Seniors Shan Cerrone and Steven Yen are active volunteers with Project Home, a unique place among homeless outreach centers in that it works specifically to rehabilitate those in need to get them off the streets and back to their self-sustaining lives. Project Home provides community services such as their open format art program where residents can draw, paint, sculpt, or work on any visual mixed media of their choice using the program's resources. 

 

 

Volunteering at the art program is a great way for the students to use the design skills they have learned to help those who either already have plentiful talent, or are just looking to release some creative energy. Every Monday, Shan and Steven volunteer at group sessions mentoring residents with their art, helping them with supplies, or to provide a listening ear and give human interaction.  Several times a year the Project displays exhibitions of Project Home's members artwork around Philadelphia; recently at the Free Library on the Parkway and in the lobby of the URBN center.  Coordinating the exhibitions provides the students with real world gallery experience that consists of helping the residents to select which art they want to hang, how to price it, and then framing or matting their art to install at the various spaces.  

 

"It's an incredibly rewarding experience to work with those in need in such a creative space, and actually seeing the impact you can have on the community with just a few hours every week," said Shan Cerrone. In addition to working directly with the program participants on creative projects, the students provide photography for PR, help the participants connect with creative networks to further their artistic career, and doing video interviews of participant's stories and anything in between.

 

I am happy to announce the addition of Jason Varney to our adjunct faculty roster. I am committed to providing our students with the best education and industry experience and Jason will be a great addition to our faculty.