Date: March 10th
Time: After the 2:00 PM performance
People’s Light is thrilled to host Victoria Prizzia, the project founder of POOL: A Social History of Segregation and the individual responsible for the exhibit’s creative visioning, direction, and production, for a conversation with POOL participants Dr. Angela Beale-Tawfeeq, a renowned academic and advocate of health and wellness, and American Swimming Coaches Association Hall of Famer and PDR Swim Team founder, swim coach Jim Ellis.
Victoria Prizzia is the founder and creative director of Habithèque Inc., an award-winning and nationally recognized WBENC certified cultural production, planning and design studio. Victoria’s body of work brings together artists and scientists to demonstrate how we can build a more just and sustainable future for all living things. She creates cleverly whimsical cultural experiences in museums, public spaces and through digital platforms that connect individuals to their own curiosity and creativity. Victoria holds a MA in critical and creative thinking pedagogy and MFA in interpretive planning and design. Her work and civic contributions combine a lifelong passion for the environment, a rich understanding of how people learn and a deep commitment to serving the public good. She has served as a lecturer at Johns Hopkins University, the University of the Arts, Drexel University and at the University of Hawaii.
Dr. Angela K. Beale-Tawfeeq is an Associate Professor and chair of the Department of Science, Technology, Education, Arts, Mathematics, and Movement, in the College of Education at Rowan University. Dr. Beale-Tawfeeq currently serves as a member of the American Red Cross, Scientific Advisory Council, Aquatic Sub Council, and serves as the director of education and research for diversity in aquatics, a non-profit 501 4c organization, whose mission is to save lives and reduce the incidence of drowning through global efforts. Her research interests, grant writing, and academic pursuits have been in the areas of physical activity behavior change, program development and evaluation for minority communities, drowning prevention and aquatic safety among African American and Hispanic/Latino populations, youth development and culturally responsive teaching. Dr. Beale-Tawfeeq has been recognized with several national awards and honors, presented on the international, national, regional, and local levels, and has been published in several refereed journals. She strives to engage students, parents, and communities, in relevant and inspiring experiences that enable them to take control of their lives.
CEO and head swimming coach of PDR Swimming for Success competitive swim program In 1971, swimming coach Jim Ellis formed the PDR (Philadelphia Department of Recreation, or “Pride, Determination, Resilience”) Swim Team at the Marcus Foster Recreation Center in Nicetown, Pennsylvania. His goal was to make competitive swimming an option for Philadelphia’s youth, and improve pool access for all Black swimmers. His successful PDR program produces regional and national champions, has helped numerous Black swimmers receive college scholarships, and has become a model for other urban swim teams around the country. In 2007, the Lionsgate film Pride, based on the life story of Coach Ellis and the success of PDR, was released.
“I've coached swimming for over 50 years. Swimming has been a way of life for me… and so swimming was the vehicle that I used to educate and help African Americans find a different way of life…”
