Penn College News

'Dream Week' stirs community to social change

Thursday, February 14, 2019

Penn College recently partnered with the Beloved Community Council, Lycoming College and STEP AmeriCorps during "Dream Week," leveraging the power of volunteers to help tackle local challenges and advance the Martin Luther King's vision of equal opportunity. The planning committee this week held its wrap-up meeting and provided additional photos of the various events that honor Rev. Dr. King's mid-January birthday and facilitate community collaboration on the eve of February's Black History Month observance. Among those activities were a downtown Peace Walk and memorial tribute to community leader Richard C. James, a joint service project on behalf of the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank, and engaging conversations on race, culture and politics.


− Photos by Rachel A. Eirmann, student photographer, and STEP AmeriCorps


The Peace Walk began and ended at First United Methodist Church, where a musical celebration honored James, a Beloved Community Council board member who died in late May.

The Peace Walk began and ended at First United Methodist Church, where a musical celebration honored James, a Beloved Community Council board member who died in late May.

Signs of peace, a sense of purpose

Signs of peace, a sense of purpose

Supported by the Williamsport Bureau of Police and a River Valley Transit trolley, the group travels north on Market Street.

Supported by the Williamsport Bureau of Police and a River Valley Transit trolley, the group travels north on Market Street.

Banded and bundled, the multigenerational throng goes through its paces.

Banded and bundled, the multigenerational throng goes through its paces.

The brothers of Phi Mu Delta gather in civic accord.

The brothers of Phi Mu Delta gather in civic accord.

The Beloved Community Council's Mary Woods emcees the musical program.

The Beloved Community Council's Mary Woods emcees the musical program.

A performance by the Lycoming College Pome Dance Team

A performance by the Lycoming College Pome Dance Team

Guest speaker Raphael Mnkandhla, lead pastor of City Church, compares the U.S. civil rights movement with the more recent activity in his native Zimbabwe.

Guest speaker Raphael Mnkandhla, lead pastor of City Church, compares the U.S. civil rights movement with the more recent activity in his native Zimbabwe.

Dream Week keynoter Damon Young headlines a Jan. 24 professional development session for Penn College employees ...

Dream Week keynoter Damon Young headlines a Jan. 24 professional development session for Penn College employees ...

... including Admissions Counselors Nicole G. Beerman and Dev Devvrat ...

... including Admissions Counselors Nicole G. Beerman and Dev Devvrat ...

Ethan L. Arnett (center), a construction management major from Severn, Md., adds to the community showing.

Ethan L. Arnett (center), a construction management major from Severn, Md., adds to the community showing.

Among participants are (from left) Penn College's Cody Daniels, an information assurance and cyber security major from Jermyn; Blake R. Tyson, of Forest City, enrolled in information technology: network specialist concentration; and Jon R. Hendrickson, a software development and information management student from Cowansville.

Among participants are (from left) Penn College's Cody Daniels, an information assurance and cyber security major from Jermyn; Blake R. Tyson, of Forest City, enrolled in information technology: network specialist concentration; and Jon R. Hendrickson, a software development and information management student from Cowansville.

... and Christa L. Matlack, head coach of the Wildcat women's soccer team.

... and Christa L. Matlack, head coach of the Wildcat women's soccer team.

Penn College students and employees were among the 250-or-so people who gathered for the More Than a Meal food-packing event.

Penn College students and employees were among the 250-or-so people who gathered for the More Than a Meal food-packing event.

Organizers – including Katie L. Mackey (back row, third from right), director of campus and community engagement at Penn College – surround a photo of James.

Organizers – including Katie L. Mackey (back row, third from right), director of campus and community engagement at Penn College – surround a photo of James.

Volunteers crowd the Lycoming College Recreation Center, learning how their helping hands will ease hunger in the region.

Volunteers crowd the Lycoming College Recreation Center, learning how their helping hands will ease hunger in the region.

College attire is prevalent among volunteers ...

College attire is prevalent among volunteers ...

Building community, one smile at a time

Building community, one smile at a time

... who assembled hundreds of meal kits for distribution to needy local families.

... who assembled hundreds of meal kits for distribution to needy local families.

WBRE's Morgan Parrish (right foreground, in red) interviews Wildcat student-athlete Jared J. Mooney for an Eyewitness News story.

WBRE's Morgan Parrish (right foreground, in red) interviews Wildcat student-athlete Jared J. Mooney for an Eyewitness News story.