MLAB MISSION STATEMENT


The Mobile Literacy Arts Bus (MLAB) is an artist-run, renovated recreational vehicle that exists as a flexible space open to community members’ proposals for alternative educational and cultural programming.

MLAB is the collaborative effort of the 2007-2008 Social Sculpture class at Syracuse University, comprised of 10 art and architecture students and lead by artist and Director of Community Initiatives in the Visual Arts of Syracuse University, Marion Wilson. Our mission was to transform a used, 1984 Recreational Vehicle Bus into a Mobile Literacy and Arts Bus for use by the Syracuse City School District and the greater Syracuse Community. MLAB serves as a physical manifestation of Syracuse University’s Scholarship in Action initiative, by pairing University resources with community needs in an attempt to address the staggering drop out rates in the Syracuse City School District High Schools. Through the School of Education at Syracuse University, incredible curricula that bridge photography, poetry and literacy currently exist within the public schools-- however due to a crisis of space, the schools don't always have the space or resources to house it. MLAB is this space. The bus serves as a mobile classroom, digital photo lab, gallery space, and community center. As a team, we did it all: demolition, design, and construction.

MLAB is made possible from the generous support of the School of Education at Syracuse University and Entitiative.

Monday, June 15, 2009

MLAB Radio Live!



MLAB Radio is Live! Please visit the MLAB Radio website to listen to moving, honest, real, and truly inspirational audio pieces by some of Syracuse's finest young adults.

MLAB spent four days at Nottingham High School in early June 2009 outfitted as a recording studio, where students worked in pairs to record their audio pieces inside the Mobile Literacy Arts Bus (MLAB). Participating students in Ms. Zizzi's and Ms. Benedetto's ninth grade English classes based their audio essays on the NPR's "This I Believe" contest.

Later this summer, MLAB Radio will go live on Redhouse Art Radio, so be sure to check back often for more MLAB Updates!

Below are some images from the MLAB Radio recording sessions:








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