By Sophia Zaia, Tinuke Akintayo, & Lekey Leidecker
Watch the Video.
"Once you step just a layer below the skin, what you end up with is a nervous system. Black people have nervous systems. So do White people.
It's amazing how similar we are on that level!" - O, community leader
One of the Poorest Ghettos in Philadelphia.
Listen to the wind chimes, and you can hear the peaceful wavelength of this community. This video is about Serenity House, a North Philadelphia community center, and home for homeless youth and recovering substance abusers. The residential center is operated by Arch Street United Methodist Church. We interviewed O, a resident and caretaker of Serenity House since 2010. She talked with us about the mission of Serenity House and her work creating a calm and peaceful environment in a neighborhood which has been described as “one of the poorest ghettos in Philadelphia.” Spending time at the hospitality home operated by Serenity House, we experienced a beautiful and welcoming community environment.
Sophia talks with community leader, O (left), on site at Serenity House.
Positive Language as Intentional.
As a steward of Serenity House and community leader, O provides a caring presence as both a member and an advocate for the local residents. She intentionally uses language that promotes love and healing. This adds a new layer to the linguistic landscape of this North Philadelphia neighborhood that has been historically marginalized.
O spoke with us about the techniques she uses to bring a sense of tranquility and serenity into the space. She embraces using “feminine” language which she describes as softer and less violent than “masculine” language. Describing feminine language as language which brings “sensuality” and a sense of peace, O also discussed how she admonished the use of labels. Such labels, O says, do more to separate us than unite us. Under our skin, we are all the same, she says.
O spoke with us about the techniques she uses to bring a sense of tranquility and serenity into the space. She embraces using “feminine” language which she describes as softer and less violent than “masculine” language. Describing feminine language as language which brings “sensuality” and a sense of peace, O also discussed how she admonished the use of labels. Such labels, O says, do more to separate us than unite us. Under our skin, we are all the same, she says.
Finding 'Soul' in Solar Energy.
At the house, O and others are harnessing this peaceful power to further a growing community business venture called Serenity Soular, now in its fifth year. The community recently celebrated the success of its Kickstarter campaign to continue training locals in how to install solar panels on homes throughout the area through Serenity Soular. The purpose of the project is to build a neighborhood business operated by local residents, on behalf of the greater community. In discussing these efforts, O shares how she has discovered the ways in which serenity is present in their collective, community-centered practice.
About the Authors.
Lekey Leidecker is a senior studying Education and Sociology/Anthropology. She has been involved with collaborations between Swarthmore and Serenity House since her first year of college. She is proudly from Berea, KY and hopes to travel to her father's homeland of Pemakoe, Tibet.
Sophia Zaia is a Sophomore from Austin, Texas. She is studying Sociology/Anthropology and Spanish literature and film at Swarthmore. She plays women’s rugby.
Tinuke Akintayo is a Nigerian sophomore at Swarthmore college. Her focus during her four years at Swarthmore is on the Sociology/Anthropology of Marketing and Advertising. She lives in New York.
Serenity Soular is funded in part by a Project Pericles Grant from the Lang Center for Civic and Social Responsibility. We are grateful to the Serenity House community for welcoming us into their space and for the wisdom they have shared with us in their interviews. Find out more about Serenity House here.
Sophia Zaia is a Sophomore from Austin, Texas. She is studying Sociology/Anthropology and Spanish literature and film at Swarthmore. She plays women’s rugby.
Tinuke Akintayo is a Nigerian sophomore at Swarthmore college. Her focus during her four years at Swarthmore is on the Sociology/Anthropology of Marketing and Advertising. She lives in New York.
Serenity Soular is funded in part by a Project Pericles Grant from the Lang Center for Civic and Social Responsibility. We are grateful to the Serenity House community for welcoming us into their space and for the wisdom they have shared with us in their interviews. Find out more about Serenity House here.
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