Porch Light Exchange Celebration (Northeast Passage)

Join us for the culminating celebration of Porch Light Exchange, an initiative of Mural Arts Philadelphia’s Porch Light department that brings together art, storytelling, and community. Enjoy the public unveiling of a collaborative art project, light snacks and refreshments, and an opportunity to celebrate the artists and stories behind the project.

Led by local poet Anjoli Santiago, the project began with a group trip to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, followed by a series of creative workshops exploring themes of home, immigration, belonging, and citizenship. The final installation reflects the participants’ experiences and celebrates the diverse communities that make Philadelphia home.

More about Northeast Passage

At the heart of Oxford Circle’s Castor Avenue commercial corridor, Northeast Passage is a lively community hub space from the Porch Light program. A series of workshops, art installations, and classes honor the heritage and experiences of the many immigrants and refugees who call Northeast Philadelphia home—according to data published in Next City, one in four Oxford Circle neighbors is a first-generation resident, and up to 43% do not speak English. Weekly classes at the hub offer critical life skills and health systems navigation, happening in tandem with creative programming. The space is a part of a larger partnership with Councilman Jared Solomon, National Service Center (NSC), Family Promise, JEVS, Jewish Family and Community Services, and St. John’s Lutheran Church.