Criminal Justice Student Blends Personal Passions to Help Area Youth
After coming to Widener, Ivana Brock found a place to pursue not just her academic interests, but her personal and social passions as well.
- College of Arts & Sciences
Ivana Brock was certain from the beginning that Widener was the right place for her. After attending the graduation of her mother, Melinda Brown ’18, Ivana got a glimpse of campus life, and the feeling continued to grow.
“I had other schools that I got full rides to, but something in my heart told me that Widener was where I wanted to go,” she said. “When I came to a Widener Day it just felt like home. The other campuses I went to or researched just didn’t feel like they fit.”
Ivana found that her intuition was right. After coming to Widener, she found a place to pursue not just her academic interests, but her personal and social passions as well.
Ivana has been dancing for as long as she can remember. After starting out as a praise dancer at her church, she moved on to taking lessons in different dance styles at studios in her hometown of Philadelphia. This helped her passion, talent, and confidence to continue to blossom.
“I was super shy when I was younger, and dance just really brought me out of my shell. Dance is a place that I can be myself and where I’m free. If I have a horrible day, I can go into dance and I can get my emotions out through movement.”
Ivana didn’t know about Widener Dance Company before coming to campus but quickly found her place within the organization to continue her passion for dance. She now serves on the organization’s executive board and is an active member and performer.
“We’re very based on inclusivity. You just come as you are even if you have no experience, it’s just about having fun. Every body is a dance body and the dance company was just the place for me to be!”
Inspired by her mother’s career as a social worker, Ivana chose criminal justice at Widener. While she’s not entirely sure what her future career will be, she knows that it will be one of helping others, particularly juveniles.
“I’ve just always wanted to help people and give people voices who are silenced,” she said. “There are so many [career] options. I really want to do something to work with juveniles moving forward.”
She’s putting her interest in working with juveniles into practice by working with the Purpose Performers, a local Chester youth dance company.
Ivana was connected with the Purpose Performers through Widener adjunct faculty member Katherine Stark. The dance company operates out of the Chester Cultural Arts and Technology (CAAT) Center and were looking for a space to perform their upcoming recital.
Factoring in the cost of space rentals, production help, costumes, rehearsal spaces, and more, operating a dance school can be costly. Ivana was thrilled to be able to alleviate some of that stress.
“Widener has all of these nice spaces, and we can give them a chance to show their talent,” said Ivana. “These kids have a passion for dance and they’re working hard for it. And the owner is so passionate. She just wants to see them succeed.”
Ivana and other members of the Widener Dance Company have now helped the Purpose Performers with their recital for two years, helping with everything from production lighting, music, and generally mentoring the young performers.
“It has really solidified that I want to work with juveniles. I just love working with kids and I feel like they’re unsung voices. I feel like this has really helped me with my goals because it’s showing me these skills that you wouldn’t think have to do with criminal justice.”
Ivana uses her own relationships to inspire her and hopes to model that for the youth she works with now and in the future.
“When you have someone who cares about you and wants to see you succeed, it’s going to make you push yourself harder.”
