THE CAMPAIGN FOR "THE OLNEY EMBRACE PROJECT"

by Olney Culture Lab

Varissa McMickens Blair

I want to introduce you to Olney Culture Lab. This is an organization rooted in artistic and creative presenting by local artists, musicians, dancers, designers, and other creatives.

I truly believe in the work they are doing to shine a light on the uniqueness, diversity and creativity of the Olney neighborhood of Philadelphia. In the midst of the current struggles we are all facing - the stress, the uncertainty, and the divisions within our communities - Olney Culture Lab is helping to create and present works of artistic expression that bring hope, light and a sense of unity and community.

Please join me in supporting their modest end-of-year campaign. Their goal is to raise $2,020 by the end of the year. Every dollar counts. So please make a modest donation today, and help them reach their goal.

Thank you!

2020 has been both unusual and difficult. Through it all, Olney Culture Lab remains committed to celebrating our unique neighborhood and its diverse cultures. Join us as we "embrace" Philadelphia's Olney community. Please consider making a year-end gift.

This year has been a roller coaster ride. And while Olney Culture Lab has had to curtail and rethink our usual activities this year in response to the pandemic, we have remained very busy re-imagining ways to continue celebrating and showcasing the cultural richness and diversity of the Olney neighborhood in Philadelphia.

Despite the challenges, we are proud to have successfully launched "The Olney Embrace Project" this fall.

This project is a multi-disciplinary, multi-location exploration of the Olney community, its residents, and its diverse cultures, creative practices, and stories. Even in the midst of Covid-19, we aim to safely infuse a variety of community and virtual spaces with focused, meaningful arts and cultural engagement from now until the end of 2021.

In addition to activating well-known neighborhood locations, such as the North 5th Street business corridor, Fisher Park and Tacony Creek Park, we are also working to find ways to navigate the pandemic and interact with audiences virtually. The Olney Embrace Project aspires to elevate the entire community’s sense of potential, positive identity, social-civic wellness, and pride.

We are working with an amazing team of distinguished artists, dancers and musicians from Philadelphia (many from Olney itself) who will spend the next year and a half creating works that explore and shine a light on what makes Olney a unique place to live, work and play.

Our events and activities will vary in scope; and we will prioritize work that is responsive to evolving health and safety concerns. Ultimately, as these conditions improve, we will begin to include in-person presentations, workshops, exhibitions, and performances, along with our expanding array of online, digital and virtual broadcasts and productions. We also plan to launch some "out-of-the-box" efforts, and we look forward to collaborating with members of the local community to address some of the challenges that have heightened during pandemic, such as food insecurity, limited access to physical activity, and meaningful outlets to express and expel the impacts of common and pandemic-related stress.

Olney Culture Lab is forging ahead with our re-imagined plans for 2020 and beyond. We realize that this is a journey, and not a sprint. Along the way, we ask and invite you to join us.

Become an end-of-year supporter of this special project! Your partnership and generosity will make a difference. Help us as we create new opportunities to bring hope, inspiration and recognition to Olney. With your assistance we will reaffirm the humanity and creative spirit in all of us during these difficult times.

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