People’s Media Camp will bring together Philly’s grassroots storytellers and memory workers
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. — September 3, 2025 — In July, People’s Media Record (PMR) announced People’s Media Camp, a three-day gathering for Philadelphia’s grassroots memory workers, community archivists, and storytellers.
From Friday, October 3, through Sunday, October 5, the Camp will feature workshops, skill-shares, roundtables, breakout sessions, screenings, collective mapping, art activations, and The People’s Bazaar, which is a free vendor market designed for community exchange.
The camp looks to fill a gap in the current memory work landscape in Philadelphia.
“One of the reasons we created the People’s Media Camp is the relative absence of grassroots spaces where people can come together to collaborate and cooperate with each other in preserving memory work,” said Lila Chaar-Pérez (she/they), Director of Archiving & Preservation.
Director of Strategic Planning & Resource Mobilization Winter Rae Schneider (they/them) said the gathering is “a recognition that the archiving and preservation practices involved in this work are also often isolating and lonely.”
Schneider added, “We hope that by offering a space to deepen our connections to one another, our knowledge, and our skills, this event can seed even more connection and mutual support in the future. “
Programming will focus on mutual support, reciprocity, resource redistribution, and community activation in grassroots archiving and preservation, while naming shared challenges, affirming one another’s efforts, and developing collective strategies to sustain this work.
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
- Friday, October 3, from 5:00–10:00 p.m.
Screenings of Archival Shorts, co-presented with Cinéspeak
Calvary Community Center, 4703 Baltimore Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19143 - Saturday, October, from 8:00 a.m.–10:00 p.m.
Hands-on workshops, conversations, and activations where ideas meet action. - Sunday, October 5, from 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Continued workshops, conversations, activations, and The People’s Bazaar, our free vendor market.
Full program details will be sent to all registered attendees in mid-September.
REGISTRATION: bit.ly/peoplesmediacamp
Accessibility
All venues have ADA-accessible entrances. During registration, attendees should share their accessibility needs; PMR will try our best to work to meet them.
Age & Family Support
Young people interested in preserving community stories are welcome. Childcare will be provided to support participants with dependents. When registering, please share the number and ages of dependents for planning purposes.
Community Care (COVID-19)
Recognizing the ongoing impacts of COVID-19, PMR requests that participants wear non-surgical, respirator masks (KN94, N95, or KN95) when gathering (except when eating). Masks and air filters will be provided in all spaces. Attendees are asked to monitor their health and refrain from participating if they feel sick or have symptoms, test positive for COVID-19, or are advised to isolate or quarantine by a healthcare provider or public health authority.
—
People’s Media Camp is organized by People’s Media Record, co-presented with Cinéspeak, and generously supported by the Independence Public Media Foundation and the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.
Media Contact: Winter Schneider, (Director of Strategic Planning and Resource Mobilization), winter@peoplesmediarecord.com
Organization Contact: People’s Media Record — info@peoplesmediarecord.com
About People’s Media Record
People’s Media Record is a Philadelphia-based initiative supporting grassroots memory workers and community storytellers to preserve, activate, and share community histories through accessible, participatory archiving practices.
About Cinéspeak
Cinéspeak is a Philadelphia film and media organization that champions independent cinema and community-centered film experiences.
##