Lang Center in Chester
The Lang Center cultivates mutually beneficial relationships with a variety of organizations and initiatives, but especially focuses on enhancing civic life and shared understanding with our Chester neighbors. Whether through direct service, collaborative art-based initiatives, or immersive educational experiences, we are building collective capacity — both of organizations’ abilities to deliver upon their various missions, and the capacity of students to engage ethically and thoughtfully with community members. The Lang Center's work with our neighbors in Chester is animated by the values of reciprocity and mutual benefit, and a shared dedication to advancing Chester's interests as Chester community members define them.
Chester-Swarthmore Fellows Council
Curricular Connections | Student Opportunities | Institutional Partnerships
History
Cynthia Jetter '74
Upon the establishment of the Lang Center in 2001, the College hired Cynthia Jetter—a Class of 1974 Swarthmore alum and Chester native—to steward community partnerships. As part of that role, Jetter worked to deepen relationships in Chester, beginning with those she had already established relationships with. Jetter also built coalitions across other area colleges and among other Chester community leaders, particularly those running youth programs.
The Lang Center had developed a host of strong relationships with Chester residents and leaders over the course of nearly two decades. When Ben Berger joined the Lang Center as executive director in 2015, it was a pivotal moment to consider how we could strengthen and reimagine current relationships in Chester and thus a conversation with campus and community stakeholders began. Community leaders led the way, expressing the need for continuity in conversations and partnerships as opposed to short-term projects, and for Chester leaders and activists to connect more regularly with each other and to break down silos. Swarthmore faculty and students desired programs that would allow students to have deeper, longer term engagement with Chester residents. Thus, existing programs like the Chester Community Fellowship and Dare 2 Soar were revamped and new curricular opportunities like the ChesterSemester Fellowship were established. In Fall 2021, the Chester-Swarthmore Fellows Council was formed to regularly advise and inform Swarthmore’s work, co-produce knowledge, and direct our efforts of engagement in Chester through consultation and feedback.
