Resolution 230469

..Title Honoring Mural Arts Philadelphia for the organization's Porch Light program and Asian American and Pacific Islander mural series in collaboration with the Mayor's Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs, the Managing Director's office, Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation and Asian Arts Initiative. ..Body WHEREAS, Section 102 of Title 36, United States Code, officially designates May as Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month and authorizes the President to issue each year a proclamation calling on the people of the United States to observe this special month with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities; and WHEREAS, Mural Arts Philadelphia's Porch Light program aims to address the needs and concerns of the AAPI communities, promote cultural understanding, and reduce stigma. The Porch Light program, a collaboration with the City of Philadelphia's Department of Behavioral Health & Intellectual Disability Services, has actively been engaged with the AAPI community for the past ten years. Porch Light's work primarily focuses on reaching out to the community, encouraging them to share their stories of migration, departure, and hope for the future, and WHEREAS, Porch Light, in collaboration with the Mayor's Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs and the Managing Director's Office, Porch Light initiated a series of five murals highlighting Philadelphia's AAPI communities. This series aims to acknowledge and celebrate the presence and contributions of the AAPI communities while combating the stigma associated with the novel coronavirus , and WHEREAS, the Council of the City of Philadelphia honors and celebrates three murals dedicated to AAPI cultural heritage: Unity in Diversity (1754 S. Hicks St) by Winnie Sidharta, We Dreamt an Orchard This Way (221 N. 11th St) by Gina Kim with mural leadership by Kien Nguyen and assistance from Lucia Michel, and The Past Supporting the Future (1000 Vine St) by Eurhi Jones, Chenlin Cai, and Yvonne Long. These works of art and future murals in the AAPI series are located in Chinatown, a historically endangered site, South Philadelphia, and Olney neighborhoods. The Mural Arts AAPI Mural Series celebrates the diversity and vibrancy of the AAPI community in Philadelphia, and WHEREAS, Mural Arts' Porch Light program, through its AAPI Mural Series, has been actively engaging the Asian American Pacific Islander community in Philadelphia. By highlighting the presence, contributions, and stories of the AAPI communities, the program aims to foster understanding, appreciation, and unity. Through community engagement, partnerships with organizations, and generous support from various entities, the program has successfully created visually stunning murals that serve as catalysts for community dialogue and bridge-building. These efforts stand as a testament to the importance of art in fostering social cohesion and mutual respect; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, THAT THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, that it honors Mural Arts Philadelphia's Porch Light program and Asian American and Pacific Islander mural series that celebrates the rich history and contributions of the AAPI community in Philadelphia. FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to Mural Arts Philadelphia staff and artists whose work honors the AAPI community. ..End