PCCE-Drexel University; Writers Room VISTA

PCCE-Drexel University (Writers Room) VISTA

Writers Room was launched in 2014 in partnership with the West Philadelphia community. Writers Room lives within the intersection of arts, design, and humanities programs. Its members are artists, adolescents, architects, the aging, and neighbors who together leverage the arts to spark social cohesion, neighborhood stability, and economic mobility. In partnership with Philadelphia civic and cultural organizations, our rich calendar includes side-by-side classes, visiting writers, cultural events, and monthly writing workshops that are co-created with the community, enabling Writers Room to serve as the connective tissue between the university, community organizations, and our neighbors.

Through our partnerships and collaborations, Writers Room launched Second Story Collective, a sustainable, transferable model of intergenerational housing co-designed for equitable development, particularly in historically disinvested communities. Second Story Collective exemplifies Drexel University's approach to civic engagement in its local community, as we leverage interdisciplinary academic engagement, student leadership, extensive cross-sector partnerships, and long-term economic investments in the community to drive actual civic solutions discovered and voiced by community members.

In concert with faculty from the School of Education, Writers Room and Second Story Collective has received funding from Ameri Corps and from the National Science Foundation to support community-driven participatory action research on issues surrounding displacement and the effect of public arts programming and education on civic innovation. Writers Room is unique among community arts programs because the involvement and institutional investment of Drexel allows it to operationalize the co-created solutions its programs engender.

This link to the neighborhood's major anchor institution and the potential to activate its resources are key factors in galvanizing people to get and stay involved. Further help on this page can be found by clicking here.

Member Duties :
This Y1 project builds on the successful conclusion of a three-year PCCE VISTA project in which Second Story Collective (2SC) was operationalized into a program that provided over $100,000 in home repairs for four West Philadelphia elders, developed two intergenerational homesharing pairs, and will place two more homesharing pairs in early 2026. 2SC is now moving out of the home repair pilot phase in collaboration with a local developer breaking ground in Q1 2026 on 18 units of housing for 2SC.

The VISTA member will conduct a community assessment for current and potential homesharers; collaborate on existing community awareness, engagement, and outreach strategies; and refine program development and delivery plans. This project will impact the community and fulfill anti-poverty goals by developing campus-community efforts in Housing and Eviction Prevention, and foster the VISTA as a professional/emerging leader in the fields of comprehensive community development and civic engagement.

Program Benefits :
On Campus resources and facilities , Childcare assistance if eligible , Stipend , Housing , Education award upon successful completion of service , Choice of Education Award or End of Service Stipend , Relocation Allowance , Living Allowance , Health Coverage* , Training .

Terms :

Permits attendance at school during off hours , Permits working at another job during off hours .

Service Areas :

Neighborhood Revitalization , Education , Housing , Community and Economic Development , Health .

Skills :

Team Work , Writing/Editing , Community Organization , Computers/Technology , General Skills , Work-issued laptop .