Through Civic Engagement projects, the Kislak Center seeks to preserve and share the cultural memory of Philadelphia. In our collaborations and archiving projects, we center community needs, community knowledge production, and community voices. We create equitable relationships with community partners and organizations committed to remembering, celebrating, and sharing the lives and stories of Philadelphians with the world.
Using the online mapping tool Humap, we are working with the Philly Jazz Legacy Project to create an interactive map that documents and preserves the history of jazz in Philadelphia. The interactive map serves as a regional finding aid that helps researchers navigate primary sources and historically- and culturally-significant sites.
In consultation with artist and photographer Donald E. Camp, we are collaborating on an oral history project that reflects Camp’s artistic innovations, political activism, and contributions to Philadelphia history.
Everyone’s experiences are important and deserve preservation. We have developed this archiving guide to teach individuals and families the basic steps for archiving their cultural heritage for future generations.
Samantha is a Philadelphia native with a diverse career facilitating community-based arts, education, and cultural heritage projects. She holds master’s degrees from the University of Michigan, School of Information, and the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.
Before coming to Penn, Samantha collaborated with community organizations to produce archive-based exhibits and K-12 educational programs based on regional history, BIPOC social movements, and empowerment. Samantha developed projects for the Anchorage Museum, the Block Museum at Northwestern University, the Museum of Contemporary Photography at Columbia College, the Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago, and the Center for the Study of Race, Politics & Culture at the University of Chicago. She is also the creator of the Kinship Project, a community archive of photographs & artifacts from African American families,1839-2012.
As the Curator of Civic Engagement, Samantha continues this work by collaborating with non-profit organizations to preserve and share the stories of our city’s diverse histories and cultures. She works closely with community groups to develop digital archives and special projects, extending access of Philadelphia-based collections for public knowledge.
Corrine Cai is a first-year student at Penn. She is from Michigan but has also lived in China for 10 years. In high school, Corrine worked with diverse groups to organize community events, including initiating a cultural fest to celebrate diversity. Therefore, she is excited to continue to engage in community projects at the Kislak Center and to gain hands-on experience in community involvement while creating meaningful results.
Kexin (Linda) Huang is a second-year graduate student at the University of Pennsylvania, studying Intercultural Communication. She earned her bachelor's degree in Communication from the University of Southern California. Passionate about culture and history, Kexin has actively engaged in various projects at the intersection of education, non-profit management, and culture. With a keen interest in Philadelphia's rich arts and cultural scene, Kexin is excited and honored to serve as a student assistant at the Kislak Center, helping with cultural heritage projects. She cherishes the opportunity to continue learning while working alongside community partners to document and preserve Philadelphia's history.
Outside of work, Kexin enjoys exploring new experiences and traveling. Her adventures inspire her work and have cultivated a deep appreciation for global cultures and cuisines. She is also devoted to animal welfare, volunteering at animal shelters, and fostering pets in need.
Destiny Jacque is pursuing a Master of Science in Social Policy and Data Analytics at the University of Pennsylvania. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Sociology from Loyola University Chicago in 2022. Before coming to Penn, Destiny worked across the public policy sector at the local and federal policy levels. Most recently, she served as a policy fellow with the Philadelphia City Council under Council President Darnell Clarke and focused on initiatives related to affordable housing programs and homeownership assistance programs across the city. Destiny is committed to tackling policy inequities and strives to enhance the social welfare of all members of society. She is thrilled to embark on this journey at the Kislak Center as a Project Assistant and is eager to delve into the intersections of politics, culture, and history across Philadelphia.
Sonia Tam is a junior studying Cognitive Science and Computer Science, originally from Hong Kong. She has always been fascinated in storytelling through crafting user experiences. She is excited to bring her passion in user experience design to tell the stories hidden in Kislak Center’s archives. Sonia is also interested in the intersection of technology and archival science, especially in ways to digitize and share our collections with a broader audience. Outside of work, you can find her visiting surrealist art galleries, listening to Latin guitar music, or experimenting with new dessert recipes in the kitchen.
