Color Me Back

Color Me Back: A Same Day Work and Pay Program was an innovative 28 week pilot program initiative combining participatory art making and access to social services in a unique model offering individuals who are experiencing economic insecurity an opportunity to earn wages. Designed in partnership with the Scattergood Foundation, SEPTA, and Mental Health Partnerships, the initiative is managed by Mural Arts’ Porch Light community wellness program, a collaboration with the City of Philadelphia’s Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual disAbility Services. Participants were recruited through outreach to connect, contribute, and engage with outreach specialists who could link them with support services, including social and/or behavioral health services and potential opportunities for longer-term employment while working in the program.

This 28-week pilot program launched in April 2019 and designed to reach individuals who were not necessarily connected to services. Each participant was paid $50 cash for three hours of work creating a new public art project. The payment amount was specifically designed to exceed the living wage standard for Philadelphia.

Each day between 30 and 40 participants were recruited from the areas surrounding Philadelphia’s Suburban Station leading to a lottery each morning (Monday – Thursday) in nearby Love Park. Outreach workers learned the most-needed services are employment, shelter or housing, and basic needs, such as showers, clothes, and food. In the first six weeks of the program, over 160 participants received payment for same day work.

Pilot participants worked with trained teaching artist Alvin Tull, design artist Gabe Tiberino, and outreach workers to design and paint a mural. The first mural, in SEPTA’s Suburban Station concourse was completed by mid-summer. Numerous other concourse wall murals will be added over time.