'The Foundation' kicks off music series

The group intends to serve both the University and the surrounding community by providing a venue for the arts, musical acts and community programs. Though they were having problems finding a home last semester, the University decided to let the Foundation use the Rotunda -- located at 4012 Walnut Street -- and made the group's activities part of its new alcohol-free social programming. "I think that the ideas are really quite extraordinary and unique in that the students have spent a significant amount of time reaching out to the community and what they have struck me as a substantive partnership plan," said Penn Vice President for Government, Community and Public Affairs Carol Scheman. And in the West Philadelphia community, where artistic and musical culture runs deep, the group should have a good base of support. "The roots of popular American music, going from jazz, to rock 'n roll, to rhythm and blues, to hip hop, are [in] Philadelphia and West Philadelphia and I think that this core of students get that," Scheman said. "One component is that there is going to be a community focus," said College senior Jonathan Herrmann, president of the Social Planning and Events Committee and one of the Foundation's leaders. "It provides a venue for arts that don't usually get expressed in West Philadelphia." Thursday's concert will host hip hop group Dujeous, vocalist Stephanie Renee and DJ Spaceling in the first of what organizers hope will be a weekly event. Philadelphia radio station 103.9 FM will be there as part of a voter registration drive. And Friday will see the first of this semester's "Hip-hop Extravaganzas" run by the Teaching Ourselves the Unique Culture of Hip-hop Center, which will also feature local artists and is sponsored by the Foundation. The Rotunda, next door to what will be the new Sundance Cinema, is prime University real estate. The Foundation is currently only using the rear area of the domed building, while the University has yet to decide on usage of the main area -- congregation space that is a holdover from the building's former function as a church -- according to Tom Lussenhop, the University's top real estate official. The idea for the Foundation began in a class led by Urban Studies Professors Lee Benson and Ira Harkavy, director of the Center for Community Partnerships. A culminating project for the class was to identify an urban problem in Philadelphia and devise a solution to it. During the course, three students -- including Daily Pennsylvanian Campus News Editor Lindsay Faber -- suggested that what West Philadelphia really needed was a jazz club, an idea that was expanded into what is now the Foundation. "We work from the belief that art is a catalyst for change, and that arts events can lead to the formation of meaningful Penn-West Philadelphia partnerships," according to the group's mission statement. "Artistic performances allow participants to let their guard down and expose themselves to new people and ideas, making possible a meaningful intercultural exchange."