In spring 2020, PennPraxis—the center for applied research, outreach, and practice at the Weitzman School of Design—partnered with the Fresh Air Fund to create educational and recreational opportunities for underprivileged youths in New York City.
In Their Hands
A recent gift will help PennPraxis expand its work creating community partnerships, as well as hands-on learning experiences and career guidance for young people
Published: September 23, 2022
The partnership was facilitated by Lori Kanter Tritsch, MArch’85, PAR’16, a member of the Weitzman School Board of Advisors, and William Lauder, W’83, PAR’13, Chairman of the Board for the Fresh Air Fund.
“During the pandemic, there was a growing concern about today’s youth missing vital educational and growth experiences,” says Kanter Tritsch. “Bringing together talented Weitzman students and Fresh Air Fund youth was an obvious solution in my mind.”
The two-year pilot program, Design to Thrive, was a huge hit, with students and parents raving after one summer of virtual design instruction. The following summer, Design to Thrive staged in-person activities on Governor’s Island, where participants contributed to every aspect of the design process—from planning to painting, woodworking, and welding—under the tutelage of Weitzman School graduate fellows.
Penn Design Fellows introduce themselves to Fresh Air Fund youth by sharing some of their own design work and their educational and early career paths.
Fresh Air youth Leah, Angel, and Ray, all from the Bronx, collaborate on building a bench designed by Penn architecture undergraduate, P.J. Davis, C’23.
An arc of four benches built by Fresh Air counselors-in-training make a place to talk and rest at the basketball courts. Youth painted the benches with camp symbols, a detailed drawing of the journey from the city to camp by Mara (second from the right), and the names of everyone who participated in the project. The Penn teaching team stands in the back.
“Some of these young people had never touched power tools,” says Ellen Neises, the Lori Kanter Tritsch Executive Director of Penn Praxis. “The ability to build something of significance was exciting for them.”
The success of the two-year pilot inspired Kanter Tritsch and Lauder to make a $7.5 million commitment, endowing the Design to Thrive program and the PennPraxis executive director position. As the nonprofit practice arm of the University, PennPraxis works in solidarity with students and faculty who engage communities in design and revitalization projects. “This gift makes it possible for us to attract other resources to expand upon our work, especially as we grow Design to Thrive,” says Neises. “We now have the core capacity to think beyond building projects, and to do even more work to support young people who want to pursue careers in design or the trades.”
Other PennPraxis activities include working with the Lenape indigenous community to protect sacred stone landscapes and historic trails, collaborating with residents in Philadelphia’s Grays Ferry neighborhood to develop a community park, and conducting research to support a plan for housing assistance and rental relief in six U.S. cities in response to economic pressures caused by the pandemic.
PennPraxis Design Fellows collaborated with leaders of the Ramapough Lenape Nation Turtle Clan, archaeologists, and other experts in the surveying and mapping of areas with ceremonial and historical significance to the Lenape people.
In summer 2022, PennPraxis brought architecture classes, career development, and technical training to West Philadelphia High School in collaboration with the Netter Center for Community Partnerships. Part of the summer session included implementing the first phase of a community garden that is intended to become a public resource. Neises has been heartened by the positive response from young people participating in PennPraxis initiatives.
“At many public schools, it’s hard for teachers to give students individual attention and support for their creative ideas,” Neises says. “After learning from our Design Fellows, working with tools, and making their own creative decisions, the pride of what they accomplished was so powerful.”
The Praxis program at West Philadelphia High was realized due to the Netter Center’s longstanding relationship and its University-Assisted Community School (UACS) program. Comprehensive, year-round UACS programming is made possible with funds that the Netter Center receives from generous donors, as well as grants from the Philadelphia Office of Children and Families and the Philadelphia Youth Network.
“I am thrilled that Design to Thrive will have a significant learning impact on the young people who participate, as well as on the Weitzman students who design and teach the programs,” says Kanter Tritsch.
With guidance from PennPraxis Design Fellows, students in the Design to Thrive program at West Philadelphia High School gained knowledge of design principles and safe usage of power tools for various projects.
The concluding celebration featured a performance by a band comprised of West Philadelphia High School students on a porch constructed during the program.
At the end of the summer, students received certificates marking their successful completion of the Design to Thrive program.
Design to Thrive exemplifies PennPraxis’ mission of being a supportive partner for community members of all ages. With the endowed funding provided by this gift, Neises is excited to help empower young people to take an active role in shaping their own environments and possibly discovering new career possibilities.
“Young people often don’t get to leave their mark on the spaces where they live and play,” Neises says. “When they do have the opportunity, it is an exhilarating experience. That’s what Design to Thrive is all about.”
