Institutional Partnerships

The Lang Center works to develop partnerships between Swarthmore College businesses and organizations in Chester. Our engagement with Chester is driven by the values of reciprocity, mutual benefit, and a shared commitment to advancing the interests of the Chester community as defined by its members.

Students can easily access Chester’s historic Overtown neighborhood by taking the 109 SEPTA bus with their free SEPTA student pass. The largely locally-owned neighborhood is a hub for arts, culture and technology.

Students can experience this and other parts of the City on their own and through formal engagements such as ESCH courses that partner with Chester and our signature Chester-based programs (ChesterSemester, Chester Community Fellowship).

Students can use their meal plan Swat Points at Duo Taco and the Penn Cafe to enjoy dinner while supporting local businesses. See both Overtown restaurants profiled on 6ABC TV news!

  • If you want to explore Chester’s vibrant creative scene, Indigo Mills – which houses local artists, digital media creators, and community entrepreneurs and hosts small performances in its tea house theater – offers a welcoming space to relax, connect, and be inspired.
  • If you’re looking to grab a bite to eat, you can use your OneCard to swipe for meals at local restaurants like Duo Taco, where you can enjoy a meal while supporting local businesses.
  • For those seeking deeper involvement, the transcript noted ChesterSemester Fellowship offers a year-long interdisciplinary program on social change with an engaged scholarship (ESCH) internship component. This fellowship allows students to work closely with Chester’s leaders while addressing pressing real-world issues.
  • The Chester Community Fellowship (CCF) provides an immersive opportunity if you’re looking for summer engagement opportunities. Funded by the Swarthmore Foundation, this fellowship fosters student growth as scholars, civic leaders, and public servants by offering an internship placement at a Chester-based community development organization.