Pratt Ballet Improves Students’ Attitudes By Victoria Hudgins

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A Pratt student rehearsed her ballet positions at dance class.

Classical music played from a small boom box

on Anna Pratt Elementary’s auditorium stage as young girls stared at their instructor’s feet. The instructor stood in a turn-out, a fundamental ballet step, where the dancer’s feet are pointed in opposite directions in a straight line. The girls broke out in random giggling and teasing, but they all smiled with pride as they mimicked the step. For the past six years, Pratt has taught select female students ballet at the school. Most of the students do not have a dance background, but many are excited to be in the class. Every Monday., two classes of third-, fourth-, fifth- and sixth-grade girls put on their black leotards, tights and ballet shoes, and Elena Tiuriakulova them the basics.

“In pre-ballet it’s more about fun and not turning them off from physical activity, from dance,” Tiuriakulova explained. “Like you’re trying to develop their coordination, musicology and give as much possible fun.” Tiuriakulova, 54, takes her many years of classical training, professional perform-ing and teaching the ballet program, but she said she likes providing students with more musical outlets. “We thought we had something to offer the commu-nity,” a spokesperson for the International Ballet Exchange said about the reason for start-ing the nonprofit in 1998. The nonprofit provides Philadelphia public school students with a connection to a different style of music that they may not have gotten from regulars academics.

The pre-ballet classes at Pratt, which students do not receive academic credit for, began in 2006. Principal De-nise Young said the nonprofit chose Pratt without the school approaching the program, but she said she likes providing students with more musical outlets. “As a child, I took bal-let and it exposed students to as many arts as possible,” Young said. She added that the discipline of the dance and the behavioral expectation to maintain being in the course has improved students’ behav-ior at Pratt. Tiuriakulova said in dance-specific schools it is a lot more competitive and there is more rejection because ballet is a specific plicit requirements. “But in other [non-per-forming arts] schools, they often have parents that want their children to come and take ballet,” Tiuriakulova said. Justine Robinson assists the ballet course with

making sure the students show up to ballet and get back to their classes on time and other school responsibilities at Pratt. Robinson said there is a notice-able change in the girls who participate in ballet. “I’ve noticed it’s changed for the good. They are not as pouty as they use to be,” Robinson said. “When they are dancing, they are happy.” During the first class at 11 a.m., a few of the girls teased a student’s stance. Tiuriakulova told the girls not to criticize, and they broke into a dance of dramatically and rhythmi-cally saying “ssh.” The dance appeared very customary as a way for Tiuriakulova to calm the group. Student Marander Mills called the dance “a ballet way of telling people to ‘shut up.’” Ballet in Philadelphia’s non-performing arts schools shows dance is not all poses and techniques, it’s a form of expression that can be used in all parts of life.

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“We provide our local RBI programs with what-ever we can do to help them get their program started

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Brewerytown Baseball Targets Inner-City YouthBy Michael C. Burke, Syreeta Martin and Nichole Fray

because it is an expensive task if you want to start a league or program in their area. We’re here to alleviate the costs for them,” said Jon Joaquin, manager of fan development programs for the Philadelphia Phillies. Joaquin attributed the lack of interest in baseball in inner cities to the lower costs of sports like basketball. “You never know the full reason why baseball died after all these years, but you take a look at the costs.” he said, addding that equipment can be expensive unlike basketball.

James Carter established the program in 2007.

Many people consider baseball to be Ameri-

ca’s great past-time, but evi-dence shows that inner-city youth may have moved on to other activities. The number of African-American players in Major League Baseball is dwin-dling, according to an an-nual study conducted by the Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport, which serves as a comprehensive resource regarding issues of race and gender in athletics. In 2011 only 8.5 percent of major league rosters con-sisted of African-American players. This figure is striking considering it is the lowest level since 2007 when black players made up merely 8.2 percent of opening day ros-ters. When the study began in 1990, the figure was 17 percent. The debate continues on why African-Americans seem to be abandoning the game. Meanwhile, James Carter, founder of the Greater Brew-erytown Community Devel-opment Corp., established the Brewerytown Youth Baseball Program in 2007 to provide inner-city youth from the neighborhood the oppor-tunity to play the game he enjoyed as a kid. “We’re hoping that it shows them a responsibility, a commitment to teammates, leadership, their willingness to work together. It inspires a lot of characteristics that they’re going to need in the future,” Carter said. The Brewerytown Youth Baseball Program consists of three different teams: a T-ball team for children between the ages of 5 and 7, one for those aged 8 through 12 and one for those aged 13 through 15.

children between the ages of Carter said the league usually runs between the months of April and July, and the pro-gram is recruiting children to join the program. The program began in 1989 as a means of increas-ing participation and interest among inner-city youth.The program is funded primarily by donations from various groups. Last year, as part of the Reviv-ing Baseball in Inner Cities program, the Philadelphia Phil-lies provided the Brewerytown Youth Baseball Program with $2,500.

Residents Line Block to Apply for JobsBy Victoria Hudgins

Job seekers stood outside of Strawberry Mansion Commu-

nity Development Corp. holding resumes and cover letters. Their ages varied, but they all had one goal and that was to get a job. Some were dressed busi-ness casual while others wore jeans and a hooded sweatshirt as they waited for the next 10 people to be let into the building to possible get a job. The people were patient and conversations were mostly about job hunting or people who’d recently gotten employed. The corporation and Straw-berry Mansion Neighborhood Action Center Inc. sponsored the one-day-only event where residents could fill out applica-tions and get an interview on the spot for the new Dollar General at Sedgley Plaza. “The jobs are hard to find out here. To sustain the qual-ity of life you need that [a job]. You can’t do it on welfare,’ said Strawberry Manion resident Margaret Grazier, who was in line to fill out an application.

She was one of the first in line two hours before the 9 a.m. event. By 9 a.m. the line had already started from the steps at the corporation’s headquarters ,located at 2829 W. Diamond St.. to the end of the corner. The CDC got the word and fliers out only two days before and the turnout was somewhat expected even on short notice. People also heard about the event fron friends and family. “I kinda could expect this turnout with this economy,” said Tyrone Williams, the community liaison for the Action Center.

President and CDC Execu-tive Director Tonnetta Grant said the organization is working for commercial development to come into the neighborhood and getting jobs for Strawberry Mansion residents from those new developments. Many of the residents said they filled out applications online or have gone to job fairs in Center City, but they said they liked having an application op-portunity in their neighborhood. Some residents have prison records, which makes it moe difficult to get jobs despite recent laws to make it easier.

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The Strawberry Mansion Community Action Center handed out applications.

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New Board Tries to Give a Voice to YouthBy Victoria Hudgins

Square tables were pressed together for a conference

at the Greater Brewerytown Development Corp. A dozen young men and one young female employee sat around the table as the CDC’s youth advisory board held its first meeting. The conversation was loud and full of laugh-ter. The young people par-ticipating were all teenagers, although the board is open to between 10 and 19, and they go to various public, charter and private schools through-out the city. “What do you need on the Ave?” asked Naomi Roberson, a Greater Brew-erytown Development Corp. employee and co-adviser for the youth advisory board. The young men answered with shouts for a Hollister clothing store, a McDonalds and other fast-food restau-rants, a gym and a football team. When James Carter, director and founder of the Greater Brewerytown Com-munity Development Corp. and the coach for the basket-ball and baseball teams that many of the boys paticipate in, walked into the room, the young men almost instantly quieted down. He told the boys to wait to speak and asked what they would like to see on Girard Avenue other than a sneaker store. Hands were raised and the young men voiced their opinion about keeping local basketball courts and play-grounds clean and vibrant with new paint and sug-gested that they would throw barbeques to raise money for trips. Beautification and per-ception seemed to be on the mind of young people.

Carter listened to the other suggestions for school work and college-prep help. The new youth advisory board also decided to hold meetings every other Tuesday at 4 p.m. and to elect officers in the summer. Participants were given job applications at the meeting as well.

The youth board offered suggestions on what they would like to see in their neighborhood.

brought in and the youth advi-sory board lined up for a slice of pizza and a cup of soda. “I thought they would be in more depth and offer more variety,” Carter said after the meeting. He said he wanted to start the board because he no-ticed the adult Brewerytown residents didn’t know or care to figure out what younger residents wanted in their area. Carter said he plans to turn the board over to Justin Haley, a younger resident who has expertise in interacting with them. Haley, 35, has been in Brewerytown for 20 years. He works to teach the young participants networking for employment and reaching their personal best. “I want the kids to use their personal success to give back,” Haley said.

Vaux High School’s Principal Richard Gordon IV made an appearance. “I want to congratulate you for taking part in this oppor-tunity,” Gordon said. “I hope you guys put together a strong team.” The meeting adjourned when two cheese pizzas were

Mahogany Philly’s ‘No Excuses’ to Keep FitBy Desiree Disney

On the first Saturday of every month, the Ma-

hogany Philly Fitness Club hosts a run/walk event on Kelly Drive. Mahogany Philly was founded by Jamaica Yancy, who started the organization at the beginning of this year. Mahogany Philly consists of three different clubs: so-cial, book and fitness. The so-cial club’s objective is to help African-American women explore Philadelphia. The group holds events that include dance classes, casual lunches, weekend trips, par-ties and more. The book club discovers books and other forms of literature that pertain to women of color. The club

Jamaica Yancy founded MahoganyPhilly earlier this year.

meets monthly to discuss each others’ opinions and different themes of a book. There is also food, wine and coffee for the members.

The club is for women who are interested in exercis-ing and having fun. The club meets every week for walks, light jogs or meetups at the gym. Mahogany Philly currently does not have any offices. However, you can become a “Mahogany Mama” by join-ing on the website at www.mohagonyphilly.com The organization accepts any ethnicity of women. Yancy said, “It doesn’t really matter your ethnicity neces-sarily, but the idea is to pro-mote the community of color, so if you understand that, then you’re welcome.”

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Brewerytown’s Athletic Recreation Center Helps Neighborhood Kids By Desiree Disney, Bill Matz and Dhara Kamania

Lonnie Cohen has worked at the Athletic Recreation Center for more than 15 years.

“I don’t hate going to work everyday and it keeps me athletic.”

--Lonnie Cohen

Residents of Brewerytown said the recreation center is good for the community and keeps the children occupied, as well as staying active in “Philly’s Fittest After-School Program.” The Athletic Recreation Cen-ter also offers a Summer Camp for ages 5-12. Registration for the summer program began April 14. The center is also looking for volunteers for their water station at the Broad Street Run at Broad and Master streets. Anyone interested in volunteer-

At 1401 N. 26th St. in Brew-erytown, the Athletic Recre-

ation Center still stands tall. After being built in the 1920s, the recreation center was one of the original centers in Philadel-phia. Filled with kids running around and arts and crafts on the wall, it is managed and supervised by Lonnie Cohen, also given the title “Recreation Leader Three.” Cohen also has three to five staff employees, including Assistant Supervisor Fred Jenkins, who has been running the center’s boxing program for over 40 years. The Athletic Recreation Center holds many programs for chil-dren in the neighborhood. It has an after-school program Monday through Friday, which ends at eight o’clock at night. The children come from Gen-eral John F. Reynold School and William D. Kelley School. Home-work help, access to computer labs and educational trips are offered at the center. Children may also participate in dance, drama or sports, like boxing, as the center is known for having produced several professional boxers.

Performing Arts in Church Brings People TogetherBy Victoria Hudgins and Benjamin Gamber

Loud thumps of drums, piano keys and singing

voices blare out of Prince of Peace Baptist Church at 1801 N. 31st St. for choir practice every Monday from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. After a fire destroyed the church in 2008, it reopened in 2011 smaller, but more tech savvy and energy friendly. The church has two print-ing shops, a fitness room, a lab full of computers fresh out of the boxes, a spacious kitchen, a movie projector and multiple spacious rooms for Bible studies and confer-ences. However, the world-wide tradition of choir in churches still attracted many members to Prince of Peace. “I think people usually navigate towards the choir,” said Choir and Mime Direc-tor Shavonne Cook. Cook said people usually first join choir or the usher

responsibilities of the church and then gravitate toward other ministries. Fellow choir director and older sister to Cook, Pamela Gray, said the choir members are “the people you always see around the church,” and that the directors “try to keep [the music] contemporary, modern, praise and worship style.” “I was 8 when I joined and I had no choice,” said choir member Martina Carolina of why she joined the church. Outside of the tenors, altos and sopranos singing songs, Prince of Peace also offers miming, a silent but praising performance art. “Originally, when I was little we saw them on a TV Christmas show,” Cook said. “That was like 25 years ago and that really intrigued me because it was translating the song into body movements.”

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The Strawberry Mansion TImes is a publication of the Department of Journalism at the School of Communications and Theater at Temple University. Please visit www.strawberrymansiontimes.com for continuing coverage, with a Facebook page for comments and events. Contact co-managing editor Christopher Harper at charper@temple.edu about stories, advertising or any other matters.

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The choir practiced at the Prince of Peace Baptist Church.