include Fatal Attraction: A Greek Tragedy and Abe Lincoln's Big Gay Dance Party. Rod's work has also been seen in NY at Theatre 1010, Lincoln Center Directors Lab, American Globe Theatre, Chekhov Theatre Ensemble, Shelby Company and Primary Stages. Regional credits include American Repertory Theatre's Romeo and Juliet, two seasons at The Utah Shakespeare Festival staging, among others, Henry V, Julius Caesar, Private Lives, Moonlight and Magnolias, Comedy of Errors, and As You Like It. For the Barter Theatre: The Prince and the Pauper and Tom Sawyer. Princeton Rep: Romeo and Juliet. Glimmerglass Opera: Of Mice and Men, Rigoletto. New Jersey State Opera: Porgy and Bess and Macbeth. Princeton Festival: Carmen and Don Giovanni. New Jersey Performing Arts Center: West Side Story, Ragtime and Carousel. Co creator of fight-themed shows, Duellists: The Forgotten Champions, The Jaded Assassin, Last Life and The Anne Bonny/Calico Jack Stunt Show.
Stunt/Fight Performer: Film: Proud. Video: No Surrender and In Jail. Live Action Stunts: Robin Hood in The Robin Hood Stunt Spectacular, Terrorist/Villain in The Lethal Weapon Water Stunt Spectacular.
Teaching: Manhattan School of Music, Mannes College of Music, Swordplay, Stella Adler Conservatory, Rutgers, Columbia STI, SUNY New Paltz and Rockland, American Ballet Theatre, International Opera Convention
Affiliations: AEA, SAG, AFTRA
Degrees, Studies and Affiliations:
AMDA Faculty since: 2011
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Siobhan Kolker
Individual Voice, New York
Singer, actress. Regional credits: Kennedy Center Sondheim Festival, Washington Opera, Baltimore Opera, Ohio Light Opera, Opera Vivente (Baltimore), Toby's Dinner Theatre. New York performances: New York City Fringe Festival, Verge Theatre, Innovative Stages, One World Symphony. Teaching positions at Montclair University and Turtle Bay Musical Schools. Prior teaching credits: Ensemble Theatre (musical director, vocal coach), the Park School Community School (private voice instructor), Garrison Forest School (private voice instructor, Middle School Chamber Choir).
Degrees, Studies and Affiliations:
B.M.A. (High Honors), Voice and History, University of Michigan M.M., Voice Performance, Peabody Conservatory of Music, Johns Hopkins University National Association of Teachers of Singing New York Singing Teachers Association American Guild of Musical Artists AEA
AMDA Faculty since: 2006
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Cecilia Landers
Dance, New York
Cecilia Landers stems from a musical theatre background and is thrilled to be a part of the dance department at AMDA. After graduating from AMDA, she toured the US with Artspower's Laura Ingalls Wilder and was part of A Stoop on Orchard Street's west coast tour. Other credits include Fiddler on the Roof (Tzeitel), Godspell (Gilmer), See How They Run (Penelope), and Children of Eden. Cecilia recently returned from the Greenbrier in West Virginia where she choreographed and performed the Casino Club Cabarets and "A Greenbrier Christmas." She is starting her fifth year with her beloved dance company, Overground.
Degrees, Studies and Affiliations:
B. A. Psychology and Spanish, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh PA, Musical Theatre Graduate, American Musical and Dramatic Academy, AEA
AMDA Faculty since: 2011
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MaryEllen Landon
Individual Voice, New York
Singer, voice teacher. Roles include Praskovia in The Nose at Santa Fe Opera with Edo de Waart, conductor; Gilda with Anton Coppola and the Brooklyn Philharmonic opera-in-the-park series; Madam Goldentrill in Impresario with Lukas Foss and his setting of the dialogue in recitative; Rodelinde at San Bernadino Handel Festival with Richard Barrett, conductor. Over 25 roles in new American operas with After Dinner Opera Company, NYC. Off-Broadway roles include Jane in Boy Meets Boy, dancer/singer Lily in Mary at Equity Library Theater and Polly Peachum in Beggar's Holiday with Luther Henderson. Some favorite roles performed include Anna in the King and I, Ann in A Little Night Music, Eliza Doolittle In My Fair Lady, April in Company, as well as numerous off-off-Broadway showcases. Soprano soloist in Vivaldi's Chamber Mass, Bach's Magnificat, Haydn's Paukenmesse and Handel's Crudel tiranno amor with El Paso Pro Musica. Top prizewinner of Societa dei Concerti vocal competition in Santa Margharita Ligure, Italy. Young Audience Award, NYC, for Intro to Opera (ADOCO). National print work (Anacin, Macmillan Publishing, Eileen Sport). Lead singer with big band Bobby Earl and His Orchestra. Currently resides in NYC with her husband, daughter, three cats and dog. Other interests include design, travel, skiing and tennis. Private voice instructor. AGMA, AEA.
Degrees, Studies and Affiliations:
B.M., Music, West Virginia University M.M., Voice, New Mexico State University Graduate work in drama, further study at American Institute of Music, Graz, Austria Studied voice with Louigi Vecchia, Jerry Forderhase, Frances Yeend and Walter Weaver Coaching with Marshall Williamson and Joan Dorneman Language studies with Robert Cowart Studied acting with Michael Shurtleff, Wesley Balk and Janet Bookspan
AMDA Faculty since: 2006
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Stephanie Landwehr
Dance, Los Angeles
Stephanie has been dancing for her entire life. She feels fortunate to have had such a varied and diverse dance career to this point. She's worked all over the world in all media, from dance company stages in Seoul, Korea, to music videos in Rome, Italy; from dancing as a featured soloist for the Los Angeles Opera to dancing with Cher at The Coliseum in Caesars Palace, Las Vegas. Stephanie has had the privilege to dance and/or assist with choreography for artists including Tina Turner, Hole, The B-52's, Green Day, Chemical Brothers, Macy Gray, and the Spice Girls. Film appearances include The Muppets, Gangster Squad, Annie (TV movie), and She's All That, as well as commercials for Subway, Pepsi, K-mart, Chase Bank and The Gap. Her choreography can be seen in the films Too Late and Mafia!, and commercials for Chase Bank, K-mart, Jell-O, and Burger King. Stephanie is a former member of Hysterica Dance Company (LA), Dance Anonymous (NYC), and was a founding member of the Wes Veldink Movement (NYC).
Degrees, Studies and Affiliations:
Union Affiliation: SAG/AFTRA and AGMA
AMDA Faculty since: 2014
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Victoria Lavan
Music, Los Angeles
Victoria enjoys a varied and accomplished career as a singer, actress, and teacher. Known for her skills and success in many styles and genres, she has been praised by the Los Angeles Times as "…a soprano with first-rate, high soaring vocal skills…and a warm, lyrical, uncluttered way with a song…" (Don Heckman). Favorite collaborations and roles include: the Sundance Institute with San Francisco Opera Adler Fellowship Program; Salt Lake Opera Theatre, Rigoletto (Gilda); Opera Unplugged, La Boheme (Musetta); Albuquerque Chamber Orchestra, The Telephone(Lucy); New West Symphony, Ventura Music Festival - Bach B Minor Mass, soprano soloist, Grammy Award winning conductor, Vance George; Jesus Christ Superstar with Ted Neeley and Carl Anderson, Rubicon Theatre Co.; Glitter and Be Gay:A Tribute to Barbara Cook, El Portal Theatre and regional tour; Ventura College, director of two new opera theatre productions, "Ernest Worthing" and "Hobson's Choice" by noted composer, John Biggs. As the recipient of teaching awards and study grants, Victoria actively purses the study and practice of vocology, the habituation of the voice using traditional methods intertwined with state of the art voice science findings and vocal health practices. She is a Charter Voting Member of the Pan American Vocology Association, member of NATS, past president of NATS-LA and NATS regional governor for Southern California. Victoria's greatest accomplishments as a teacher are the successes of her students, many of whom currently flourish in careers as performing artists throughout the world.
Degrees, Studies and Affiliations:
B.A. and M.A., Voice, University of Utah, University of Phoenix and Almeda University. Studied voice with Ray Arbizu, Bonn Opera, and Natalie Limonick. Los Angeles Performance Training with Wesley Balk, Carol Weiss, Craig Carnelia and Sabin Epstein, Theatre West, Los Angeles, National Opera Association; Governor, Southern California National Association of Teachers of Singing.
AMDA Faculty since: 2005
Randi Lee
Dance, New York
AMDA Faculty since: 2015
Meisha Lee
Dance, Los Angeles
AMDA Faculty since: 2016
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Andy Leech
Music Theatre, New York
Andy Leech has worked as in theatre an actor, director, press representative and company manager. He has taught musical theatre and acting at Bennington College, NYU (Cap 21 and ETW), and The New School (Eugene Lang College). He started the Musical Theatre program at James Madison University in Virginia and helped create their Musical Theatre curriculum in the schools of Theatre and Dance and Music. He has directed over 50 musicals and plays in both professional and educational theatre.
Degrees, Studies and Affiliations:
BS in Communication Arts with a concentration in Theatre from James Madison University -1983 Finished classwork for Masters in Theatre/Directing from Brooklyn College / CUNY. Expect to complete Thesis this Fall 2013.
AMDA Faculty since: 2001
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