Penn State Brandywine’s Laboratory for Civic and Community Engagement will host a four-day Social Justice Fair on campus April 18-21.
MEDIA, Pa. — Penn State Brandywine’s Laboratory for Civic and Community Engagement will host a four-day Social Justice Fair on campus from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. daily starting Monday, April 18, through Thursday, April 21.
The Social Justice Fair will focus on how students can get involved at Penn State Brandywine and in their local community. Each day, a different theme will give students a broader understanding of the different ways they can become an engaged student and citizen. The series of events will emphasize democracy and civic engagement, responsible consumerism, human rights, and arts and activism.
Each day, a fair trade T-shirt exchange will allow attendees to exchange a slightly used shirt for an Alta Gracia Apparel Penn State Brandywine shirt. Also, all attendees will receive a reusable Penn State Brandywine water bottle.
Throughout the week, button-making stations will also be on-site for students to create button templates that reflect their own social justice-themed wearable art.
The Penn State Brandywine Student Music Collaborative will also be performing at the events. The student club will play all different genres of music and songs that relate to social justice themes.
See below for a full schedule of events:
Monday, April 18
“Democracy and Civic Engagement: Information session with local political representatives”
11:40 a.m. – 12:15 p.m., Tomezsko Lounge, Democratic Party representatives
12:15 p.m. – 12:50 p.m., Tomezsko Lounge, Republican Party representatives
Members from the local Democratic and Republican parties will share their insights about what they do and also provide information about their duties during the upcoming election season.
“Penn State Brandywine Student Government Panel Discussion"
12:50 – 1:20 p.m., Tomezsko Lounge
Penn State Brandywine student leaders will share how fellow students can get involved on campus.
Tuesday, April 19
“Responsible Consumerism Panel Discussion”
11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., Tomezsko 104
Members from Transition Town Media, fair trade representatives and local business owners will talk about how to integrate responsible business relationships into the community and why it’s important to be a responsible consumer.
"Student Exhibits"
11:30 a.m. – 1:20 p.m.
Students selected a relevant course topic or theme of interest and designed and implemented an action project from a social justice perspective. Students will present their projects and many will provide opportunities for participation at the Social Justice Fair.
“Show and Sell”
11:30 a.m. – 1:20 p.m., Outside the Tomezsko Building
Recycle your belongings at a mini free store.
Wednesday, April 20
“Growth… not Death”
11:30 a.m. – 1:20 p.m., Outside of the Tomezsko Building
An ice sculpture by Roger Wing, an artist and sculptor from Philadelphia, will be carved in real-time. The sculpture will portray an anti-violence theme.
“Arts as Social Activism with Ricardo Rivera”
12:30-1 p.m., Tomezsko 103
Ricardo Rivera, a founding director of Klip Collective of Philadelphia that created Longwood Garden’s "Nightscape: A Light and Sound Experience," will speak about artistic social activism.
Thursday, April 21
“Facing the Monster of Human Trafficking”
11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., Tomezsko 103
Carol Metzker, author of “Facing the Monster: How One Person Can Fight Child Slavery,” will share what human trafficking and modern slavery looks like in southeastern Pennsylvania.
“Call to Action”
12:30-1:30 p.m., Tomezsko Lounge
Local organizations working with human rights issues and community partners will have information available for students to get involved with their cause.
For questions about the Social Justice Fair, contact Lynn Hartle at 610-892-1492 or [email protected].
