2x4 is an annual event that brings together two thought leaders from the Philadelphia community and four students from Drexel's ExCITe Center to explore a big-picture issue facing the Barnes Foundation.
Audience development is a central part of the Barnes Foundation's strategic plan. Through 2x4, we'll explore the need to expand our audiences. The team assembled will be working together prior to the event to develop responses to this challenge. Join us for a discussion with the students and thought leaders to hear about their findings, moderated by Thom Collins, Executive Director and President of the Barnes Foundation.
As part of this program, we are releasing data from a survey commissioned by the Barnes Foundation from Temple University's Institute for Survey Research. Our goal in commissioning the survey was to understand how knowledge and perceptions of the Barnes vary throughout Philadelphia by zip code.
Maria G. Arias is the Vice President of Diversity and Inclusion for Comcast Corporation. She leads the strategic planning and implementation of diversity and inclusion initiatives across corporate governance, workforce, supplier diversity, programming, and community investment, and is one of the company’s highest ranking Latina leaders. In her role, she also manages Comcast NBCUniversal’s external Joint Diversity Advisory Council (JDC), comprised of over 40 national leaders in business, politics, and civil rights.
Since joining the Free Library in 2008, Siobhan Reardon’s vision for the future—Building Inspiration: 21st Century Libraries Initiative—includes the launch of a new model of service wherein neighborhood libraries will undergo physical and programmatic changes to directly respond to and meet the needs of the surrounding neighborhood. The initative also includes the renovation and reimagining of the Parkway Central Library.
Drexel ExCITe Center
The Expressive and Creative Interaction Technologies (ExCITe) Center was established in 2013 as a University-wide initiative for research innovation. The Center pursues activities at the intersection of Technology, Design, and Entrepreneurship, a reframing of Drexel’s founding pillars of Art, Science, and Industry for the modern age. ExCITe is focused on inspiring transdisciplinary research and discovery connecting technology and communities.
BeHeardPhilly
BeHeardPhilly is a civic engagement and community access tool used to understand the opinions, thoughts, and activities of Philadelphia residents. At its core, it is a group of community members who have “opted in” and agreed to take surveys and participate in ongoing research, driven by local government as well as nonprofit organizations and initiatives. It is a cost-effective and convenient resource for conducting social science or public opinion research in the City of Philadelphia. BeHeardPhilly is owned, managed, and operated by the Institute for Survey Research at Temple University.
Drexel University LeBow College of Business
Drexel University’s LeBow College of Business connects the latest research and experiential learning opportunities with the challenges facing today’s business leaders. LeBow also values civic engagement, cross-sector collaboration, and strategic design that benefits both global and local communities.
