I've always been fascinated by the relationship between Widener Univesity and the city it calls home.
I wonder how much interaction the kids who go to school on that beautiful campus have with the city and its residents.
Plenty, as it turns out.
That is one of the things I learned last night when we took our 'Live From the Newsroom' live-stream Internet show back to the Widener campus. We are once again partnering with Widener and will visit one of the newer buildings on the campus. Freedom Hall just happens to be home to their Communications Departments, and features a state-of-the-art TV studio.
The idea is pretty simple. The kids get a chance to do some hands-on production work on a live show, and we get the use of equipment we could not dream of obtaining. Last night I was surprised to see that the students had created a snazzy lead-in to the show, featuring several different shots of me and our 'Live From the Newsroom' logo. Here's a tip, kids. Don't spend too much time trying to make me look good. I gave up on that a long time ago. Believe me when I say this is a face that was made for the newspaper - and which more and more is showing up online and on TV.
We also bring on guests - including students - and zero in on some aspect of Widener life or have professors talk politics or the other key issues affecting the region.
Last night we zeroed in on great program that underlines the contributions Widener makes in the Chester community.
We profiled the Chester Community Physical Therapy Clinic. It's a student-run facility that offers rehab and physical therapy services to city residents who otherwise likely would not be able to afford it.
If you missed the show, you can catch the replay here.
In the last year, the clinic saw 5,000 clients, and has seen its numbers grow consistently.
According to Jill Black, assistant professor and Pro Bono services coordinator for the Widener Institute for Physical Therapy Education, there biggest issue now is a need for space, since they've already outgrown their home in Balin Hall just a few blocks from the campus.
My thanks to the four great grad students who joined us last night and talked about their experiences at the clinic.
Brian Kennedy, Nicole Nardone, Daria Porretta and Alanna DiBiassi all spoke of not only their love of the work they do, but the importance of offering a service that is clearly needed in the community.
By the way, if you are interested in using the clinic, you can get started by visiting their website here.
You can check their hours - they also are their evenings - and you can make an appointment.
Here is their mission statement:
The Chester Community Physical Therapy Clinic’s mission is to simultaneously improve healthcare access to physical therapy services by providing pro bono physical therapy services to the underserved and underinsured populations in the surrounding community while educating a new generation of physical therapists in the areas of competency, character, citizenship, and social responsibility.
I assure you that you will be in good hands.
Literally.
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