As discussed in chapter 4's post, the ethnic make up of Philly's neighborhoods have changed over time. Urban decay also took place as many groups fled the city in search of live in the suburbs. As all the major cities in "BoshWash," the City of Brotherly Love maintains a very diverse population.
Like all big cities, the negative attributes of urban-metropolitan living have also impacted Philadelphia. Crime, homelessness, and graffiti have plagued the city. The city has enacted many initiatives to stop these negatives.
Specifically, the Philadelphia Anti-Graffiti Network was created by the city in 1984 in order to give citizens access to power-washing to remove any graffiti. This was a widespread campaign to eradicate the graffiti problem. In 1996, the mayor reorganized this into the Mural Arts Program.
Here is a video about the Mural Arts Program:
Muralist Jane Golden reached out to graffiti artists to help them "redirect their energies from destructive graffiti writing to constructive mural painting." Through these efforts, over 3,000 beautiful murals have replaced graffiti. The program also focuses on educational material for gang affiliates, which helps teach responsibility, teamwork and problem solving. Here are some examples of the murals:
The program's mantra is "Art Saves Lives." It continues to impact the countless individuals who paint, and drastically improve the city. This program has become a model of positive change for cities around the world.
Though Philadelphia will always face the challenges of all megalopolis cities, it also enjoys the great positives of urban diversity. As all the major cities along the Atlantic coast, Philly is a rich and colorful city that is worth visiting!
No comments:
Post a Comment