New historic walking tour at Widener showcases locations important to civil rights in Chester
CHESTER » Widener University introduced a new walking tour this week that focuses on civil rights in the Chester area. The tour was developed by two students as part of an ongoing research project. Students M’Nya Preston and Madison Smith became interested in the civil rights history of Chester two years ago during a course taught by Assistant Professor Jordan Smith. The educator recognized their passion for the topic and offered the students a chance to continue with the research after the class concluded. Now juniors, both minoring in African and African-American Studies, the duo has developed a walking tour with scannable signs at notable sites around the Widener campus.
The five-stop tour delves into the intertwined history of Widener and Chester in the mid-twentieth century. Tour stops examine topics such as a segregated elementary school that previously inhabited a site on campus, 1964 civil rights protests near Providence Avenue, and a Pennsylvania Military College chemistry student named Walter Bryant (one of the few AfricanAmerican students attending the college) who was beaten and arrested during the protests.
The signs at each stop contain a QR code, so people on the tour can scan their electronic device to open a series of short documentary videos. The team drew from oral histories, historical photographs, newspapers, Widener yearbooks, and other historical sources to narrate these histories. The vision of the tour is
for visitors to collectively reinterpret familiar spaces while walking through Widener’s historic campus.
The free tour is available to all and is self-paced. Widener celebrated the opening of the tour on Founders Day, April 8 as part of the university’s bicentennial. The QR codes for the tour will remain in place after Founders Day so people can explore on their own schedule. For more information about Widener University, visit http://widener.edu.
American Pickers search for antique collectors in Pennsylvania
The American Pickers will return to Pennsylvania in June to film episodes of The History Channel hit television series. “American Pickers” is a documentary series that explores the fascinating world
of antique “picking.” The hit show follows skilled pickers in the business, as they hunt for America’s most valuable antiques. They are always excited to find sizeable, unique collections and learn the interesting stories behind them.
As they hit the back roads from coast to coast, the Pickers are on a mission to recycle and rescue forgotten relics. Along the way, they want to meet characters with remarkable and exceptional items. They hope to give historically significant objects a new lease on life while learning a thing or two about America’s past along the way. The Pickers have seen a lot of rusty gold over the years and are always looking to discover something they’ve never seen before. They are ready to find extraordinary items and hear fascinating tales about them. The American Pickers TV Show is looking for leads and would love to explore new hidden treasures. Anyone who has a large, private collection or accumulation of antiques that the Pickers can spend the better part of the day looking through, can send their name, phone number, location, and description of the collection with photos to: americanpickers@cineflix.com or call 646- 493-2184.
Tickets go on sale for ‘Evening With The Divas’
Entertainer Joe Staffieri will present “An Evening with The Divas,” 4 p.m. Sunday, June 19, at The Oaks Ballroom, 511 W. Oak Lane, Glenolden. Doors will open 3:30 p.m., dinner starts at 4 p.m. and show is at 5 p.m. Tickets, on sale now, cost $55 and include buffet dinner, show, and a cash bar. Everyone over 21 is welcome and encouraged to purchase early as they are expected to sell out quickly.
The show will feature tribute artists Suzette Dorsey as Tina Turner, Debbie Feeser as Barbra Streisand, April Young as Janis Joplin, Lori St. Martin as Olivia Newton John, and Tommy C as The Voice of Tribute. Staffieri will serve as host and emcee.
For tickets or more information, call Joe at 610-7452672.
Neumann alumna wins ‘Best Celebrity Interview’ award
Amanda Cunningham, an Upper Darby native who graduated from Neumann University in December of 2021, won the 2022 Intercollegiate Broadcasting Systems Award for Best Celebrity Interview in March. Paired with a student from Montclair
State University, Cunningham interviewed “Weird Al” Yankovic, a comedian best known for his song parodies, during College Radio Day last October. The duo had two weeks to prepare for the interview, and research Yankovic’s background.
“He had done radio when he was in college,” explained Cunningham. “Since we were doing the interview for College Radio Day, it was great to get his insight on what he did, what his experiences were, and how it helped him.”
Yankovic told the students that he “found himself” while working in college radio, not unlike Cunningham who found her voice by having her own college radio program on 98.5 WNUW, the university’s radio station. A communications and digital media major, Cunningham landed a job in her field before graduating. She works for the Beasley Media Group as a general engineer at Philadelphia radio stations like WMMR 93.3 and The Fanatic 97.5.
According to Sean McDonald, director of Neumann Media, WNUW and 90.3 WMSC at Montclair State often collaborate on radio projects, and the celebrity interview for College Radio Day — a celebration of college radio stations around the world — seemed like a perfect fit.
The 2022 prize was the first time two collaborating college radio stations ever won an IBS award. Cunningham and the university will both receive golden microphone trophies to mark the achievement.
Child Guidance features panel discussion on healing racial trauma
Child Guidance Resource Center will explore the question, “Healing Racial Trauma: Where Do We Begin?” 6- 7:15 p.m. Thursday, April 21. Panelists will include State Rep. Gina Curry, Judge Cheryl McCabe-Stroman, who has worked with Truancy and Criminal Courts, Rev. Carolyn Cavaness, pastor of Bethel AME Church of Ardmore, Kimberly Arnold, assistant professor in the Department of Family Medicine and Community Health at Penn, and DaVeda Graham, mother of five, who oversees Nurses United for Change and Equity, a nonprofit focusing on improving health disparities affecting underserved populations. The women from various fields will share their viewpoints in the Zoom presentation. Lawana Scales, who co-chairs Child Guidance Resource Centers’ DEI Council, will facilitate the discussion. All are welcome to attend with no advanced registration required.
For more information or to receive a Zoom link, call 989-646-5252 or email DEI@cgrc.org/. Child Guidance Resource Centers was founded in 1956 and continues to help over 10,000 children and families annually who benefit from its 24 programs. Child Guidance Resource Centers have been providing services for those who struggle with autism, anxiety, ADHD, learning disabilities, depression, developmental disabilities, trauma, and truancy. The organization provides life-changing therapies and teaches life skills for children and parents to succeed.