Scribe Video Center

Filmmaker and multi-disciplinary artist Thomas Allen Harris’ body of work is being honored at the Scribe Video Center.Since the mid-1980s, multidisciplinary artist and filmmaker, Thomas Allen Harris Jr (Tahj), has used a wide range of media including video, photography, installations, film, and performance to examine the nuances of Black and queer identity and subjectivity, particularly within the construction of the diaspora and the family model.Harris has been developing a co-creative and socially engaged practice that re-interprets identity, autobiography, and representation in the digital archive. For over three decades, by interweaving personal biographical material, Harris illuminates the notion of family through

A series to explore Black and Puerto Rican political thought, activism, and storytelling through screenings of oral history interviews.The Power Politics Listen-Ins at the Free Library of Philadelphia is a series hosted by Scribe Video Center to explore Black and Puerto Rican political thought, activism, and community storytelling through screenings of oral history interviews and discussion.The schedule:March 31st - Karen WarringtonApril 7th - Alfie PolittApril 14th - John ChurchvilleApril 21st - Barbara Easley-CoxApril 28th - TBDMay 5th - Bilal QayyumMay 12th - Rev. Pamela WilliamsMay 19th - Joann BellEach session will feature immersive audio stories followed by a guided discussion,

Street Movies! is a free screening and performance series bringing artists and independent short films to vibrant community spacesPresented in partnership with Al-Bustan Seeds of Culture, join us on Thursday, April 3rd for a curated screening of Middle Eastern shorts that combine politics with sci-fi and the supernatural. This program is co-curated by Joseph Fahim and will feature an opening performance by Palestinian composer and Buzoq player, Jiryis Murkus Ballan.Film Program:In Vitro (Dir. Larissa Sansour & Soren Lind, Palestine/Denmark/UK, 2019, 28 min): Commissioned by the Danish Arts Foundation for the 58th Venice Biennale, In Vitro, co-directed with Søren Lind, is

Please join us for a Producers Forum screening featuring Dawn Logsdon and Lucie FaulknorFree for All: The Public Library by Dawn Logsdon and Lucie Faulknor (USA, 2025, 85 minutes) Free For All: The Public Library chronicles the more than a century long evolution of the nation’s public libraries, tracing the battles over who can enter, what belongs there, and who makes these decisions, while exploring how public commons are defined and defended. The film examines historical elements such as the central role of women, the institution’s role in cultural movements such as the Harlem Renaissance as well as current struggles

A series to explore Black and Puerto Rican political thought, activism, and storytelling through screenings of oral history interviews.The Power Politics Listen-Ins at the Free Library of Philadelphia is a series hosted by Scribe Video Center to explore Black and Puerto Rican political thought, activism, and community storytelling through screenings of oral history interviews and discussion.The schedule:March 31st - Karen WarringtonApril 7th - Alfie PolittApril 14th - John ChurchvilleApril 21st - Barbara Easley-CoxApril 28th - TBDMay 5th - Bilal QayyumMay 12th - Rev. Pamela WilliamsMay 19th - Joann BellEach session will feature immersive audio stories followed by a guided discussion,

A series to explore Black and Puerto Rican political thought, activism, and storytelling through screenings of oral history interviews.The Power Politics Listen-Ins at the Free Library of Philadelphia is a series hosted by Scribe Video Center to explore Black and Puerto Rican political thought, activism, and community storytelling through screenings of oral history interviews and discussion.The schedule:March 31st - Karen WarringtonApril 7th - Alfie PolittApril 14th - John ChurchvilleApril 21st - Barbara Easley-CoxApril 28th - TBDMay 5th - Bilal QayyumMay 12th - Rev. Pamela WilliamsMay 19th - Joann BellEach session will feature immersive audio stories followed by a guided discussion,

Please join us for a Producers' Forum screening of the People's Way with Ashley Tyner and William TynerThe People’s Way by Ashley Tyner and William Tyner (USA, 2025, 75 minutes)At the intersection of East 38th Street and Chicago Avenue in Minneapolis, three community organizers—Jeanelle Austin, Toshira Garraway, and Robin Wonsley— embark on various and interweaving journeys after George Floyd’s murder to care for their communities, find inner healing, and forge a path towards Black liberation. Each one does this in their own way, whether demanding accountability for the murder of a community member by police, building a community-centered approach to

Please join us for these three day of screening events featuring the films of Yoruba RichenYoruba Richen is a prolific Peabody award-winning documentary filmmaker whose body of work illuminates issues of race, space, and power and elevates the voices and stories that have historically been marginalized. Her films have been featured on multiple outlets, including Netflix, MSNBC, FX/Hulu, HBO, Peacock, and PBS. She is Founder of the production company, Promised Land Film, and is the Founding Director of the Documentary Program at the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY.This Body of Work will showcase two evenings highlighting Yoruba’s

A series to explore Black and Puerto Rican political thought, activism, and storytelling through screenings of oral history interviews.The Power Politics Listen-Ins at the Free Library of Philadelphia is a series hosted by Scribe Video Center to explore Black and Puerto Rican political thought, activism, and community storytelling through screenings of oral history interviews and discussion.The schedule:March 31st - Karen WarringtonApril 7th - Alfie PolittApril 14th - John ChurchvilleApril 21st - Barbara Easley-CoxApril 28th - TBDMay 5th - Bilal QayyumMay 12th - Rev. Pamela WilliamsMay 19th - Joann BellEach session will feature immersive audio stories followed by a guided discussion,

Please join us for a Storyville screening of "Standing Up for Madinah" by Zainab SultanStand Up for Madinah by Zainab Sultan (USA, 2024, 25 minutes)This story follows Madinah Wilson-Anton, an African American woman elected as Delaware’s first elected Muslim State Representative. She opposes U.S. support for Israel and fights to pass a ceasefire resolution. Members of her own Democratic party threaten to censure her over her outspoken pro-Palestinian stance, and she faces abuse and trolling online. Despite this, Wilson-Anton persevered and introduced a resolution in the Delaware House calling for a permanent end to Israel’s war on Gaza. She advocates

A series to explore Black and Puerto Rican political thought, activism, and storytelling through screenings of oral history interviews.The Power Politics Listen-Ins at the Free Library of Philadelphia is a series hosted by Scribe Video Center to explore Black and Puerto Rican political thought, activism, and community storytelling through screenings of oral history interviews and discussion.The schedule:March 31st - Karen WarringtonApril 7th - Alfie PolittApril 14th - John ChurchvilleApril 21st - Barbara Easley-CoxApril 28th - TBDMay 5th - Bilal QayyumMay 12th - Rev. Pamela WilliamsMay 19th - Joann BellEach session will feature immersive audio stories followed by a guided discussion,

Free community-centric screening series bringing independent short films and videos to vibrant public spaces throughout PhiladelphiaScribe and Brewerytown-Sharswood Neighborhood Coalition present Street Movies! Undercover, a film screening and performance event on Friday, May 30th. Join us at Celestial CDC (2800 W Thompson St) for a curated screening of short films about local history in Brewerytown-Sharswood, and the power of community organizing. Hosted by BSNC’s Sunshine Unlimited team and featuring an opening dance performance by Shirladelphia Classics.All Street Movies! Screenings are free, open to the public, and family-friendly.Film Program:Walls and Doors: Inspirations From Our Elders (Directed by Jubilee School, 2008, 23

Join us for the screening of the two Color Congress curated collections entitled "Reclaiming Identity" and "Reclaiming Power."The Resistance & Joy Screening Tour is a bold new initiative presenting a powerful slate of twelve short documentaries, all directed by filmmakers of color. These films explore urgent and deeply personal themes, from LGBTQ+ rights and intergenerational healing to advocacy, cultural preservation, and the resilience of communities reclaiming spaces.Reclaiming Identity: Stories of LGBTQ+ love and resilience, intergenerational healing, and communities reclaiming their spaces. These films center on personal and collective journeys of self-discovery, healing, and belonging. Through intergenerational storytelling, bold artistic expression,

Come together for this exploration of North Philly community memory and culture through oral history.Scribe Video Center in partnership with Dr. Diane Turner presents “We Remember and We Recall: North Philadelphia Oral History Project,” an oral history event.The Charles L. Blockson Afro-American Collection of Temple University Libraries, with grant support from the Alston-Beech Foundation, presents: “We Remember and We Recall: North Philadelphia Oral History Project.” A community memory initiative, this project gives voice to current and former residents of North Philadelphia, enabling community members to share the rich history and culture of community life as they have experienced it and

Hear from experts and community members shaping what it means to protect Black Historic Districts.The Dox Thrash House Project, Brewerytown-Sharswood Neighborhood Coalition, and Community Design Collaborative presents “In Pursuit of Preservation: A Community Conversation for our Black Historic District,” a panel discussion.Produced by Scribe Video Center for the North Philadelphia History Festival.___________________________________________________________________________________________ABOUT THE PROJECT:The Dox Thrash House Project, Brewerytown-Sharswood Neighborhood Coalition, and Community Design Collaborative are hosting an important community conversation about officially nominating their neighborhood as a Local Historic District! Come together with neighbors, cultural stewards, and design thinkers for a panel discussion to explore how historic district recognition

Jubilee students present their version of the Freedom Library honoring Dr. John ChurchvilleScribe Video Center in partnership with Jubilee School Students present “Return of the Freedom Library,” a pop-up library and celebration of Black history and literature.__________________________________________________________________________________________ABOUT THE PROJECT:In 1964, John Churchville, inspired by the work of Malcolm X, created the Freedom Library. Its purpose was to expose his North Philadelphia community to the under-told stories of Black history and literature.On July 25th, Jubilee students in grades 4th and 5th grades will present their version of the Freedom Library in order to honor the legacy of the original library and

Join us in this musical celebration of North Philadelphia’s jazz history and culture!Scribe Video Center in partnership with Friends of the Tanner House and Strawberry Mansion CDC presents “Black Buttafly & The Nu School Collective: Jam Session Tribute to Grover Washington Jr.,” a one-night-only performance.__________________________________________ABOUT THE PROJECT:Born in Buffalo, NY, but maintaining a very special connection with North Philadelphia, Grover Washington Jr.'s mix of jazz and rhythm and blues soon made him a legendary musician, composer, performer, and one of Philadelphia’s musical ambassadors to the world.In this one-night-only offering, Black Buttafly and the Nu School Collective reactivate, remix, and improvise

Step into the history and culture of West African and Puerto Rican diasporas in North Philly’s community gardens with this AR installation.Iris Brown (Norris Square Neighborhood Project), and Anula Shetty & Mike Kuetemeyer (Termite TV Collective) present Places Of Power - Villa Africana Colobó Garden, an immersive AR installation.___________________________________________________________________________________________ABOUT THE PROJECT:Places Of Power: Villa Africana Colobó Garden is an immersive AR/VR documentary, public art, and community media project that celebrates the West African diaspora in Puerto Rican culture and the legacy of Grupo Motivos, a group of Puerto Rican women who transformed vacant city lots into vibrant community gardens. Project

Explore decades of everyday life in Strawberry Mansion with this archival photography exhibition and neighborhood story circle.Scribe Video Center in partnership with Friends of the Tanner House & Strawberry Mansion Learning Center presents Strawberry Mansion Through the Years - A Neighborhood Storyshare Exhibition.___________________________________________________________________________________________ABOUT THE PROJECT:A unique multigenerational community storytelling event in honor of the North Philadelphia History Festival, featuring a temporary exhibition of a curated set of historical Strawberry Mansion neighborhood images. What stories emerge from us revisiting these images and the periods of neighborhood life they represent? This opportunity for a neighborhood story circle seeks to bring about more

Free outdoor screening series bringing independent short films and videos to vibrant public spaces throughout PhiladelphiaScribe Video Center presents the 28th annual year of Street Movies! This film screening and performance series tours outdoor community spaces across Philadelphia every August with a program of independent short films from local, national, and international filmmakers, curated in partnership with neighborhood-based organizations. All events are family-friendly and open to the public.Join us for this free outdoor screening in partnership with Masjidullah: The Center for Human Excellence. Join us for a live performance and a screening of five short films, followed by a community

Free outdoor screening series bringing independent short films and videos to vibrant public spaces throughout PhiladelphiaScribe Video Center presents the 28th annual year of Street Movies! This film screening and performance series tours outdoor community spaces across Philadelphia every August with a program of independent short films from local, national, and international filmmakers, curated in partnership with neighborhood-based organizations. All events are family-friendly and open to the public.Join us for this free outdoor screening in partnership with Friends of Mifflin Square Park and The Cambodian Association of Greater Philadelphia. Join us for a live performance and a screening of five

What is the history of your neighborhood?Precious Places Community History Project PremiereJoin us at Scribe for the premiere screening of three new documentaries produced by community groups in collaboration with Scribe Video Center. The works include documentaries on West Philadelphia High School (West Philadelphia), The Cure at Simon Gratz High School (Hunting Park), and UC Townhomes (West Philadelphia).Scribe Video Center’s Precious Places program is a regional community history project created to document the spaces that hold the memories of our communities and define where we live. Precious Places teaches the video production process to participating groups, fostering projects authored by

Free outdoor screening series bringing independent short films and videos to vibrant public spaces throughout PhiladelphiaScribe Video Center presents the 28th annual year of Street Movies! This film screening and performance series tours outdoor community spaces across Philadelphia every August with a program of independent short films from local, national, and international filmmakers, curated in partnership with neighborhood-based organizations. All events are family-friendly and open to the public.Join us for this free outdoor screening in partnership with Strawberry Mansion CDC. There will be a live performance and a screening of four short films, followed by a community discussion.7:45 pm -

Free outdoor screening series bringing independent short films and videos to vibrant public spaces throughout PhiladelphiaScribe Video Center presents the 28th annual year of Street Movies! This film screening and performance series tours outdoor community spaces across Philadelphia every August with a program of independent short films from local, national, and international filmmakers, curated in partnership with neighborhood-based organizations. All events are family-friendly and open to the public.Join us for this free outdoor screening in partnership with One Art Community Center, featuring a live performance and a screening of five short films, followed by a community discussion.7:45 pm - Live

Free outdoor screening series bringing independent short films and videos to vibrant public spaces throughout PhiladelphiaScribe Video Center presents the 28th annual year of Street Movies! This film screening and performance series tours outdoor community spaces across Philadelphia every August with a program of independent short films from local, national, and international filmmakers, curated in partnership with neighborhood-based organizations. All events are family-friendly and open to the public.Join us for this free outdoor screening in partnership with Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation (PCDC). The night will begin with a live performance followed by a screening of four short films, with breaks

Free outdoor screening series bringing independent short films and videos to vibrant public spaces throughout PhiladelphiaScribe Video Center presents the 28th annual year of Street Movies! This film screening and performance series tours outdoor community spaces across Philadelphia every August with a program of independent short films from local, national, and international filmmakers, curated in partnership with neighborhood-based organizations. All events are family-friendly and open to the public.Join us for this free outdoor screening in partnership with Friends of Vernon Park and Germantown Info Hub. Join us for a live performance and a screening of five short films, followed by

Please join us for a screening of Virtually Free by André Robert Lee preceded by the short film, Fight until We Decay by Ami GlazerVirtually Free (USA, 2020, 40 minutes) by André Robert LeeThis film follows three teens: Sid, Taee, and AR currently being held in a Richmond, VA detention center who are offered the chance to become activists speaking truth to power. Virtually Free is a documentary about unlikely allies who partner to transform the juvenile justice system and stop mass incarceration.André Robert Lee is a filmmaker and educator with experience teaching writing at The Wharton School of the University

Please join us for a screening of The Five Demands with Andrea Weiss and Greta Schiller.The Five Demands By Andrea Weiss and Greta Schiller (USA, 2023, 74 minutes)In April 1969, a small group of Black and Puerto Rican students shut down the City College of New York, an elite public university located right in the heart of Harlem. Through archival footage and present-day interviews, The Five Demands is the riveting story of a student strike fueled by the revolutionary fervor sweeping the United States at the time. The strike soon turned into an uprising, leading to an extended campus occupation,

Immerse yourself in the rich Black history and community of Northern Liberties in the 19th century with this walking tour.Scribe Video Center in partnership with 1838 Black Metropolis presents “Extraordinary Ordinary: Black People in Northern Liberties before 1860,” a Walking Tour and Paschall’s Alley Poetry Takeover.ABOUT THE PROJECT:Paschall’s Alley was once a major Underground Railroad site, tucked quietly into the fabric of everyday life in Northern Liberties. This upcoming experience from 1838 Black Metropolis uncovers how ordinary Black residents helped build this area of safety and resistance in the 1830s and 1840s, shaping a vibrant community rooted in faith, family,

Please join us for our annual holiday/winter party! ❄️Join us for a Scribe tradition to celebrate the end of year holidays and gather together as we prepare for a return of light. We will have food, drinks, games, live music, and dancing.Feeling festive? Consider becoming a member or giftina membership to a loved one this holiday season at scribe.org/annual-appeal.