INTERNATIONAL HOUSE PHILADELPHIA – ANNUAL REPORT 2013
RESIDENT ACTIVITIES AND ADVISORY CENTER
The Resident Activities and Advisory Center (RAAC) provides enriching programs, events, and opportunities that are educational, cultural, and fun for the students, scholars, and interns that call IHP home. Each year, RAAC identifies new and engaging ways to involve the residents. Since IHP’s founding in 1910, its goal has been to embrace and welcome residents through programming and experiences. Throughout the year, residents experience innovative programs, as well as those that are more traditional, including public films screened several times a week in the theater, language classes, community speaker series, resident leadership breakfasts, and introductions to leaders in the Greater Philadelphia area. Personal growth and intercultural exposure are inevitable outcomes of a stay at International House. In addition to social and development programs, RAAC also facilitates communication amongst the residents. The Resident Hall Council (RHC) continued to grow this year, lending a residential voice to the business of the house. This program will continue to be nurtured to allow for more student involvement and leadership development. Resident Advisors this year hailed from a variety of nations such as Zambia, Pakistan, Nigeria, China, Netherlands, South Korea, and the United States, and all helped support fellow residents in a variety of ways. Numerous house meetings were held to allow for small social interactions amongst the house-suites’ resident-members, and the RA staff counseled and intervened to help with conflicts and concerns.
They offered guidance and directed others to resources provided at International House, throughout the city, and at partnering colleges and universities. Resident Advisors were also charged with offering complimentary social and educational programs that ranged from self-defense, a Japanese tea ceremony, self-awareness seminars, and photography. A number of residents were honored at the annual Farewell and Awards Ceremony. President & CEO Tanya Steinberg, Director Glenn Martin, and Associate Director Michael Beacham offered parting words of appreciation to residents who went above and beyond, and who now join the ranks of esteemed IHP alumni. The 2013 award recipients included: Kalbillah Galmai – Chad, Drexel University, Biology Farah Azhar – Pakistan, University of Pennsylvania, Social Policy Lokesh Prabhu – India, JP Morgan Chase, Optional Practical Training Kevin Bass – United States, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Medicine Sojung (Lindsey) Lee – South Korea, University of Pennsylvania, Chemical Engineering Yoon (Steve) Ho Chang – South Korea, University of Pennsylvania, Computer Graphics and Game Technology