00:00 - My name is Cassandra Coleman, and I have the distinct honor of serving

00:04 - as the executive Director of America 2.5 EPA.

00:09 - Can I have everyone's attention?

00:10 - We are going to begin our program.

00:13 - Thank you.

00:16 - So America is the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's

00:19 - commission that was charged with planning and coordinating all of the programing

00:23 - projects and events around the 250th

00:26 - anniversary of our nation this year.

00:30 - Sit. Yes.

00:31 - Let that deserves a round of applause.

00:36 - Since 2018, America has partnered

00:40 - across all 67 counties and more than 500 local communities,

00:45 - with one mission reaching every Pennsylvanian.

00:49 - We've launched over a dozen initiatives, and now we are kicking off

00:55 - an epic statewide calendar of events.

00:59 - This humble warehouse

01:01 - has served as a working studio for months.

01:05 - Inside these walls, artists have turned ideas and inspiration

01:10 - into 22 bells for the City of Brotherly Love.

01:14 - Part of a statewide program of more than 100

01:18 - bells across Pennsylvania.

01:21 - Here in Philadelphia and across the Delaware Valley,

01:25 - the Liberty Bell is embedded into daily life.

01:28 - It shows up everywhere and means something a little different each time.

01:33 - One moment it's celebrating a Phillies home run,

01:36 - and the next it's printed on the side of a contractor's van.

01:41 - These bells may not ring, but they are far from silent.

01:46 - They start as a blank canvas and brilliant

01:50 - local artists like the people in this room, transform them.

02:00 - They transform them

02:01 - into symbols of community, shared history,

02:05 - and most importantly, pride.

02:09 - They are both public art and public invitations

02:14 - to everyone from lifelong

02:16 - Philadelphians to visitors from across the world.

02:20 - These bells offer a simple message.

02:23 - You belong here.

02:25 - Your story matters and you have a role in what comes next.

02:30 - We are deeply grateful to our partners and our sponsors who helped

02:34 - bring this vision to life.

02:36 - Notably, this work was made possible through the generous support

02:39 - of the City of Philadelphia.

02:41 - Philadelphia 250 and Mural Arts, Philadelphia,

02:45 - with support from local sponsors including Philadelphia

02:48 - College of Osteopathic Medicine, the Bellwether District,

02:52 - Visit Philadelphia, and the Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau.

02:56 - Let's give them a round of applause.

03:03 - And today I am here.

03:04 - Unfortunately, our chairman, Pat Burns, got the flu and was not able to join us.

03:09 - So on behalf of him, I want to thank the America chief and EPA

03:13 - commissioners, our advisory committee and our county advisors, as well as former

03:18 - governor Mark Schweitzer, who serves as a co-chair for being here today.

03:22 - So would the America EPA Commissioners Advisory

03:25 - Committee and County Advisory Committee, please stand and be recognized.

03:29 - So thank you so much for all of your work. Raise your hand.

03:33 - This evening.

03:34 - Thank you guys so much.

03:37 - It is now my distinct privilege to welcome our first speaker today,

03:42 - someone who has been a long supporter and of the vision and mission of America

03:48 - to 50 and our Bells Across Pennsylvania initiative and works tirelessly

03:53 - to ensure that this remarkable city is leading the way.

03:58 - Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Mayor Sheryl L Parker

04:04 - Hughes in the of my family.

04:07 - Just being here.

04:13 - Ladies and gentlemen.

04:15 - Leadership is tough.

04:16 - I want you to give Cassandra Coleman a huge round of applause.

04:20 - You have done an amazing job.

04:25 - Something very exciting

04:29 - is happening in the birthplace of democracy.

04:32 - And we all get a chance to be a part of it.

04:36 - Philadelphia.

04:37 - Philadelphia. Philadelphia.

04:40 - When I think about it.

04:41 - And how big of a moment this is for Philadelphia's history,

04:47 - the importance of public private partnerships,

04:52 - intergovernmental cooperation and collaboration.

04:56 - It is central, and it is at the nucleus of it all,

05:00 - because none of this happens without each

05:04 - and every one of us working together.

05:07 - So I know he has the flu, but I want them to feel it

05:11 - wherever he is right now, like he's drinking a warm cup of tea.

05:16 - Pat Byrnes, Pat Byrnes, Pat Byrnes Chair of America 250.

05:22 - My friend and listen, longtime stakeholder here

05:26 - via the Byrnes of Family Markets.

05:29 - We appreciate you, Pat.

05:31 - Cassandra, all members of the America

05:34 - 250 Commission and I'm kind of giddy

05:38 - because he led the place, in which I had an opportunity to serve.

05:43 - It is an honor and a privilege.

05:45 - Governor Sweitzer, to have you here with us.

05:48 - Please stand. Please stand.

05:51 - Governor.

05:52 - Governor, we are honored.

05:53 - Governor. Thank you. Thank you so very much.

05:56 - Then, we have, now he's he's here.

06:00 - And his America 250 role.

06:02 - But he is essential to Philadelphia in all of our success.

06:07 - Kevin Vaughn I Pikachu. I saw him somewhere.

06:10 - I don't know where you guys on, so thank you.

06:12 - Kevin.

06:13 - Lisa Daly, city commissioner.

06:15 - Thank you. And state rep Jared Solomon.

06:18 - Where are you? Where?

06:19 - Give jump rep Jared Solomon.

06:21 - This is important.

06:23 - And John McNichol I know you.

06:25 - He we joined you.

06:27 - We love you.

06:28 - And we give John McNichol a round of applause.

06:34 - And ladies

06:34 - and gentlemen and I'm going to mention my team in a second.

06:38 - But again this is about partnerships.

06:40 - We've known because we witnessed our work as a leader.

06:45 - And the previous administration in the area of Parks and Rec,

06:50 - she has done a great job as she has shifted from government

06:54 - into the hospitality and tourism sector.

06:58 - And we are so proud that she leads

07:01 - our show 250 and the Visitor center.

07:04 - Give it up for Catherine at level.

07:09 - Thank you.

07:12 - Listen, Philadelphia,

07:15 - whenever I talk about 2026,

07:18 - I always say the same thing because my grandmother is in my mind.

07:23 - Company's coming to Philadelphia,

07:26 - and this is going to be a huge year for our city.

07:30 - Philadelphia.

07:31 - You will be seen involved and highlighted on the global stage.

07:37 - And when you try to imagine what that's going to look like, I want you to know

07:41 - that we are going to welcome millions of visitors for world class events

07:46 - and for the celebration of our nation's

07:50 - 250th anniversary.

07:53 - And at this time, of course, we're going to get a chance

07:56 - to reflect on 250 years of history.

08:00 - But guess what?

08:01 - We're also going to be reflecting on the people,

08:05 - the cultures, the traditions, and the communities

08:10 - that helped shape this nation from the ground up.

08:13 - I can't think of a more opportune time for America and Philadelphia

08:19 - to take a stroll back in time and look at how far we've come,

08:24 - so that we will remember who we are and never forget the values

08:29 - that make our nation the greatest democracy in the world.

08:38 - So what are we doing today?

08:40 - And I'm giddy. I met the artist.

08:42 - I don't know where she is now and I can't see her.

08:44 - But with the unveiling of bells across Pennsylvania,

08:48 - we are doing more than introducing public art.

08:52 - We are lifting up a symbol of who we are

08:56 - and how we are preparing for the future.

09:00 - We should remember that Philadelphia has always been a city of firsts,

09:06 - a city of innovation and resilience and creativity.

09:11 - This is where freedom was born.

09:14 - And in this city, freedom still rings and it reigns

09:18 - supreme right here in the city of Philadelphia.

09:24 - So these bells are more than an installation for us.

09:28 - They are a reminder that our story is built by we the people.

09:35 - Neighborhood by neighborhood.

09:37 - Community by community.

09:39 - Now, when.

09:40 - When we arrived here, governor swaggered.

09:43 - You know this.

09:43 - You'll understand and feel my pain.

09:46 - Council President Kenyatta, Johnson and I, members of city council.

09:50 - When we arrived in 2024.

09:52 - In January, we were ready to begin preparing

09:56 - and wanted to know what the allocation for 2026 looked like.

10:02 - Where's Rep Jarrett Allen?

10:05 - Governor, it was zero.

10:08 - But listen.

10:08 - The partnership with Council President Kenyatta Johnson, all members

10:13 - of city council, it ensured that we would invest

10:18 - $120 million to prepare

10:21 - for special events in our city.

10:25 - So now this is a question.

10:27 - Philadelphia.

10:28 - I'm speaking directly to you on this one.

10:30 - When people think about the celebration, they're like,

10:33 - oh, well, we're going to be in town.

10:35 - I want you to know that we are doing the work to make

10:39 - sure our front door is in its best shape.

10:43 - Yes, but not just downtown

10:46 - and not just in inner city, but in neighborhoods across the city.

10:50 - You should feel it in Long Quest and Lawndale and Oxford Circle, no matter

10:55 - where you are in the city, you should feel a part of this celebration.

11:00 - And so that's why I'm excited that these bells are going to be placed

11:04 - prominently across the city, making it a celebration of for everyone.

11:09 - And I want to be clear,

11:11 - because you all have to be ambassadors, and we all have to be singing

11:15 - from the same sheet of music when we're talking about our celebration.

11:20 - The mission is to have 2026.

11:23 - Is impact felt across every neighborhood?

11:26 - I want you to know, for me, I'm just the mayor.

11:30 - The people who are leading it, the people who are doing

11:34 - the work is an amazing team from the city of Philadelphia,

11:39 - and they're not going to like it, but they have to stand.

11:41 - You'll see me later if you don't.

11:44 - Chief

11:45 - deputy Mayor Vanessa Garrett Harley, please stand.

11:48 - City representative and director of special events Giselle Jones.

11:52 - And our director of 2026, Michael New, Miss.

11:58 - I know it's a lot, y'all, but you're handling it with grace.

12:01 - And I want you to know I am grateful.

12:04 - This opportunity only comes to fruition,

12:07 - when we invest in our people and because of your work.

12:10 - But there's also a lady here, and you all know

12:15 - if we could bottle up the amount of energy that she has in cell,

12:19 - it will all be a gazillion shares in a matter of 24 hours.

12:23 - That's how much energy energy she brings to the work that she does.

12:28 - But I want you to give a huge round of applause to Mural Arts

12:32 - Philadelphia and our leader, Jane Golden.

12:35 - We love you, love you, love you, Jane.

12:39 - Thank you.

12:41 - I'm going to close out with this.

12:44 - These bells are also a call to action

12:47 - to drive economic activity along our commercial corridors.

12:51 - Uplift our small businesses, and, quite frankly, to spread a sense of hope

12:57 - and pride across the city of Philadelphia.

13:01 - This is what I call one Philly in action.

13:05 - Not because we simply say one Philly, but when people see us come together

13:10 - to do big things like we're doing here today, we demonstrate in a very

13:15 - tangible way that people can see, touch and feel that we are one.

13:19 - Philly.

13:20 - So I want you to do this for me.

13:22 - Everybody put one finger in the air.

13:25 - Now you all know how you know how important this is to me.

13:29 - We're going to be a model.

13:30 - Because when we show when we show people that we are one Philly, United City,

13:34 - guess what we're doing?

13:36 - We're showing the world that we are also one.

13:38 - America, a united nation.

13:41 - We're going to practice a whisper at the first time.

13:43 - I want to make sure you all are on cue.

13:45 - And you don't make mistakes like misspell an eagle.

13:47 - So put your finger one finger in the air.

13:52 - Let me hear you all.

13:53 - We're going to whisper because this is practice.

13:54 - The recording is not yet.

13:56 - Let me hear you say one.

13:57 - Philly, a united city,

14:01 - one America, a united nation.

14:05 - All right, get the cameras ready. They're ready.

14:06 - Put your.

14:07 - Put your hands up. Put your hands up!

14:10 - Let me hear you all say one.

14:11 - Philly,

14:13 - United city,

14:16 - one. America,

14:18 - a united nation.

14:21 - Let's bring it on. Philly 2026.

14:23 - We're here.

14:38 - Thank you again.

14:39 - How about another round of applause for our mayor?

14:43 - It is truly an honor to have your support

14:45 - as we embark on this remarkable year for the city and for the Commonwealth.

14:51 - As we continue, it's an honor to introduce

14:54 - our next speaker, Pennsylvania's deputy secretary for tourism.

14:58 - And Ryan.

14:59 - She has been a strong partner in helping to showcase Philadelphia

15:03 - and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania as we head into 2026.

15:07 - And she has been such a wonderful friend.

15:09 - So thank you for all of your support. Let's welcome and Ryan.

15:18 - Good morning everybody.

15:19 - You talk about bottling up energy.

15:21 - Mayor Parker, that was incredible.

15:23 - Thank you so much.

15:25 - So but before I dive in, Cassandra and I really have become friends.

15:29 - We text, we talk almost every day, but I don't think I've ever actually said

15:32 - thank you.

15:34 - And what I want to say thank you for is that she's really made it her mission

15:37 - to make sure that America's 250th anniversary doesn't just belong to a few,

15:42 - that it belongs to all of us,

15:44 - every town, every neighborhood in every Pennsylvanian.

15:47 - Cassandra, thank you for insisting that this moment

15:51 - is as big and as bold as the country that it celebrates.

15:55 - So really, thank you.

15:56 - All right.

15:57 - And to our elected leaders, our partners, our artists.

16:00 - Welcome.

16:01 - You are standing in this city that invented one of the most provocative

16:05 - ideas ever.

16:06 - The idea of America.

16:09 - Just a few blocks from here sits the Liberty Bell, cracked, imperfect,

16:14 - weathered by time and yet still powerful

16:17 - enough to shake the world to its core.

16:20 - This crack doesn't weaken the Liberty Bell.

16:24 - It makes it honest.

16:25 - It makes it human.

16:27 - It makes it beautiful.

16:29 - And that's Pennsylvania.

16:31 - We are not polished for show here.

16:33 - We are not curated for cameras.

16:36 - We are real.

16:37 - We're layered.

16:38 - We are unfinished, and we are full of possibility.

16:42 - From small towns where the diner still knows your name.

16:45 - To the mountain roads that wine past waterfalls and elk.

16:49 - To the neighborhoods in this city that pulse with music

16:52 - and murals, food and fierce pride.

16:56 - This is where the purest version of America still lives.

17:00 - Not staged, not filtered, just alive.

17:05 - And in 2026, the world will be on our doorstep.

17:10 - Yes, they're coming for the FIFA World Cup.

17:12 - They're also coming for the NFL draft out in Pittsburgh,

17:15 - the PGA Championship, the MLB All-Star series.

17:18 - We have some March Madness coming, incredible concerts,

17:21 - and the 250th anniversary of America.

17:26 - They will arrive for the Global moments.

17:28 - That's why they think they're coming.

17:30 - But they'll fall in love with the local ones.

17:32 - Are tooling highways that carry you through time as much as distance.

17:38 - Our small town festivals here, lit by string lights and shared memories.

17:42 - The coffee shops and the corner bars where the past in the present

17:46 - they share a table that is the great American getaway.

17:50 - That is what Pennsylvania is all about.

17:52 - And we're not trying to be perfect.

17:54 - Instead, we dare to be real.

17:57 - These bells across Philadelphia are symbols

18:00 - of that truth, each one different, each one carrying a story.

18:04 - A story of where we've been, what we've built,

18:06 - and what we still believe and know is possible.

18:10 - And they invite people not just to visit our incredible city,

18:13 - but to keep going, to discover a commonwealth full of places

18:17 - that are beautifully imperfect and endlessly compelling.

18:22 - Because when you put all these stories together and all 67 counties together,

18:26 - all of our voices, you don't get something fractured, you get something united.

18:32 - Mayor America, as it was intended

18:35 - and more than ever, America as it should be.

18:39 - So with that, it is my honor to welcome someone who brings

18:43 - that same fearless creativity to everything she touches.

18:47 - Someone who calls me and says and have a crazy idea.

18:51 - Just hear me out. Just hear me out.

18:53 - And somehow those ideas always make Philadelphia even more magnetic for

18:57 - the people who live here and the people who visit us and fall in love with it.

19:01 - So please welcome my friend Catherine at level.

19:09 - Thank you so much to.

19:10 - And, before I start, I want to acknowledge

19:13 - the mayor so graciously acknowledge many of our elected officials are here.

19:17 - Jared and Lisa,

19:18 - I want to also acknowledge, City Commissioner Seth Bluestein, who's here.

19:22 - We have representatives from, Senator McCormick's office.

19:25 - Chris Quinn is here with us.

19:26 - Thank you so much.

19:27 - And representative from Auditor General Tim to Ford's office as well.

19:30 - Thank you so much.

19:30 - And thank you to all of you for being here today for this incredibly exciting

19:35 - moment today marks the Commonwealth's kickoff

19:38 - for the Pennsylvania Semicolon Centennial celebration.

19:41 - America 250 PA led so beautifully by, my dear friend Cassandra Coleman

19:46 - and her incredible commission, they've done an extraordinary, extraordinary job

19:50 - of of leading this celebration, of our country's 250th birthday

19:56 - and ensuring that that celebration is felt across all 67 counties of Pennsylvania.

20:00 - Congratulations to Cassandra.

20:02 - To pat to your commission for all of your efforts.

20:05 - And from the bottom of our heart here in Philadelphia. Thank you.

20:09 - I also want, of course, thank.

20:10 - And, Brian, not just for taking my calls with crazy ideas,

20:14 - which usually leads to a funding request.

20:17 - Who is, I just want to be clear that and stepped into this role

20:21 - like ten minutes ago and, you know, so bravely

20:25 - and graciously it was like, oh, I guess I lead 2026 now for the state.

20:29 - This was a massive undertaking that she left the private sector

20:33 - to do, to come to the public sector.

20:35 - And she has been such a gift to us throughout the Commonwealth.

20:38 - Her vision, her ideas and her tenacity is driving this,

20:44 - this incredible program forward throughout the Commonwealth

20:47 - and throughout the state.

20:47 - So thank you and for your leadership and your commitment to what we're doing here.

20:53 - Our mission at

20:54 - 250 is very much aligned with that of America.

20:57 - 250 to accept our work is to ensure that the city's

21:00 - celebration pours out into every neighborhood of Philadelphia.

21:03 - And then the 1.5 million plus residents of our city

21:06 - have the opportunity to create memories and experience the joy that we know we're

21:11 - going to create over the next 11 months, and that our programs and our projects

21:15 - we deliver drive economic and community benefits all across our city.

21:20 - That is only possible because of the incredible human beings

21:24 - who are in these neighborhoods lifting them up every single day.

21:28 - They are what is represented on these bills

21:32 - that we are going to unveil today, the vision and the ideas

21:36 - and the traditions and the histories and the the potential of these communities

21:41 - is what was poured out

21:42 - through community meetings with artists from the mural arts programs.

21:45 - And then the artist job was to capture that and somehow,

21:48 - somehow, personify it on these bells.

21:52 - And that's what you're going to see here today.

21:54 - But this would not have been possible without these amazing community leaders.

21:58 - We have communities represented and we have the city represented

22:02 - with its own bell.

22:03 - And so city city workers came out, to talk about what,

22:07 - what this city means to them and what working for the city,

22:09 - being a civil servant means to them.

22:11 - And all of that is represented on these bells.

22:13 - And so I would like all of the community leaders who are here with us today

22:17 - who worked on these bells with our artists and the artists to please stand up

22:21 - and be recognized

22:23 - for the work you do every single day

22:27 - to make your community sing.

22:29 - Thank you so much for what you do,

22:31 - and thank you for the work that you put into this.

22:33 - And thank you for being stewards

22:35 - of these incredible works of art that will soon grace your neighborhoods.

22:39 - You know, our mayor was on fire today.

22:42 - She's on fire every day.

22:44 - But you can tell how excited

22:46 - she is about this moment in time that we've all been waiting for.

22:50 - Cheryl Parker has had a huge lift in front of her when she became mayor.

22:56 - Because not only, you know, did she have to drive forward her vision

23:00 - around economic development and housing and education and crime?

23:05 - But she had to also deliver a once in a generation birthday party

23:09 - for our city and country, in the place where it happened with no money.

23:14 - I'll remind you and what she has created.

23:17 - Because of Cheryl Parker's leadership and the leadership of City Council,

23:22 - we are going to throw the most epic celebration that our city has ever seen,

23:28 - and we are going to make sure that celebration

23:31 - is felt by every single Philadelphian.

23:34 - So I can't thank the mayor enough for her support and her vision

23:37 - and her leadership.

23:38 - But I also think, and I know this because I spent some time

23:42 - in city government, that the sign of a great leader

23:44 - and the sign of a great mayor is who they surround themselves with.

23:48 - And that John McNichol and I were just talking about this

23:50 - this morning, that who Mayor Parker has chosen to surround herself

23:54 - with in city government, I think, is the greatest testament to your leadership.

23:58 - My former boss, Vanessa Garrett Harley, who is chief

24:01 - deputy mayor, Giselle Jones, who is city representative.

24:05 - And because that wasn't enough for her ahead of the Office of Special Events

24:10 - and Michael Nunez, this is a dream team of individuals

24:14 - who the mayor has appointed to lead the city's 2026 celebration.

24:18 - And we can't thank you enough for that.

24:20 - But as the mayor mentioned, there are so many other people across

24:23 - city government who are making this happen every single day.

24:26 - Someone in the city of Philadelphia

24:28 - who's working there is thinking about how we're going to pull off 20, 26.

24:32 - Everybody. Right? We got to plan the parties.

24:34 - These guys are going to figure out

24:35 - how it actually happens and how it happens safely, and how we maximize it.

24:39 - For every opportunity.

24:40 - I want to acknowledge Camille

24:41 - de Shaw's name, my dear friend, the chief administrative officer for the city,

24:46 - Mike Carroll,

24:47 - Karen Fegley, and the entire team at Commerce.

24:51 - The team at Commerce has been meeting weekly for the past year

24:55 - to design the programs and the projects

24:58 - that are going to happen across our city throughout 2026.

25:01 - There is such this is in addition to all of their day jobs.

25:05 - Working in city government is thankless, it is hard and it is thankless.

25:08 - And these people are taking on a whole other full time

25:12 - job to pull this rabbit out of a hat.

25:15 - That is leadership, that is dedication, that is commitment.

25:18 - And we are so grateful

25:20 - to work alongside them and do what we can to help make this happen.

25:23 - I also want to acknowledge,

25:25 - we have a team of folks who are helping to make all these projects happen.

25:29 - Julie Bush is here from Ground Reconsidered.

25:31 - A very, very quiet force who has designed, so much of what were there.

25:36 - She is

25:37 - so much of what we're going to be doing and has figured out what all these bells

25:40 - are going to be placed and how they're going to be installed.

25:43 - And that's tiny, but really important.

25:45 - We needed a space to paint the bells.

25:47 - We need a space to pack all of the block party kits for the 250 block parties.

25:51 - We're going to throw the school district to.

25:53 - Philadelphia has given us this space for free for as long as we need it.

25:57 - And we are so grateful to Doctor Oz Hill, to Theresa Fleming,

26:01 - to the entire team at the school district for their incredible generosity.

26:05 - Thank you so much to each and every one of them.

26:08 - And, you know, I also want to thank because, you know, I get to stand up here

26:13 - and say nice things and go out and give presentations.

26:17 - There is an a small but mighty team behind the scenes at 250.

26:21 - Who is making this work? Actually happen?

26:24 - I want to thank Elka Battle Morello, who was our VP for 2026 initiatives,

26:29 - Jane Graves, Patti Gillette, Jackie Grillo, Gunther

26:33 - could not thank you guys enough for everything

26:35 - you're doing behind the scenes to make this work possible.

26:37 - I also want to thank our Chief of Staff, Sudha Suri De Vera.

26:40 - Without Sudha, there would be no me.

26:42 - Our incredible partners at Visit Philadelphia, the Convention

26:46 - Visitors Bureau, and of course, the Pennsylvania Convention Center.

26:50 - And everybody who's making this possible, I also want to thank the advisory board

26:54 - for 250. Please raise your hand.

26:56 - And thank you so much for being here and for your leadership

27:01 - of this organization, for many, many years.

27:04 - And last but certainly not least, that the mayor and the city and city

27:07 - council in the state have put in a massive amount of funding

27:11 - to help make everything possible, as the mayor said, over 100 million

27:15 - American dollars, which is just mind blowing.

27:18 - There's no city in the country making that level of commitment.

27:21 - Mayor. Nobody else.

27:23 - And and as it should be, right, we're the place where it happened.

27:26 - But we have also been able to raise, incredible

27:30 - funding from the private sector, from the corporate sector.

27:34 - One of our

27:35 - founding sponsors is independence Blue Cross.

27:38 - Lorina Marshall Blake is here.

27:41 - They stepped up to fund this work before anybody else,

27:44 - and we could not be doing this without you.

27:46 - So thank you.

27:47 - Comcast is one of our, founding funders Wells Fargo as well.

27:52 - And we just are so grateful to them for their continued support of this.

27:56 - And then there was a group of funders who came together about two years ago,

28:00 - that, you know, essentially pooled their money to help

28:05 - spread it out across hundreds of projects and programs throughout 2026.

28:09 - And that's the Funders Collaborative for the Semi Quinn Centennial.

28:13 - We are so grateful to them.

28:16 - And last but certainly not least, and I'm so excited to introduce them.

28:20 - When we wanted to take on this Bell

28:22 - project, there was,

28:23 - you know, that the design of the bells and the creating of the bells and we,

28:28 - we could not do this, but thank God we have the most incredible

28:32 - public art program in the world here in Philadelphia, where I also worked.

28:37 - And, my former boss and my very dear friend Jane Goldman

28:41 - and her team, Mural Arts, are always at the end of a call, ready to say yes.

28:46 - We said, we have all these bells.

28:48 - We need someone to paint them.

28:49 - We need to get them out in communities.

28:51 - Yes, yes. When, how?

28:53 - What do you want us to do?

28:54 - And so grateful to Jane.

28:56 - All of the artists, the entire team, the mural crew, your project managers,

29:00 - everybody who worked day and night in a cold warehouse.

29:03 - But now it's not.

29:04 - But it was, to get these bells painted.

29:06 - Thank you so much to Jane and your extraordinary team.

29:10 - And then we needed some extra funding for this.

29:12 - And we are so grateful to, two local organizations, corporations that

29:17 - stepped up to the plate when we needed support, wanted to make a difference

29:22 - for 2026 and Philadelphia and, and helped to make that difference.

29:27 - So I want to welcome them up to join me at this stage.

29:31 - First and foremost, Doctor Jay Feldstein from Peckham.

29:35 - A round of applause for Peckham.

29:38 - Thank you so much.

29:39 - And then we have the HRP group Bellwether District.

29:43 - And please join me in welcoming Amelia Shaw Al-Sabah.

29:47 - These two individuals lead these two companies

29:50 - organizations and, made a very generous contribution

29:53 - to be our sponsors for the bells across PA project here in Philadelphia.

29:57 - So please, please join me in welcoming them and thanking them for their support.

30:01 - Thank you everybody.

30:07 - All right.

30:09 - Well, thank you, Catherine.

30:11 - You're a force of nature.

30:12 - As, as is perfect for this city with the force of nature in the mayor's office.

30:18 - I'm really honored to be here

30:19 - representing the bellwether district on a exciting day for Philadelphia.

30:24 - We're often asked how we chose the name bellwether and what it means.

30:28 - It technically does not have anything to do with bells.

30:30 - Although we'll kind of take the synergy with this initiative or the weather.

30:35 - According to the dictionary, a bellwether is one that takes the lead

30:39 - or initiative to us that captures this city of firsts perfectly.

30:44 - For more than 250 years, Philadelphia has led on freedom

30:49 - and liberty, on industry and innovation, and on the arts.

30:53 - The belt Across PA program is a compelling and tangible way in our communities

30:58 - to tell the Philadelphia story through public art

31:00 - that sparks imagination and civic pride.

31:03 - I want to thank Mayor Parker.

31:05 - Philadelphia, 250 Mural Arts and everyone who made this program possible.

31:09 - We are honored to participate, and we're proud to be a small part

31:12 - of the next 250 years of firsts here in Philly.

31:15 - Thank you.

31:22 - So I just great speech

31:24 - written by my speechwriters.

31:27 - It's just not going to do justice today if if the what I've heard.

31:32 - So the energy in this room, the excitement, it's amazing.

31:36 - And many of you are probably sitting out there going, why isn't medical school

31:40 - sponsoring Liberty Bells

31:43 - across the state in the city of Philadelphia?

31:46 - Well, for one, we are Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine.

31:51 - Okay.

31:52 - We've been around for 125 years,

31:56 - and part of our mission is building

31:59 - and supporting healthy communities.

32:02 - And when I think back to growing up in Oxford Circle,

32:07 - going to Spruance Elementary School, taking the class trip

32:10 - down to see the Liberty Bell, and how my life has come full circle

32:15 - for this moment, to be able to celebrate this city and support this initiative.

32:21 - I just want to thank the mayor, the City of Philadelphia, Mural Arts,

32:25 - the Bellwether District, the artists, the community members,

32:27 - and everyone in this room and everyone in this city.

32:31 - We are so excited to be able to participate in this program.

32:34 - So instead of thanking us, we are thanking you.

32:38 - Thank you.

32:56 - Thank you all so much.

32:58 - And again, a huge thank you to all of our partners and all of our sponsors.

33:02 - I would also be remiss if I did not specifically

33:05 - thank our law enforcement in the room today.

33:08 - I know we have local and the Pennsylvania State Police

33:10 - who have been an amazing partner statewide.

33:13 - They allow us to put on all of our events across all 67 counties, but do it safely.

33:19 - So again, let's give them another round of applause, please.

33:26 - So as we are

33:28 - preparing to officially unveil 22 new bells,

33:31 - we want to spend a moment talking

33:33 - a little bit about the people who have made these bells possible

33:37 - the artists, the community members, and the visionary leaders who supported

33:42 - the creative design and development of the bells across Pennsylvania.

33:46 - To tell us more about our artists and their journeys, please

33:50 - welcome the founder and Executive Director of Mural Arts Philadelphia, Jane Golden.

34:05 - Age. Good morning everybody.

34:10 - This is such an exciting day.

34:12 - Oh, hi, mayor.

34:14 - I love their partner.

34:16 - I just think she's, like, so excited when I think about you.

34:18 - I'm like, yeah.

34:20 - So, Thank you, Cassandra.

34:22 - Thank you. To the mayor.

34:23 - I mean, we have an extraordinary mayor.

34:25 - Her leadership, her vision, a round of applause, everyone.

34:29 - I feel like I could run ten miles a lap.

34:33 - That your leadership is amazing.

34:35 - I want to thank America to 50 for Philadelphia to 50

34:39 - and the visitor center for their partnership.

34:42 - I want to thank my extraordinary friend Catherine

34:45 - at Level, who I adore, who is so inspiring.

34:48 - I can't believe we work together.

34:51 - I want to thank the state, and Ryan,

34:54 - I'm going to start calling you with creative ideas.

34:58 - This could be trouble.

34:59 - I want to thank the dream team at the city.

35:02 - Vanessa, Giselle, Michael Newman's.

35:04 - I'm always texting Michael Dumas, and he's so incredibly responsive.

35:09 - He carries so much weight on his shoulders, and he does so with grace.

35:12 - I don't see her here today, but Val gay, we're part of Creative Philadelphia,

35:18 - and I just want to thank Val for her advocacy in the arts.

35:21 - And I'm so grateful to the funders, the Philadelphia College

35:24 - of Osteopathic Medicine in the Bellwether District.

35:26 - Thank you.

35:30 - So anyway, so who are we?

35:32 - So for more than 30 years,

35:34 - Mural Arts has worked alongside neighborhoods in the city

35:37 - to create public art that is rooted, truly rooted in people's lives.

35:42 - In fact, the over 4400 works of public art in the city.

35:48 - And we have a round of applause for Philly.

35:52 - We have more murals

35:53 - than any city in the universe.

35:56 - I used to say country. I used to say world.

35:58 - Now I think it's beyond that.

35:59 - So what do we do? We reclaim public space.

36:02 - We embrace and participation, and we honor deeply honored people.

36:06 - Stories.

36:07 - Mural art started out on a wing and a prayer with the simple notion

36:12 - that everyone, everywhere, should have access to art and beauty.

36:15 - We saw before our eyes how murals could transform

36:18 - the ordinary into something unexpected.

36:21 - And soon, local leaders.

36:23 - Some of you were here today.

36:24 - Lots of them across our city began to see the power of art

36:29 - because it represented their values, their hopes, and their dreams.

36:33 - They believe that this work could capture memories.

36:36 - It could mine the rich social imagery that live below the surface,

36:41 - and that it could spur and be a catalyst for action and change.

36:45 - Murals.

36:46 - Yes, murals became emblematic of a newfound social agency.

36:51 - It was truly, absolutely, 100% inspiring.

36:57 - The size and

36:58 - scale of our programs have truly changed.

37:01 - The work now is multi-dimensional.

37:04 - It's layered, it's nuanced, and we serve over 10,000 people every year.

37:09 - Our stakeholder groups have grown from a small group of neighbors

37:13 - to city blocks, city departments,

37:15 - businesses, hospitals, prisons, social service agencies, and mayor.

37:19 - Park our highways. Woohoo!

37:21 - We're everywhere, we're everywhere, and so much more.

37:25 - And but the but what has been unchanged

37:28 - is our goals for people in this city.

37:31 - We want to give people a voice.

37:33 - We want to offer our creativity and resources in service,

37:37 - and we want to use art to transform how people see themselves,

37:41 - their communities, and the city of Philadelphia.

37:45 - When we ask Philadelphians what is important to them,

37:49 - when we listen intently, when we engage with ultimate respect,

37:54 - we demonstrate our faith and the authenticity of people's voices

38:00 - and their right to be seen and heard.

38:05 - Our work begins with a

38:06 - commitment, a deep commitment from community members and artists.

38:10 - It flies across the city with creativity and imagination, and all of this

38:15 - transforms into the collection of public art that is in our city today.

38:19 - It is truly the autobiography of the city of Philadelphia

38:23 - and this wonderful approach, led by communities

38:26 - and by artists, shape this project from the very beginning.

38:31 - And thank you, Katherine, and your team, for inspiring us to think about the

38:34 - role of community in creating these bills, that this wasn't just a painting,

38:38 - but it was something beautiful, created in partnership with communities.

38:43 - So for bills across PA, 16 local artists and you know, I love artists.

38:46 - They're so great.

38:48 - We're selected to design 20 replica Liberty Bells,

38:51 - each developed in collaboration with neighborhood stakeholders.

38:54 - The Liberty Bell is one of the most recognized symbols in the world.

38:59 - In this project, that shared symbol is reimagined.

39:02 - Reimagine local stories and perspectives.

39:05 - Each build that you're going to see reflects a distinct narrative.

39:09 - Together, they offer a portrait of Philadelphia

39:12 - as a city of neighborhoods, each each with its own voice, its own history,

39:17 - but all part, all part of a shared Philadelphia.

39:21 - These bells will live in neighborhoods across the city,

39:24 - inviting residents and visitors to pause, to reflect

39:28 - and learn about the people and stories that shape Philadelphia today.

39:34 - They remind us that liberty is not fixed in time or place.

39:38 - It's moves, it's moving and evolving, and it's just like public art.

39:41 - Liberty meets us where we are, and public art meets us where we are.

39:45 - We see it across the street

39:46 - when we're on the bus, when we're biking through the city.

39:49 - It's not done with great fanfare.

39:51 - It is everywhere, as art should be.

39:54 - It's like oxygen.

39:56 - As we approach the 250th anniversary of our nation's founding,

40:00 - there is a lot of attention on history as it should be.

40:04 - But what feels important about this project

40:07 - is that this also speaks to the present.

40:10 - These bills reflect how civic life is lived now,

40:14 - through relationships, through shared spaces and the stories

40:17 - held, the brilliant stories held in communities throughout our city.

40:21 - By placing these bills across Philadelphia, we are saying that

40:25 - every, every, every, every community belongs in the story of freedom.

40:30 - And every single voice matters.

40:32 - Thank you for all the artists, to the project managers,

40:36 - to the community members who contributed to this project.

40:40 - May these bells ring endless with hope and possibility.

40:47 - Yay! Art ignites

40:49 - change when paired with community.

40:52 - Okay, and I want to say I want to give a huge

40:55 - round of applause to the Mural Arts team.

40:58 - Round of applause, everybody.

40:59 - Mural art. Stand up, stand up, mural arts.

41:02 - Don't be shy.

41:04 - I want to thank our project manager, Lily Rozzi.

41:07 - Lily, I want to thank Ellie Clark,

41:12 - Kelly Silverman, our ops team.

41:15 - They're everywhere.

41:16 - Our operations team and our crew.

41:18 - Nathaniel Lee, where is Nathaniel Lee?

41:21 - You're amazing.

41:23 - You are here day and night, making sure these bells are beautiful.

41:27 - I also want to thank the artists for their creativity, their vision,

41:30 - their care, their commitment, and the community members.

41:33 - From the time I started at Mirror Lights, you've inspired me.

41:36 - The work belongs to all of you.

41:38 - And now everybody, we're going to show their names on the screen.

41:41 - Let's meet the artists.

41:45 - And by the

41:45 - way, yes, we employ 250 artists every year.

41:48 - Let's hear it.

41:49 - For a city that loves artists.

41:53 - Okay, here we go.

41:54 - Okay.

41:55 - Are we ready?

41:55 - I can't see the screen.

41:56 - It's the first name coming up.

41:59 - Not yet.

42:00 - I'll refrain.

42:02 - Oh, Emily Bush.

42:05 - Oh, no.

42:09 - Okay.

42:10 - Chen Lin ty and sings low.

42:17 - Andrew Daniels.

42:24 - Bob Dix.

42:29 - Joanne Gallery.

42:34 - Akira Gordon.

42:38 - Hey, Jacoby.

42:43 - I love this enthusiasm.

42:44 - Cindy Lou Zito.

42:48 - Shine.

42:49 - Your honor.

42:52 - Take care.

42:53 - Octavia Mitchell.

42:57 - Oh, I Abigail Reese.

43:00 - Jamal and Saleem.

43:04 - Michelle.

43:04 - Scott.

43:07 - Madeline.

43:08 - Smith.

43:10 - Parrish.

43:10 - Dance. So.

43:13 - And the thorn.

43:16 - Megan.

43:17 - Turbot.

43:19 - Isn't this exciting?

43:21 - I'm so excited.

43:22 - At this point, I'd like to invite the artists

43:23 - to come forward and stand with their bells.

43:28 - And you will see in a moment.

43:31 - And I can't believe how excited I am.

43:33 - You are going to see more than just beautiful works of art.

43:36 - You're going to see collaboration, trust,

43:38 - and a city telling its story of many voices.

43:41 - Now, Cassandra, back to you.

43:45 - Next.

43:48 - All right, folks,

43:49 - thank you so much, Jane, and thank you to all of our artists

43:52 - that were mentioned for being part of this historic project with us.

43:56 - So what I would ask for all of our guests, can our guests please take a step back

44:00 - and get at least even or behind the chairs to give the artists?

44:04 - And I would invite the community partners forward, please, to join your artist.

44:08 - I would invite any of the sponsors forward to join your artists,

44:12 - and I would invite my fellow speakers on the stage here.

44:17 - So again, if we could

44:18 - ask the guests to please step back to provide opportunity for the folks

44:23 - to come forward to unveil the bells, that would be a huge help.

44:26 - Thank you.

44:30 - So as our folks are gathering, as Jane said, each

44:34 - and every one of these artists worked hard with people in their communities

44:39 - to ensure each bell honors not only our nation's story,

44:43 - but also the unique history and character of the community.

44:46 - Where it will stand then they put that inspiration

44:50 - into practice by designing and developing something

44:53 - historic for their neighbors to hold on to.

44:57 - It's truly been a remarkable process to witness.

45:00 - So now let's get to the moment that we have all been waiting for.

45:05 - And I would ask my fellow speakers on the stage here.

45:07 - We are going to do a countdown.

45:08 - So artists and community partners, can I have your attention please?

45:12 - We are going to count down from ten and then you're going to unveil your bells.

45:16 - Everybody good?

45:17 - Yeah. All right so here we go.

45:19 - Ten 987654321.

45:29 - Let's go.

45:39 - So, ladies and gentlemen,

45:41 - what a remarkable way to ring in 2026.

45:45 - And officially kick off our Semi Quinn Centennial year here

45:49 - in the city of Philadelphia and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

45:53 - This concludes our program. Today.

45:55 - We invite you to please take a look around, walk around the bells

45:59 - and really take in these amazing masterpieces.

46:02 - Thank you.