About Us

I love listening to jazz music, playing guitar, and learning about history. As a Philadelphia native, I am very excited to learn and contribute to the story of this city’s jazz musicians! Growing up, I learned to play guitar and listened to many rock and jazz bands and musicians. Some artists I like to listen to are Kamasi Washington, Bill Evans, and Franciso Tenório Júnior. I find their use of voicings, inversion, and rhythms to be both beautiful and influential to my music journey. As a sophomore at Penn, I plan to major in urban studies and computer science. I love to learn about cultures, and people’s experiences and how they shape our communities.

As a second-year graduate student pursuing a Master of Fine Art degree at the University of Pennsylvania, Jackson’s academic research explores the archives of Chitlin Circuit – the venues themselves, the performances within them, and what it felt like to be part of the crowd. Through photography, video, collage, and drawing, she explores different angles of these histories. As she collects materials, maps, archival imagery, and interviews, she starts to see how many perspectives of a single place paint a fuller picture of what it was like to be there. The collective memory of the venues strengthens with each new story, as the legacy of the place becomes all the more seen and felt. She’s especially interested in how stories get passed down as generations “speak” to one another through these spaces, as well as how they resist erasure by preserving stories for future generations. She is excited to work with the jazz community in Philadelphia and hear stories from the past and shine a light on the work they are doing today.

I am a junior at the University of Pennsylvania double majoring in Cultural & Linguistic Anthropology and Linguistics, with minors in East Asian Area Studies and East Asian Languages and Civilizations (EALC) in Japanese. Originally from New York City, I have grown up passionate about cultural representation, language preservation, and the ways communities share their stories.

As a Cultural Heritage Student Assistant, I support community-based initiatives that highlight Philadelphia’s untold histories. I help develop exhibits, assist with oral history projects, and facilitate family and community archiving workshops. I also contribute to research, exhibit design, and digital humanities initiatives. Through this work, I am excited to collaborate with local partners and community elders to preserve and celebrate Philadelphia’s diverse cultural heritage for future generations!

College of Arts and Sciences, History and Urban Education.

In elementary school, I remember being especially into Percy Jackson books written by Rick Riordan, and I enjoyed imagining new worlds with my friends based on the books. As an aspiring educator, I value the opportunity to work directly with students to build literacy skills. I’m drawn to work with PLCE because the team provides books and concrete resources to Philadelphia public schools while running meaningful programming.

Fun fact: As a native Philadelphian who mostly rides SEPTA, I hope to finally get my license this year. 

College of Arts and Sciences, English and Cinema Media Studies with a minor in Creative Writing.

I will never forget the first time I read Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney in 3rd grade. It was fun to read about someone who thought (almost) like me. It was like reading the inner thoughts of an odd, yet relatable sibling. Which the only child in me ate up!  

Fun fact: I wish to become a bestselling romance author in the next 10 years! 

College of Arts and Sciences, Political Science and History

One of the earliest books I read that had an impact on me was when I read Akata Witch by Nnedi Okorafor in the 5th grade. It was one of the first times where I was able to experience reading about a character that looked like me and lived and experienced African culture as a normal part of life. I enjoy working with PCLE because it allows me to contribute to my personal belief that reading is for everyone within my newfound community of Philadelphia. 

Fun fact: I want to take a gap year after undergrad and read the entire NYT top 100 books. 

Weitzman School of Design, Master of City Planning

One of the first books that had a great impression on me as a kid was The Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell. The Island of the Blue Dolphins was an incredible novel that conveyed such a sense of loneliness that I'd never felt before. It is based on the true story of an indigenous woman who was the last of her people, left to live in solitude on an island off the coast of California. My favorite thing about working as a community engagement intern at PLCE is how it allows me to work in with the community off campus. Being a Penn student can leave you feeling stuck in a bubble on campus, and working with PLCE offers a nice change of scenery where I can do impactful and fulfilling work! 

Fun fact: A goal of mine is to eventually make a living by making beautiful hand-drawn maps as well as growing and selling delicious figs at the Clark Park Farmer's Market! 

College of Arts & Sciences and School of Social Policy & Practice, Philosophy, Politics, and Economics, and Masters in Nonprofit Leadership

One of the very first books I remember as a child was The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle being read aloud to me! I remember the pages being very interactive and to this day it’s still my favorite book because of how kids are able to physically engage with the book. I love working within the schools in West Philadelphia, as it allows me to better integrate myself into the community and understand its needs! 

Fun fact: I’m graduating this upcoming year and hopefully will work in refugee children’s education!