The Last Lesson: Why do employees leave the Harrisburg school system? Exit interviews shed some light.

March 1, 2019 | by Lizzy Hardison

Pop quiz: What do high truancy rates and low test scores have in common in the Harrisburg school district?

According to administrators, both are caused by high rates of teacher turnover.

Resignations in Harrisburg’s school district reached a five-year high during the 2017-18 school year, when 136 classroom teachers, principals, aides, librarians and other school building employees quit their jobs, according to district data. (At a given point, the district employs about 580 union-represented teachers and aides across its 13 school campuses.)

In the past year, officials have said that this churn of teachers undermines student performance in the city’s struggling schools. And while administrators have designed programs to boost teacher retention, records obtained by TheBurg suggest they’re not informed by much data.

Records obtained under Pennsylvania’s Right to Know law reveal that, for at least five years, fewer than 2 percent of departing employees chose to submit exit interviews to the district. These voluntary surveys allow employees to explain why they resigned and what the district could have done to keep them employed.

Of more than 550 employees who resigned from the district between August 2013 and December 2018, only 11 submitted exit interviews to the district. Of those who did, only nine offered substantive, qualitative reflections and feedback to administrators.

With such a paltry response rate, the exit interviews hardly constitute a sample size from which to draw conclusions about workplace conditions in Harrisburg schools.

But the survey responses, which came from assistant principals, teachers and safety monitors, do constitute the most official data that administrators have as they try to stem the flow of employees out of the district. And that mission has high stakes.

Matter of Pay

The leaders of the Harrisburg Education Association (HEA), the union representing teachers and classroom aides, have long acknowledged that pay in Harrisburg is lower than in surrounding districts.

The average teacher salary in Pennsylvania is $67,535, according to data from the state Department of Education. But the average pay in Harrisburg is almost $10,000 lower, coming in at just $58,257 a year.

The median salary in 2018 was $56,852, according to data obtained by TheBurg.

It may come as no surprise, then, that five employees—45 percent of all respondents—who submitted exit interviews to the district between 2013 and 2018 said they were dissatisfied with their pay.

One employee, a school nurse working at SciTech High School, said she resigned to take a better paying job in a different district.

“The salary has not kept up with cost of living and with the pension program,” the employee said. “I will miss people here, but I felt I need to move on for this reason and expand my horizons.”

Another employee, who said she was overall satisfied with her workload, resources and even her salary in Harrisburg, still said that “pay/compensation” and “job security” led her to pursue a new job closer to her home.

The reason for Harrisburg’s relatively low teacher salaries dates back to the financial crisis the city experienced throughout the early 2000s, when the district was still under mayoral control. Until 2011, a board of control appointed by Harrisburg’s mayor ran the district, and its finances were intermingled with the city’s.

That arrangement allowed for a number of questionable transfers of money from the school district’s coffers, particularly under former Mayor Steve Reed, who diverted more than $8 million in district funds to Harrisburg University in the early 2000s, according to a PennLive report.

At the same time, the district was borrowing money to pay for its own expenses, a 2008 report from Pennsylvania’s Auditor General found.

The transfers and borrowing exacerbated the district’s already-tight finances. Like the city government, the school district’s revenue streams are constrained by Harrisburg’s stagnant tax base and its large swaths of tax-exempt real estate.

Between 2011 and 2013, the district furloughed teachers, closed school buildings and eliminated educational offerings to wipe out a budget deficit. HEA members took a 5 percent salary cut in 2013.

The pay cut was later rescinded and teacher salaries restored, but union members remain frozen on the salary “step” ladder that would award raises based on longevity.

As a result, pay in the district has lagged behind that of neighboring school systems.

HEA President Jody Barksdale could not comment on the salary freezes, due to ongoing bargaining negotiations between the union and the district.

However, she confirmed that low pay and stagnant wages are tough pills for teachers to swallow. That makes it all the more important, she said, that the district find other ways to support and retain its educators.

“Obviously, we want to give our teachers support. We want them to feel like they can stay and have a career here and still be able to support their family,” Barksdale said. “We would like to be able to increase pay, but under circumstances of the [recovery] plan… it’s very difficult to get teachers and to keep teachers.”

Support, Counseling

Not all survey respondents cited financial concerns as a reason they left the district. As some responses show, an employee can be perfectly satisfied with pay but remain unfulfilled in other aspects of a job.

For example, one teacher who said she was “satisfied” with her benefits, pay and compensation, said she left the district due to “unsafe medical practices.”

In her undated exit interview, she said that the district would be a better place to work if it “hired licensed LPNs [licensed practical nurses] to staff the health room.”

A 2015 report by Pennsylvania’s auditor general found that none of Harrisburg’s school nurses had valid licenses between 2010 and 2014. They were subsequently replaced with licensed professionals.

District administrators said in January that the teacher’s concern had been investigated, and that current medical practices in the district are up to standard.

Other teachers said the district lacked resources to help students and staff respond to unruly students.

Three survey respondents told district administrators that they wanted more consistent discipline practices or more resources to support students who misbehaved in class.

“Working in HSD is hard when student behaviors are not addressed,” said one respondent, who completed an exit interview upon her retirement. “It takes too long to get students placed into special ed. settings, even students who qualify for services are not moved to the correct room for sometimes months on end. Additional behavioral support facilities are needed for students with chronic behavior problems.”

Another teacher said that offering a wider array of student services would make the district a better place to work.

“Students being held accountable for negative behaviors, mental health supports for students and families, alternative education opportunities for students facing challenges with learning in a regular educational setting,” she wrote.

She added that “professional development opportunities focusing on behavior interventions” could have prevented her from leaving the district.

These critiques echo remarks made by HEA members in 2016 and 2017, when teachers asked the Harrisburg school board for more mental health support and counseling for disruptive students.

At a school board meeting in November 2017, Barksdale said that violent outbursts among students were on the rise in elementary schools and that normal training did not prepare teachers for the mental health needs of students.

“This is serious behavior, and we’re not trained in how to deal with it,” Barksdale said. “The tools we have now are not enough.”

Barksdale said that HEA members, including union building representatives appointed in each school campus, try to debrief departing teachers one-on-one to learn why they are leaving the district.

“Ninety percent of responses are that they feel unsupported with difficult student behaviors,” Barksdale said.

Barksdale and other teachers have been careful not to ascribe motives or malice to students who misbehave. In 2017, Barksdale and others told the school board that many disruptive students experienced trauma at home and acted out in school as a “cry for help.”

In a statement issued in late January, district administrators said that mental health services have long been lacking in Harrisburg and Dauphin County. The district contracts with Pennsylvania Counseling Services and Pressley Ridge to provide school-based outpatient mental health services. Additional support and resources are available through state and county agencies, they said.

Administrators also pointed out that parental involvement plays an important role in treating child mental health issues. If a student’s needs are greater than what the district can provide, a school counselor can refer him or her to the Dauphin County Case Management Unit.

But not all students who are referred ultimately get the services they need.

“Due to factors beyond the District’s control, this is a very long and time-consuming process, and as a result, many of our parents grow weary and lack the follow through with the lengthy process,” administrators said in a statement issued through a spokeswoman. “Sometimes, once services are in place, many times the agency will ‘drop’ the child from services due to parental non-compliance with appointments.”

According to Barksdale, teachers in the district do not believe that the district’s current systems are sufficient. She also pointed out that the district cut counselors in 2018 to resolve a budget deficit, despite repeated calls by teachers to increase counseling resources in schools.

The cuts have left fewer trained professionals to make referrals or assist teachers in school buildings, she said.

“This is where the lack of support and appreciation comes into play,” Barksdale said. “There’s limited tools we have as teachers to help with [student behavior], and a lot of that is, unfortunately, why people leave.”

Facility Issues

Three survey respondents told the district that they were unsatisfied with their physical working environment. Others said that better facilities in another district made a new job more attractive.

Barksdale said that cleanliness is a problem in some district buildings, due to a shoestring staff of janitors and facility staff.

“When you are understaffed, the buildings aren’t as clean as they could be,” Barksdale said. “I know the people working there are working as hard as they can, but it’s very hard to replace people who are out sick or on leave.”

Teachers have also complained to union representatives about heating and air conditioning, Barksdale said.

District administrators responded only that, “Facility improvements are continuous and ongoing.”

Retention

In a joint statement, district officials said that employee exit surveys are reviewed by “designated members” of the administration and the Human Resources Department.

But they declined to say who in the district is ultimately responsible for improving teacher retention.

Administrators said only that they have in place “administrative collaboration to support teachers.” They also touted current initiatives—such as a yearlong induction and mentoring program for all new teachers, professional development seminars, and the elective Teacher Leadership Academy—that are designed to retain educators.

They also said that administrators are “working diligently” to improve the return rate on the surveys.

“The collected exit interviews have provided the District with invaluable data and insight into the processes and procedures that are working well in the District, as well as areas for improvement,” they said.

The district is currently contracting with an interim human resources director, since former HR Director Curtis Tribue resigned in January after being put on administrative leave last summer.

Interim HR Director Barbara Richards told the school board in January that she personally contacts each teacher who tenders a resignation letter to invite them to submit an exit interview. The practice has already yielded a much higher return rate on exit interviews, she said.

Nonetheless, the rate of employee resignations in Harrisburg shows no signs of slowing. School board documents show that 80 teachers, principals, administrators and other staff members have resigned just since August.

From the Wreckage: Nonprofit news tries to build back what has been lost.

March 1, 2019 | by Lawrance Binda

Illustration by Rich Hauck.

If you drove down Market Street in Harrisburg in recent months, you may have noticed something unfolding—the slow-motion demolition of the old Patriot-News building.

In itself, this may be no great loss.

The building has been empty and deteriorating since 2011, when the 160-year-old news organization, now recast as PennLive, downsized and decamped for suburban Hampden Township. And the sprawling building itself, while rich in memories for staffers and citizens, was never anything special to look at.

The destruction, though, could be considered symbolic. Where hundreds of reporters, editors, designers, salespeople and pressmen once worked around the clock to put out a formidable daily newspaper, a pillar of the Harrisburg community, there is now, well, nothing—an empty lot.

I feel a similar sense of loss when I venture up to the second floor of the state Capitol building. Walk to the top of the grand marble staircase, and you’ll see a cool old glass sign that says, “Newspaper Correspondents.”

But go through the doors, and you know what you won’t find much of anymore? Newspaper correspondents.

The warren of rooms, once manned by scores of statehouse reporters employed by newspapers from the Delaware River to the Ohio River, from the Mason-Dixon Line to the New York state line, is often eerily quiet. Newspapers across the commonwealth have slashed staff, and Capitol reporters were among the first to go, leaving so much state news uncovered and so many legislators unaccountable.

But I’m not here to pick over the bones of the newspaper industry, which is a story you may already know. I’m here to talk about what comes next.

In recent months, no fewer than three well-funded, nonprofit news organizations have taken root locally. Some analysts have said that nonprofit news is the future of the industry and, at least in Harrisburg, they may be on to something.

First out of the gate, launching last September, was PA Post, a project led by WITF, our area’s venerable public broadcaster. PA Post has assembled an impressive team of journalists and digital news specialists focused on state-centric topics, accountability journalism and multimedia storytelling.

Last month, a second nonprofit launched, the Pennsylvania Capital-Star, a four-person newsroom covering state government and led by John Micek, PennLive’s former opinion editor. Micek promptly hired away TheBurg’s city reporter, Lizzy Hardison, for his new venture, but I can’t really blame the guy for wanting a talented young journalist on his team.

Finally, there’s Spotlight PA, which envisions a substantial, dozen-person newsroom. This nonprofit is a partnership between two of the state’s largest newspapers, the Philadelphia Inquirer and the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, as well as the Caucus, a state government watchdog outfit owned by LNP Media Group of Lancaster. Spotlight PA also plans to partner with PA Post.

As nonprofits, these new ventures will depend upon fundraising and grants—not advertising—to back their newsgathering operations. Major donors include the Lenfest Institute for Journalism (Spotlight PA and PA Post) and the Hopewell Fund (Capital-Star), among other foundations and wealthy individuals who have opted to fund public interest journalism.

So, if you wondered who the heck was going to keep your state legislators accountable as the newspaper industry crumbles, here, at least in part, is your answer.

But why was this necessary?

In recent years, digital advertising has boomed, but not to the benefit of journalism. Three non-news companies dominate the space: Facebook, Google and, increasingly, Amazon. So, ad dollars that used to stay local, employing reporters, editors, designers, etc., now go to make Mark Zuckerberg and Jeff Bezos even richer.

The result for journalism has been devastating, with major, cascading layoffs and depleted newsrooms throughout the country. Even digital-only, “new media” outlets, places like Buzzfeed and HuffPost, which have tried to step into the reporting void, are cutting jobs, as they also can’t compete with the likes of Facebook and Google.

But, thankfully, a new way to fund journalism is emerging, one that raises money from donors who believe that aggressive reporting is critical for ensuring the public good. Sometime in 2019, you might just see these reporters walking briskly up State Street, interviewing lawmakers inside the Capitol or having a meeting in Little Amps. I’m happy to have them here.

The new nonprofits may never replace the ad-based, for-profit model, which, at its peak, employed hundreds of journalists just in Harrisburg. But it’s far better than a dystopian future void of accountability, with little more than waste-strewn lots, aging memories and ghosts of what was.

Lawrance Binda is editor-in-chief of TheBurg.

One Small Change: Even minor adjustments can lead to better health.

March 1, 2019 | by Ivan Black

As a trainer, I spend most of my time thinking about movement and developing creative fitness classes that will keep people’s interest so they keep coming back, which is, of course, one of the keys to getting results. But, the truth is, there are many things you can do to be healthier that don’t require stepping foot in a gym.

#1. Drink more water. It would be easy to write an entire article on the many benefits of drinking more water. If you put on a few pounds over the holidays, drinking more water could help you lose weight. Often times, when our bodies signal hunger, we are simply dehydrated. Drinking more water, particularly before meals, can help reduce your food intake, and, therefore, help you lose weight.

#2. Get enough sleep. Sleep is highly underrated. But, once again, you could write an entire article on the benefits of getting enough sleep. Sleep has a huge impact on our health. But you don’t have to take my word for it. Spend a week going to bed earlier (or sleeping later if that’s an option) and see how you feel.

#3. Eat breakfast. It really is the most important meal of the day. It helps boost your metabolism and helps you avoid weight gain. If you don’t have a lot of time in the morning and don’t always have exotic fresh fruit lying around, get some frozen fruit and make yourself a quick smoothie before you head off to work. You will find yourself with more energy and be better prepared to face the day.

#4. Get Up And Move. Start your day with 30 squats, 10 push-ups or a 30-second plank. It won’t take more than a minute or two. That first decision of your day can help lead you to more good decisions. When you have the choice between stairs or an elevator, take the stairs. If you work at a desk or sit through a lot of meetings during the day, make a point to get up and walk around at least once every hour.

#5. Start a Journal. Track your physical activity so you know how well you are doing and can hold yourself accountable. Set goals for yourself and use your journal to make sure you are meeting them.

Think about it. You make thousands of decisions everyday. You decide when you go to bed, when and what you eat, when and what you drink, whether you will get on the elevator or take the stairs, and whether you park right next to the store or 100 yards from the front door. Each of these decisions may seem inconsequential, but together, they can have a significant impact on your health.

So, do yourself a favor and take the road (or staircase) that is often less traveled. It will make all the difference.

Ivan Black is the owner and trainer at Next Step Performance, 1100 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg. For more information, call 717-382-6398 or visit www.nsp.fitness.

So Many Ways to Help: Community leader Tina Nixon now takes up Harrisburg’s financial recovery.

March 1, 2019 | by Gina Napoli

Tina Nixon

It was Harrisburg, 1972.

The floodwaters of Tropical Storm Agnes rose through the city. Five-year-old Tina Nixon asked her mother why she was making an enormous pot of soup for the people sheltering at the former Edison Junior High School on Allison Hill.

“My mom said, ‘If people are in need, and you can do something to help them, whatever little you have, then that’s what you should do,” Nixon recalled.

Mom’s example stayed with her, inspiring her to focus her career on helping people in need.

Though born and raised in Harrisburg, Nixon hasn’t always lived in the city.

She attended college in East Stroudsburg and sometimes accepted work opportunities that took her away. But she always boomeranged back. She currently works as vice president, mission effectiveness, diversity and inclusion, at UPMC Pinnacle and serves on numerous community boards.

Most recently and visibly, she was appointed to the Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority (ICA) for Harrisburg, a state entity tasked with overseeing Harrisburg’s finances. In this role, Nixon brings expertise like identifying grant money, building budgets and cutting excess spending.

“I just hope that whatever I contribute and whatever I can do will be seen as helping and continuing to build financially stable and transparent policies for the city,” Nixon said. “It’s not about me. It’s about making life good for all who live in the city.”

Nixon’s résumé represents almost three decades of assignments with the end goal of helping people through advocacy, fundraising, communications, organizing, human services and leadership.

“Whatever job I took, I always wanted to learn more, to figure out how to help solve the problem and help people,” she said.

Her skills have come both from her education and her practical experience. In her current role at UPMC, she interacts and connects with people on a variety of levels.

“I treat everyone as an individual, and I respect the path they took to get there,” she said. “Early in life, that was fascinating to me. I wanted to learn and understand more about where people were coming from.”

Within a long CV of both paid and volunteer work, Nixon cited two opportunities that contributed significantly to her growth.

The first was an early-career summer internship with the Pennsylvania state legislature, which offered an “educational opportunity, seeing how people on different sides of the aisle can come together and compromise on a number of different issues.”

The second was her lengthy tenure with the YWCA of Greater Harrisburg, which included more than a decade as CEO.

“My tenure at YWCA allowed me to live my purpose and passion of helping women and children in need,” she said.

Nixon credits her grandmother as a mentor who foot-stomped the importance of a college education and community leadership.

“She was a wonderful role model in leadership, business, compassion and gave me great overall advice when entering into the workforce,” she said.

The Best City

Those who have worked with Nixon have seen those same leadership qualities in her.

Messiah College President Kim Phipps has known Nixon for nine years, having met when they worked together on strategic planning and community engagement on the YWCA board.

“As a leader, she often has to make difficult decisions and be courageous in moments of crisis,” Phipps said. “Her quick wit and laugh often diffuse many tension-filled moments.”

Rev. Dr. Brenda Alton, the former director of the city’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Enrichment, met Nixon in 2000 when she served as a pastor. They re-engaged when Alton joined Nixon’s staff at UPMC.

Alton described Nixon as an “advocate and life-long diversity champion” and a “giving person who adores her family and fights for those she leads.” And, like Phipps, Alton also talked about Nixon’s great laugh and her ability to be her authentic self.

When Nixon isn’t working or volunteering, she spends time with friends and family, which includes her husband, James, and their 21-year-old twins.

“His resilience keeps me going,” she said of James, who has had recent health challenges. “He is teaching me something about perseverance on another level. He amazes me.”

Nixon also enjoys window shopping for antiques and reading cookbooks, which relax her. She now looks forward to joining four colleagues on the ICA, helping to guide the next phase of Harrisburg’s financial recovery.

“I’m hoping we can continue to move forward to make Harrisburg the best city it can be,” she said.

To learn more about UPMC Pinnacle, visit www.UPMCPinnacle.com.

Pieces of the Puzzle: A century ago, Harrisburg’s Old 8th Ward was wiped off the map. A group of activists wants to remind us what was lost.

March 1, 2019 | by M. Diane McCormick

Burg in Focus: Harrisburg’s 8th Ward from GK Visual on Vimeo.

The stories lurk in half-forgotten memories. The images hide in boxes stashed in attics.

Harrisburg’s Old 8th Ward, a dense, crowded neighborhood squeezed between the Pennsylvania Capitol and the railroad tracks, is long gone. But through a diverse group of activists, genealogists, scholars, actors and techies, the voices and faces of a vibrant community are emerging to illuminate a crossroads of history.

Throughout 2019, they are mounting a multi-faceted history project with a reflection and re-examination of the Old 8th at its core.

Lose Track

“The Bloody 8th” inhabits our imaginations as home to speakeasies, brothels and tenements along narrow streets “into which little of God’s free air or sunlight can enter,” in the words of newspaper chronicler Howard J. Wert in 1912.

But the 8th was also home to a melting pot of residents—a gateway to the city for African Americans, Russians, Greeks and others. They ran tanneries and laundries, attended churches and synagogues, raised families, and harbored refugees along the Underground Railroad.

Still, by Wert’s time, City Beautiful proponents couldn’t abide the huddled masses teeming outside the back door of Pennsylvania’s new Beaux Arts Capitol. They envisioned a park. So, by the 1920s, most of the 8th Ward was gone, and its residents scattered.

Today, when arts activist Lenwood Sloan looks at the Capitol’s East Wing and Soldier’s Grove, he hears echoes of the past. The problem, he said, is finding tangible reminders. Other than the K. Leroy Irvis Building, named after the first African American speaker of the Pennsylvania House, no monuments recognize the contributions of African Americans to the city or nation.

That absence seems especially poignant now that it’s 2019, the 150th anniversary of the 15th Amendment, which granted voting rights to men regardless of race, and the centennial of the 19th Amendment, which finally gave women the vote. Local historian Calobe Jackson, Jr., learned that news of the 15th Amendment’s passage sent 8th Ward residents into the streets to celebrate.

“We lose track when we lose physical monuments or places of engagement,” Sloan said. “We lose track of ourselves and especially each other, and we lose track of how hard communities work to achieve the right to vote and then to sustain that right and protect that right.”

Through the project, a jigsaw puzzle of activities will recreate the sights and feels of a bustling community:

A monument to four key players in 8th Ward history and voting rights.
A search for descendants of 100 prominent residents—ministers, state workers, musicians, attorneys, baseball players, Underground Railroad conductors, and one involved with “aeroplane school”—in hope of mining their family stories and archives.
A Chautauqua series at the McCormick Riverfront Library and Live and Learn “informances” from the Past Players, held at Gamut Theatre. TFEC is funding both.
A theatrical presentation to be developed by Gamut Theatre Group. The 8th “was a rough place, but it was a lot of tough people coming together and learning what their strengths were,” said Artistic Director Clark Nicholson.
Posters, a website and window clings—yes, window clings—developed by Digital Harrisburg to recreate for Capitol workers and visitors the sights and stories of the 8th Ward.

One of the discovered descendants is well-known musician Jimmy Wood, whose great-grandfather, Jacob Compton, spirited Abraham Lincoln out of Harrisburg to evade assassination.

Wood didn’t know Compton, but he knew his great-uncle, Armon S. Compton, a pharmacist trained in Philadelphia who was never employed at white pharmacies but plied his trade in the 8th Ward. Wood never heard stories of Jacob’s heroism, but he remembers the spark of pride in Armon’s bearing.

“My assumption is that, besides his intellect, his pride would be based on what he knew about his image,” said Wood. “I’m hoping I can find somewhere a picture of Jacob. That would be absolutely awesome.”

Wood won’t cry over spilled milk, but the disappearance of the 8th Ward—where musicians played in clubs, a great-uncle ran a hotel and his midwife grandmother delivered babies—offers a warning.

“Bring some caution and some good sense when you decide on these kind of development projects,” he said. “It can’t always be about someone’s dollar and making a profit. People have to live somewhere. They should have some decent place.”

An aerial depiction of the Old 8th Ward.

Wild Side

Some churches and synagogues of today have their origins in the 8th Ward. They were, like residents, pushed aside “to erase this area of ‘blight,’” said Andrew Dyrli Hermeling, project manager of Digital Harrisburg, the Messiah College-Harrisburg University joint venture to digitize archival images.

Two factors drive our ongoing fascination with the 8th, said Messiah College History Department Co-chair David Pettegrew.

“It has the reputation for being the wild side of the city in the late 19th century,” he said. “The other has to do with this disturbing factor of displacement that occurs for the greater good. So, it naturally raises questions about what is the common good. It was in the name of beauty, but there’s a feeling that the state just yanked away properties. That injustice surprises people.”

Harrisburg genealogist Sharonn Williams is the great-granddaughter of Ephraim Slaughter—prominent 8th Ward leader and Civil War veteran. Williams joined the 8th Ward project because too much of the history she has researched reflects today’s political turbulence.

“You’re trying to take away my right to vote, when my right has been paid for in the blood, the sweat, and on the backs of my ancestors for hundreds of years,” she said.

Today’s “civil war over civil rights” and the devaluation of civics in education “break down understandings of the responsibilities of citizenship and the privileges of the franchise,” agreed Sloan.

“We are among the last generation where we can talk to people who were in those struggles, and also we’re in the last generation that cares enough to keep those family artifacts in the closet or under the bed,” Sloan said. “We’re saying if you’re not interested in this, don’t throw it away. Give it to the historical society. Give it to the state archives. It’s pieces of the jigsaw puzzle that help us build memory and continuity.”

For more information about Digital Harrisburg, including online history resources, visit www.digitalharrisburg.com.

Community Corner: Notable March Events

March 1, 2019 | by Missy Smith

March Community Corner

Community Bazaar
March 2: Paxton Presbyterian Church, 3500 Sharon St., Harrisburg, is hosting a community clothing and jewelry bazaar, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Women’s, men’s and children’s all-season clothing, shoes, accessories and jewelry will be available for purchase at low prices. Proceeds benefit local charities and mission work. www.paxtonchurch.org

HBG Flea
March 2: Explore the HBG Flea, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Strawberry Square, 320 Market St., Harrisburg. Shop for local art, handmade gifts and vintage wares. www.hbgflea.com

Maple Sugar Festival
March 3: Head to Fort Hunter Park, 5300 N. Front St., Harrisburg, for the annual Maple Sugar Festival, 12 to 4 p.m. Kids and adults can have hands-on fun with tree tapping, eating real maple syrup on ice cream, and shopping for PA maple products. www.forthunter.org

Blood Pressure Screenings
March 4: Stop by the food court pavilion at Harrisburg Mall, 3501 Paxton St., 8:30 to 10:30 a.m., for free blood pressure screenings offered by UPMC Pinnacle. www.shopharrisburgmall.com

Decisions 2019
March 4, 18: The World Affairs Council of Harrisburg will host “Great Decisions,” a program on world affairs organized by the Foreign Policy Association. Sessions are held every other Monday at 1 p.m. at Fredricksen Library, 100 N. 19th St., Camp Hill, through May 13. Cost is $10 per session. www.fredricksenlibrary.org

Résumé Workshop
March 6: Kline Library, 530 S. 29th St., Harrisburg, hosts the second part of its “Résumé Writing Series” at 1 p.m. Attendees can bring their newly created résumé to this session for review by library staff and to receive feedback on improvements needed. This program is designed for adults. www.dcls.org

KIDZ Wednesday
March 6, 20: Toddlers and young children who are not in school, and their families, are invited to have fun learning with educational hands-on activities at free KIDZ Wednesdays, Harrisburg Mall, 3501 Paxton St., Harrisburg. www.shopharrisburgmall.com

Nature Lab
March 7: Learn about rocks at the State Museum of Pennsylvania, 300 North St., Harrisburg, at 11:30 a.m. Discover different types of Pennsylvania rocks and the surprising places we find them in our daily lives. This presentation is designed for general audiences, ages 7 and up, and is included with admission to the museum. www.statemuseumpa.org

Open House
March 7: Drop in at the Circle School of Harrisburg, 727 Wilhelm Rd., between 6 and 8 p.m. for an Open House to learn about the school. Bring the whole family to see and hear about self-directed democratic education. There will be a student Q&A panel at 6:30 p.m. Light refreshments will be served. www.CircleSchool.org

Volunteer Work Day
March 9: Enjoy the outdoors and help with continuing park and habitat enhancement projects at Wildwood Park, 100 Wildwood Way, Harrisburg, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Snacks, tools and work gloves provided. To reduce plastic usage, bring a water bottle. Refreshments will be available. www.wildwoodlake.org

Kids Club Event
March 9: Head to the Harrisburg Mall, 3501 Paxton St., for Kids Club on the second Saturday of each month from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. for a free, fun-filled event. Each month may feature shows, crafts, interactive activities and more. All kids and families are welcome to attend. www.shopharrisburgmall.com

Trivia After Hours
March 9: Join Fredricksen Library, 100. N. 19th St., Camp Hill, at trivia night—”Must See TV”—7 to 9 p.m. Popcorn, corkscrews, bottle openers and prizes are provided. Ages 21 and older, BYOB. Cost is $5 per team. www.fredricksenlibrary.org

Soup Cook-Off
March 10: The AKT Foundation will host the 10th Annual Soup Cook-Off for children with cystic fibrosis. Held 12 to 4 p.m. at the Radisson Hotel in Camp Hill, the soup cook-off gathers about 40 local chefs, professional and amateur, to showcase homemade soups, with attendees voting for their favorites. www.TheSoupCookOff.com

Charter Day
March 10: Celebrate the commonwealth’s 338th birthday on the 19th Annual Charter Day with free admission to the State Museum of Pennsylvania, 300 North St., Harrisburg, 12 to 5 p.m. View the original 1681 charter that granted the land of Pennsylvania to William Penn. www.statemuseumpa.org

Book Club
March 10: Join the Harrisburg Young Professionals book club to discuss James Baldwin’s “If Beale Street Could Talk,” 2 to 5 p.m., Midtown Scholar Bookstore, 1302 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg. www.hyp.org

Native Culture
March 10: New Cumberland Public Library, 1 Benjamin Plaza, hosts PennDOT archaeologist Joe Baker in a talk on “Native American Culture: Lower Susquehanna Valley” in Foundation Hall, 3 to 4 p.m. Baker will discuss Susquehanna Valley Native American history up to the 1763 Conestoga Massacre. Light snacks served. www.newcumberlandlibrary.org

Homeschool Day
March 13: Join the State Museum of Pennsylvania, 300 North St., Harrisburg, for Homeschool Day, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., with hands-on objects and crafts and presentations from curators, archivists and educators. Cost is $10 per person; members are free. www.statemuseumofpa.org

3rd in The Burg
March 15: Enjoy the best of Harrisburg during 3rd in the Burg, the monthly arts and culture event at galleries, restaurants and art spaces throughout downtown and Midtown, 6 to 9 p.m. www.thirdintheburg.org

Art Auction
March 15: Join Harrisburg Habitat for Humanity for the 14th Annual Art Auction at the Hershey Country Club, 1000 E. Derry Rd., 6 p.m. Reception includes two free drinks, heavy hors d’oeuvres, Troegs beer tasting, Dead Lightning Distillery spirits tasting, silent auction and a dessert buffet. www.harrisburghabitat.org

Bike Summit
March 16: Bicycle South Central PA’s Regional Bike Summit will be held at Dickinson College, 28 N. College St., Carlisle, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The focus is on successful programs designed to serve the disadvantaged and those that attract young riders. www.bicyclesouthcentralpa.org

Job Fair
March 17: Spend the day at the annual One Stop Shop Job and Resources Fair at the Harrisburg Mall, 3501 Paxton St., 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Visit a variety of vendor tables to get connected with employment opportunities, resources and programs. Free admission. www.shopharrisburgmall.com

New Member Social
March 19: Join Harrisburg Young Professionals for its new member social at 6 p.m. at Café 1500, 1500 N. 6th St., Harrisburg. This event is for new and prospective members who would like to learn more about HYP. RSVP to attend. www.hyp.org

Food Safety
March 19 and 26: Penn State Extension will hold a two-day ServSafe Food Safety Manager Course at the Penn State Extension, Perry County office, 8 S. Carlisle St., New Bloomfield, to help food establishments meet an upcoming requirement that people working in food service be certified food protection managers. www.extension.psu.edu

Curiosity Kids
March 21: Kids ages 3 to 6 and their families are invited to “Feed the Birds” at the State Museum of Pennsylvania, 300 North St., Harrisburg, 11:30 a.m., during its monthly Curiosity Kids program. Learn about birds and make your own bird feeder to hang in your yard. www.statemuseumpa.org

Women of Excellence
March 21: YWCA Greater Harrisburg will host the 30th annual “Tribute to Women of Excellence” awards dinner at the Hershey Lodge, 325 University Dr., Hershey, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. The tribute will honor 29 outstanding women who dedicate time and talent to making a difference in central Pennsylvania. Cost is $100 per seat. www.ywcahbg.org

Networking
March 21: Harrisburg Young Professionals will host Rubina Azizdin, director of STEP UP Network at Harrisburg University, at its March professional development workshop on networking, at Harrisburg University of Science and Technology, 326 Market St., 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. www.hyp.org

Chili Cook-Off
March 22: Cracked Pot Coffee Shop hosts a chili cook-off fundraiser at Daybreak Church, 321 Gettysburg Pike, Mechanicsburg, 6:30 to 9 p.m. Kids programs will be held, and there will be an update on the shop’s mission and ministry needs for youth aging out of foster care. www.thecrackedpotcoffeeshop.com

Seed Swap
March 23: Winters Heritage House Museum, 47 E. High St., Elizabethtown, hosts its third annual Heirloom Seed Swap, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Vegetable, herb and flower seeds, collected from the museum’s 2018 garden, will be on hand for this community-sharing event. Bring seeds to swap or make a donation to select seeds. www.elizabethtownhistory.org

St. Patrick’s Parade
March 23: Harrisburg Downtown Improvement District will host this year’s parade, which steps off at 2 p.m. and features pipe and drum bands, marching bands, Irish dance groups and more. The “Lucky Charm” 5K/10K precedes the parade and begins at noon. www.harrisburgstpatricksday.com

Bal Masque
March 23: The Art Association of Harrisburg will host a “Saints and Sinners” Bal Basque, 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., at Hershey Country Club, 1000 East Derry Road, with proceeds supporting Art Association exhibits, education and programming. Sponsors can attend a special reception with Graham and Esmeralda Hetrick. www.artassocofhbg.com

Books on Tap
March 28: Dauphin County Library System hosts “Books on Tap” book club at J.B. Lovedrafts, 225 N. 2nd Street, 5 to 6 p.m. Dive into new genres and forms while getting to know other readers in a social setting. The club will discuss Lisa Jewell’s “Then She Was Gone.” www.dcls.org

National Defense
March 28: David Ochmanek, former U.S. Defense Department official and now a researcher with the RAND Corp., will discuss current national defense strategy at the Foreign Policy Association of Harrisburg’s monthly meeting. The free event will be held at the West Shore Country Club, Camp Hill, 7:30 p.m. A dinner precedes the talk. www.fpaharrisburg.org

Spring Fling
March 30: Stroll through over 20 shops in downtown Camp Hill offering refreshments, specials and activities, to renew and refresh everything from home to health, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Visit Downtown Camp Hill on Facebook for more information.

Employment Fair
March 30: Dauphin County hosts its employment, internship and resource fair at Harrisburg Mall, 3501 Paxton St., 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. More than 60 employers, colleges, training programs, government agencies and organizations will be on hand to talk to job, internship and volunteer opportunity seekers. www.dauphincounty.org

Ducks and Geese
March 31: Ned Smith Center, 176 Water Company Rd., Millersburg, will host its annual “Ducks and Geese of the Susquehanna River,” 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Learn about waterfowl and seasonal migration patterns with Scott Bills, retired land management group supervisor at the PA Game Commission. www.nedsmithcenter.org

Five Finger Family: Stealing gets complicated in “Shoplifters.”

March 1, 2019 | by Sammi Leigh Melville

Writer/director Hirokazu Kore-eda popped onto my radar in 2013 when “Like Father, Like Son” premiered.

The film was beautiful and heart wrenching and really brought its audiences to struggle with societal norms in a way that was unique and refreshing. Now, six years later, after a few other films have been added to Kore-eda’s repertoire, “Shoplifters” graces the screen in an equally riveting, simultaneously upsetting way.

No one in the Shibata family is actually related. They are a piecemeal family, coming from different walks of life, drawn together by love and a need to get by. Osamu (Lily Franky) and Lin (Sakura Andô) claim the roles of mother and father, while Aki (May Matsuoka) and Shota (Joy Kairi) assume the roles of children and Hatsue (Kirin Kiki) as grandmother. The Shibata family works together to survive, cobbling their rent together with various jobs that the adults can manage, while covering the other essentials by shoplifting—a secret family trade that is passed on to the children, allowing even them to have a hand in the survival of the family.

The Shibata family is brought even closer together when they introduce another child into the mix. Yuri (Miya Sasaki) is the neighbors’ severely neglected little girl. Her parents constantly leave her on her own for hours on end and treat her horribly when they are home. When Osamu and Lin bring Yuri home one night for dinner, she never goes back. “It’s not kidnapping,” Lin insists, noting that there’s no ransom.

“Shoplifters” is a beautifully executed struggle with life and ideals, denouncing the idea of black-and-white morality and making the conflict as shaded and complicated as possible. As we get to know the Shibata family, it becomes harder and harder to see them from a societal perspective. Instead, we see from their worldview, feeling the love that they have for one another and the reasoning behind why they do what they do. “Shoplifters” is a story about need and want and the alluring nature of the family unit, but it is also a story grappling with the question of what is right.

Each actor in this ensemble will win your heart over with their personal journeys, though specifically Franky and Andô make the film. And from the film’s cast to its slowly unfolding, captivating story, it is no wonder that “Shoplifters” was nominated for an Oscar.

Kore-da has made another masterpiece, and it can only be hoped that he continues to helm films that make us think.

“Shoplifters” plays this month at Midtown Cinema, 250 Reily St., Harrisburg. For more information, visit www.midtowncinema.com.

Beauty in Song: Diverse selection of choral music featured on new CD.

March 1, 2019 | by Barbara Trainin Blank

Linda L. Tedford

Linda L. Tedford came to central Pennsylvania to start a church. She also founded a choir.

The Susquehanna Chorale was born in 1981 with 11 singers. It now has 35 and is the ensemble-in-residence at Messiah College in Grantham.

Tedford, who holds a master’s of music degree in choral conducting from Temple University, has been the chorale’s conductor and artistic director throughout.

The Susquehanna Chorale promotes the choral arts through performances, educational programs and commissions of new music.

It also records some of the music it loves, recently releasing its eighth CD, “Roots & Wings”—a studio recording featuring a repertoire from the chorale’s 2018 spring concert series of the same name.

The title of both concert and CD stems from a statement Tedford likes to quote, although she doesn’t know its origin: “Two of the greatest gifts we can give to our children are roots and wings.”

“‘Roots & Wings’ celebrates how the breadth of human experience and our relationships— rooted in faith, family and friendship—inspire us to achieve our dreams,” she said.

It is certainly diverse, including “Cantique de Jean Racine,” by the romantic French composer Gabriel Fauré and a modern arrangement of “Come, Sweet Death,” by Baroque composer J.S. Bach.

Aaron Copland, a 20th-century American composer, is represented by “Long Time Ago” and “I Bought Me a Cat,” as are spirituals.

“‘Yonder Come Day’ is one of my favorites, with its tambourines,” Tedford said.

There’s a lullaby, as well as Eriks Esenvalds’ “Only in Sleep,” based on a poem by American lyric poet Sara Teasdale about childhood friends who return to her in dreams.

The content of the CD reflects the chorale’s commitment to blending “music everyone knows and music we’d like to introduce to people,” Tedford added.

While the music is important, Tedford said that she first looks at the text when commissioning a work or selecting one for a CD.

Programming—whether for a concert or CD—is an “art unto itself,” Tedford said. “Others say they do it quickly. For me, it takes a long time.”

“I enjoy the texts and how words are set to music,” said Judith Shepler, a member of the Susquehanna Chorale since its inception. “Linda has a way of finding pieces of music with very memorable texts.”

Three of the chorale’s CDs have been considered for Grammy nominations.

Still Growing

The Susquehanna Chorale is known for its artistic interpretation of works of many styles and historical periods, as reflected on its CDs. It has also commissioned several new works for its concert series.

The CDs reflect the chorale’s commitment to presenting standard pieces “everyone should know,” along with introducing new works to the public, Tedford said.

The emphasis in all of the chorale’s endeavors is quality.

“Most of our singers have had professional training or were [music] teachers,” Tedford said. “They could be soloists.”

Shepler applauded both the chorale and Tedford.

“Linda continues to challenge me,” she said. “I’m still growing as a singer and a choir member.”

Drawing from Tedford’s mentoring and guidance, Shepler also directs the chorale’s Children’s Choir and the Children’s Prep Choir.

“It’s a great joy in my life to secure the next generation of choral singers,” she said.

The chorale also enjoys collaborations. Next on its calendar are two performances, on April 13 and 14, of French composer Francis Poulenc’s choral masterpiece, “Gloria,” with the Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra. The Messiah College Concert Choir and Messiah College Choral Arts Society also will be singing in the concert at the Forum in Harrisburg.

The next Susquehanna Chorale spring concert—“Singing the Dance of Life”—takes place at Derry Presbyterian Church in Hershey on May 10 and the High Center of Messiah College on May 11.

In the end, Tedford said, the chorale’s music is about beauty and hope for the future, two topics that offer constant inspiration for writers of new choral works.

“People keep writing gorgeous music for the choral field,” Tedford said.

For more information about the Susquehanna Chorale, and to purchase a copy of “Roots & Wings,” call 717-533-7859 or visit www.susquehannachorale.org.

Creating Community: YPOC focuses on connecting, retaining Harrisburg’s young professionals of color.

March 1, 2019 | by Yaasmeen Piper

Photo by Dani Fresh

For years, Dr. Kimeka Campbell saw a large portion of young people, particularly of color, leaving Harrisburg. Their reasons were always similar: “There is nothing to do here,” or worse, “There is nothing for me here.”

With the help of people in their network, Campbell and Basir Vincent decided to prove them wrong.

Together, they created Young Professionals of Color Greater Harrisburg, or YPOC. For seven years, YPOC has worked to create a community and network of black and brown professionals in the area. The organization gives businesses and professionals of color a chance to connect and grow through socials, discussions, leadership development and more.

“We had several people tell us, ‘I found a track with you guys,’ ‘You guys are welcoming,’ or ‘I was going to leave Harrisburg, but I stayed because I found a community here,’’ Campbell said. “These kind of things are really what our goals are—to create a community for the black and brown collective.”

According to Campbell, it’s no secret that a majority of Harrisburg residents are people of color. The U.S. Census Bureau states that more than 51 percent of Harrisburg residents are black and about 20 percent are Hispanic or Latino. However, a contrast in color comes in the workplace. Campbell noted that people come into Harrisburg from predominately white areas for their jobs, then return home once their work day is over. YPOC wanted to highlight the black and brown people working here and give those people a place to connect.

“I’m not saying that there isn’t a community, there is,” Campbell said. “But, there are lots of gaps, lots of fragments. We’re really trying to be the organization that fills in some of those disconnects. We want to connect people. We want to connect businesses.”

Coming together is the first step in filling those fragments. YPOC hosts weekly happy hour socials, “Topic Tuesdays,” where they discuss current events, a new book club and “Board Games and Brunch,” among other socials.

After connecting the young professionals, the organization provides them with techniques to help them in the workforce.

A monthly leadership series, led by Vincent, a professional life coach and YPOC’s president, covers goal setting, conflict resolution, habit forming and other tactics to help young professionals. Though members receive a discount, their leadership series, like most of their events, is open to the public for only $10.

“We know that folks don’t have some of the same opportunities to go through these types of leadership trainings,” Campbell said. “[Other leadership trainings] are up to $1,500 to learn some of these same things that you can learn here in our leadership workshops.”

On the Pulse

Julia Mallory joined YPOC about two years ago. She befriended Campbell after finding out they were both members of Zeta Phi Beta soriority, and she naturally gravitated toward the organization.

Mallory has been promoting her poetry, children’s books and graphic T-shirt line under her brand, Black Mermaids, since 2016. The Harrisburg native is already connected with the area, but, since joining YPOC in 2017, has met many new and positive faces.

“If you are looking for a very live and vivacious organization that is doing good work in the city and the surrounding areas with a focus on young professionals of color, then you would want to be connected to the work that YPOC is doing,” she said.

YPOC is all about creating a community of young black and brown professionals, but they give back to the community, as well. Around the same time YPOC began, the group started its “Adopt a Classroom” campaign.

Throughout the year, YPOC provides the Harrisburg school district with weekly volunteer services for students. In the first two years of the campaign, YPOC raised $12,000 and adopted 12 classrooms. As their organization grows, Campbell expects that their outreach will, too. This year, the group hopes to raise enough money to adopt 10 classrooms within the school district.

“[YPOC] has grown month after month after month,” Campbell said. “We see the growth, and we’re happy about it. We just want to make sure more people know about it, and people can come out to support us.”

In the years to come, Campbell hopes that YPOC increases its memberships and events and expands to help out other young professionals of color in neighboring regions, such as York and Lancaster.

“What we really want to do is keep our finger on the pulse of what’s happening with the black and brown professional collective in the area,” she said.

Young Professionals of Color Greater Harrisburg is located at 315 S. Front St., Harrisburg. For more information, visit www.ypoc-hbg.org.

Musical Notes: March Mix

March 1, 2019 | by Kait Gibboney

It’s nearly springtime in Harrisburg and, as always, there’s plenty to do in and around our fair city.

Since it’s March, Irish pride takes over at a few venues for some St. Patty’s festivities. The annual Harrisburg St. Patrick’s Day parade kicks off on March 23, brought to you by the Harrisburg Downtown Improvement District. Up the road, Appalachian Brewing Co. hosts its ABC Irish Fest, filled with 17 days of Irish music performers, food and, of course, beer. Amidst the holiday fun, don’t forget to check out some other one-of-a-kind performances happening around the city. Here’s some of the best that the Burg has to offer this month.

GRAHAM NASH, 3/13, 7:30PM, WHITAKER CENTER, $49.50-69.50
Two-time Rock and Roll Hall of Fame legend Graham Nash makes a splash at Whitaker Center this month. He’s best known for his work with supergroup Crosby, Stills & Nash (and sometimes Young) before heading on to a highly successful solo career. A seasoned musician, Nash was also in the UK pop group, the Hollies, inducted into the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame twice, and has won a Grammy award. His messages of peace and love come through in his soft sound and honest lyrics, capturing the spirit of several generations. Last December, Nash’s bandmate, David Crosby, also played at Whitaker Center for a very special evening. If you missed your chance to check out a CSN-styled performance, Graham Nash will have what you’re looking for.

TIG NOTARO, 3/16, 8PM, WHITAKER CENTER, $30
Sometimes, I like to throw in a performance that isn’t strictly music, but still qualifies as a performance that can’t be missed. If you like comedy but don’t want to go too far for a live performance, Tig Notaro is arriving right on your doorstep. Traditionally a stand-up comedian, Notaro has experience as a writer, radio contributor and actor. Her popular debut album, “Live,” earned a nomination for a Grammy Award for “Best Comedy Album,” and her special, “Tig Notaro: Boyish Girl Interrupted,” earned a nomination for an Emmy award for “Outstanding Writing for a Variety Special.” Check out the show and her deadpan style of humor if you’ve been looking for some good laughs.

COLEBROOK ROAD, 3/30, 8PM, FEDERAL TAPHOUSE, FREE
It’s not a true music column without showing some local love, so here’s a show that’s bound to be quite the party. Colebrook Road is celebrating the release of their newest album with a show at the Federal Taphouse in downtown Harrisburg. The album, “On Time,” showcases the band’s newer sounds in their classic yet contemporary bluegrass stylings. The album drops officially on May 3, but trust me when I say that these guys are best experienced on a live stage. Buy a CD, support local music, and get swept away by their sweet, southern stylings.

Mentionables:

Shine Delphi, March 2, River City Blues Club;

Black Coffee, March 2, H*MAC Stage on Herr;

Illusions of Grandeur, March 8, H*MAC Stage on Herr;

The Marcus King Band, March 9, Club XL;

Willie Jack and the Northern Light, March 15, The Abbey Bar;

Goose & Catullus, March 22, The Abbey Bar;

Shawan & the Wonton, March 28, Boneshire Brew Works

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