WHAT DID PEC CDC WISH EXISTED?
A vibrant public space.
LoLa 38​
In 2016, Tabb Management was hired by People’s Emergency Center CDC, in partnership with the Lindy Institute of Urban Innovation at Drexel University, and Wexford Science + Technology as the project manager for LoLa 38, a creative placemaking project in West Philadelphia.
LoLa 38 used arts and community programming as a strategy for community engagement and a tool to gather community input. Programming occurred on and around the 14-acre former University City High School (UCHS) construction site and at the former United Bank building. Drexel University and Wexford Science + Technology are co-owners and co-developers of the 14-acre UCHS site and the former United Bank building site is owned by PECCDC.
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Informed by previous neighborhood plans and by collaborating with members of the community Working Group, local arts organizations, Drexel students and community volunteers, the project team:
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transformed a portion of the United Bank parking lot into a parklet
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planned 26 arts & community events
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produced 1 community festival
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hosted 6 workshops
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displayed 9 works of public art from local artists
...to encourage participation and inclusivity to extend beyond the project and fold into the long-term development of the community.
WHAT DID WE DO?
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Project Planning
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Program Development
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Vendor Management
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Budget Management
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Communications
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Community Engagement
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Website Management
PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS
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Producing the Soul Farm Community Festival
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Giving residents a "new way to walk" by painting a colorful, geometric sidewalk mural outside The Bank
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Listening to artists pitch their art to community members to choose which public art they wanted to see in their neighborhood
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Watching my mother sing Destiny's Child with strangers during Sip N' Sang karaoke night