We Will Write the World

Billboards 

In the first phase of We Will Write the World, community meetings explored the Reading Promises. An artist in each neighborhood worked to creatively translate insights from the process into billboard designs. The four billboard artists were: Manuela Guillen; Keisha Whatley; Andre Chaney; and Khaleel, Faruq, and Faysal Adger.

Youth Engagement 

In spring 2022, the second phase of the project kicked off with teaching artists adapting an art-based curriculum for a series of workshops in school and afterschool programs involving children ages 5-12. Children participating in these workshops generated stories and illustrations to inspire Storybook Mural artwork. Lead teaching artists included: Lisa Jungmin Lee, Rebecca Miller, Julia Gutman, Sabriaya Shipley, Moneek Pines-Elliott, and Dominique Tocatlian.

Storybook Murals 

Over the last year, mural artists were invited to produce child-friendly Storybook Murals in different locations across the four neighborhoods—maintaining continuity between them, similar to a storybook trail or story-based scavenger hunt. Mural designs use as a reference the materials generated in the spring 2022 workshops. Mural artists include: Rebecca Miller, Manuela Guillen, De’von Downes, Andre Chaney, Jihan Thomas, Khalid Dennis, and Daphne Smallwood.

Check out the new murals in-progress and completed across the city at Logan Library, Jay Cooke Elementary, Germantown ArtHaus, Julia de Burgos School, Cosmi’s Deli, Charles Santore Library!

In October, 2022, We Will Write the World went to the Please Touch Museum during the month of October—Mural Arts Month. The activation invited hands-on mural-making, and visitors had the opportunity to view billboard and mural artworks produced as part of the project, as well as the illustrations of young people who inspired the mural designs.

Each neighborhood team is made up of strong, community-based organizations and Reading Captains. These teams, along with strategists and communicators at Mighty Engine as well as local artists, are working together to develop messages and designs for the art pieces.

SOUTH PHILADELPHIA 

Reading Captains: Carolotta Stafford and Erme Maula

Community Partner: South Philly Reading Captains—all volunteers from the neighborhood—invest their time helping families connect with reading and educational resources for their young children. They are taking the lead helping to coordinate South Philadelphia’s billboard project.

Artists:
Manuela Guillén, Billboard and Mural Artist
Rebecca Miller, Mural Artist

FAIRHILL 

Reading Captain: Ciara Vargas

Community Partner: Historic Fair Hill seeks to preserve both the past and future of the Fairhill community, working to revitalize the neighborhood through school partnerships for literacy, greening, and community engagement events.

Artists:
Keisha Whatley, Billboard Artist
De’von Downes, Mural Artist

LOGAN 

Reading Captain: Dorian Harris

Community Partner: The Indochinese American Council is working to build opportunities for children, youth, and adults in the Logan community. Among the services they offer are after school and summer education programs at Jay Cooke School and St. Helena-Incarnation Catholic School. These programs include English language instruction, academic support and enrichment, literacy instruction, project-based learning, and exposure to arts and culture.

Artists:
Andre Chaney, Billboard and Mural Artist
Jihan Thomas, Mural Artist

GERMANTOWN 

Reading Captains: Ms. Cherette and Gary King

Community Partner: Founded in 1980, Mt. Airy CDC works to preserve, empower, and advance a vibrant and diverse Mt. Airy.

Artists:
Faruq Adger, Khaleel Adger Faruq Adger Faysal Adger, Billboard Artists
Khalid Dennis, Keisha Whatley, Mural Artists