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.


Friday, April 17, 2015

I Have A Dream for MLAB


The "I Have A Dream" Foundation, founded in 1986 by Eugene M. Lang, provides children with the opportunity to further their education by earning a college degree, enabling them to fully capitalize on all of their potential. Mr. Lang embodied the foundation with the mission to "provide long-term support to children and youth living in under-resourced communities to achieve their full potential by promoting, from an early age, values of higher education and career success, with opportunity guaranteed through financial resources and other services." The foundation works toward the long term goal of increasing college matriculation rates all across the country; additionally, through the development of a new, ambitious plan, the "I Have A Dream" Foundation is aiming to double the number of dreamers aiming for a college degree. The impact of the Foundation since its cultivation has reached over 15,000 students across 28 states, Washington D.C., and New Zealand. The Foundation commits to raising the bar and encouraging any and all children to pursue their dream of higher education.

With affiliates in twelve U.S. states, from California to New York, MLAB's partnership with the "I Have a Dream" Foundation makes a cross-country tour possible. This is a tremendous opportunity for us, and we are so excited for all that is on the horizon. Stay tuned for more information as we learn more about what this means for us!

For more information on the foundation please visit their website:
http://www.ihaveadreamfoundation.org/html/affiliate_directory.htm




2 comments:

Oplus USA said...

Cool! I was shocked about the transformation of the bus. I will really be a good place for you guys. Well, I also want to have like this for my own. Thanks for sharing.

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Prince raj said...

Thank you so a lot for sharing this sort of wonderful data.

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