Southeast by Southeast
Philadelphia, 2012—Present
Walinsky co-founded Southeast by Southeast, a storefront community arts space for new refugees and immigrants to South Philadelphia under the Mural Arts Program. It began as a six month pop up space with social workers, artists and community leaders in 2012. In 2008 many refugee families from Burma and Bhutan were resettled in South Philadelphia. Many families were from agricultural backgrounds and had lived in refugees camps for many years. Surviving in the U.S, learning English, getting citizenship and Since 2011 many volunteers, teachers and artists have worked together to create a supportive welcoming community space for new immigrants and refugees through Southeast by Southeast. Southeast By Southeast is a social practice project, a living project which asks who are the artists and assets in Philadelphia? How can education both arts and literacy be effective in community based settings? How can a local space be used for refugee and immigrant artists to share their work with others in the city? How can a space open to multiple purposes serve as a site of exchange and empowerment of communities and individuals?
Southeast by Southeast is a place of exchange where new families to Philadelphia are able to learn English, citizenship and partake in arts programs within walking distance from home. Within the space daily ESL classes, sewing and arts classes take place. Monthly and annual events such as Karen and Burmese cooking lessons, weaving demonstrations, craft sales and photography exhibits bring together new and old communities. It is a space where new immigrants and refugees continue to learn Karen, exhibit arts from home countries and have a place outside of the institutions of school and home to grow in Philadelphia. Southeast by Southeast is funded through DBHiDS. Southeast by Southeast began through a partnership with DBHiDS and the Mural Arts Program. Many new refugee families from Burma and Bhutan were resettled in Philadelphia beginning in 2008- 2016. Most families had lived in refugee camps for many years. Most families were from farming backgrounds and had not attended formal school though education was extremely important and had informal learning. Relocated to South Philly many came with high hopes for the United States but realized that learning English was difficult and can lead to barriers to being able to function in the U.S at a high level and can lead to depression and isolation. As people came out of their houses to attend programs we saw the potential for real exchange between long term residents and new communities to Philadelphia and the opportunities for learning on both sides. Community leaders co-run Southeast by Southeast and are the voice for community members and help inform the kind of programs we run. Through public projects, murals, books, films we share stories that create an understanding of individual and collective experiences of migration. Through harnessing the power of learning and having an open space for anyone to come in to study we see the value of this in terms of mental health and self direction and empowerment in a new country filled with so many opportunities and challenges.
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