Banned In The USA:

A Study of American Freedom

Philadelphia, PA
March 15-18, 2007

In February, the students took a second trip to Philadelphia to further Explore American freedom. Even though the weather was less than ideal, the students took it in stride and enjoyed the culturally rich city!

The students visited the Philadelphia Welcoming Center, a non-profit organization working to help legal immigrants find work as well as help them maximize their social benefits. The Center emphasizes the immigrants as assets to the community. There is a free legal clinic every month. Right now their big project is Project Bridging Cultures, a program working with students.

Another important part of this trip was visiting the Penn PIRG office where the students got to discuss topics ranging from media reform to public transportation.

Of course, there was a visit the the Constitution Center and Independence Hall. There the students learned about the roots of American freedom. There were many interactive displays including a film with live narration. At the Constitution Center there is a hall with statues depicting all of the signers of the constitution. The center recognizes that the struggle for freedom is not over. The center also has boards that visitors can post on concerning current issues. The students also visited Independence Hall and saw the Liberty Bell.

The students visited Walt Whitman's house and had the opportunity to learn about the great American poet's history as well as read from Leaves of Grass in the poet's bedroom.

The last day the students visited an Amish community in Bird-in-Hand, PA. There the group learned about the the ways the Amish exercise their American freedom.