Institutional Partnerships

The Lang Center works to develop partnerships between Swarthmore College businesses and organizations in Chester. Our engagement with Chester is driven by the values of reciprocity, mutual benefit, and a shared commitment to advancing the interests of the Chester community as defined by its members.

Students can easily access Chester’s historic Overtown neighborhood by taking the 109 SEPTA bus with their free SEPTA student pass. The largely locally-owned neighborhood is a hub for arts, culture and technology.

• If you want to book a space for events, Indigo Mills – which houses local artists, digital media creators, and community entrepreneurs and hosts small performances in its tea house theater – offers a welcoming space to relax, connect, and be inspired.
• If you’re looking to grab a bite to eat, you can use your OneCard to swipe for meals at local restaurants like Duo Taco and Everybody Eats, where you can enjoy a meal while supporting local businesses.

Students can experience this and other parts of the City on their own and through formal engagements such as ESCH courses that partner with Chester and our signature Chester-based programs (ChesterSemester, Chester Community Fellowship).