Resolution 090550

..Title Recognizing, Honoring, And Celebrating The Mural Arts Program's 3000th Mural And Congratulates The Program On Its Award-Winning Art Programs That Engage Philadelphians And Teach Them Practical Life Skills. The 3000th Mural Memorializes The Civil Rights Achievements Of The Tuskegee Airmen, The First African-American Airmen, And Is Titled, "They Met The Challenge." ..Body WHEREAS, The Mural Arts Program has produced its 3000th Mural, and this Mural memorializes the civil rights achievement of the Tuskegee Airmen, and is titled, "They Met The Challenge." This is an appropriate title for the Program's 3000th Mural because both the Mural Arts Program and the Tuskegee Airmen have provided public service, have served as model organizations, and have inspired young people, in the City of Philadelphia; and WHEREAS, The Mural Arts Program, founded in 1984, is celebrating its 25th year of service to the people in the City of Philadelphia, and this service is visible throughout Philadelphia in the form of murals and of other public art projects; and WHEREAS, The Mural Arts Program works with communities, with schools, and with City agencies to create a more livable and a more beautiful Philadelphia. This Program chooses a mural's location with the purpose of "stabilizing abandoned lots [and] revitalizing open spaces," in an effort to fight "against blight and underdevelopment"; and WHEREAS, In addition, the Program provides art education programs to 2,000 young people annually, and those young people benefit from learning about art, from working with community role models, and from learning how to be part of a successful team; and WHEREAS, The Mural Arts Program is a model civic program in Philadelphia, in Pennsylvania, and in our Country, and this program has earned Philadelphia national and international praise as the "City of Murals." These Murals are unique to the City of Philadelphia, and the Council of the City of Philadelphia appreciates the civic initiative of the Mural Arts Program and congratulates the Program on its 3000th Mural. BE IT RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, Recognizing, Honoring, And Celebrating The Mural Arts Program's 3000th Mural And Congratulates The Program On Its Award-Winning Art Programs That Engage Philadelphians And Teach Them Practical Life Skills. The 3000th Mural Memorializes The Civil Rights Achievements Of The Tuskegee Airmen, The First African-American Airmen, And Is Titled, "They Met The Challenge." FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to The Mural Arts Program, further evidencing the sincere admiration and gratitude of this legislative body. ..End