This week we begin a year-long exploration of Philadelphia’s civic identity, and we hope to spark a widespread conversation with a series of thought-provoking essays published in partnership with the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, The Philadelphia Inquirer, and WHYY’s Newsworks.org. Often, these essays will be paired with distinctive works of art from the City of Philadelphia Mural Arts Program. Across multiple online platforms, in the Sunday Currents section of the Inquirer, and through public events, we invite you to reflect on the famous phrases that have defined our city — first up, “The City of Brotherly Love.” At Newsworks.org, you’ll find the discussion underway with video interviews.
These activities also help us to build The Encyclopedia of Greater Philadelphia. We envision each of the thematic essays as a gateway for expanding layers of content, and we will invite participants in our public event series — The Greater Philadelphia Roundtable — to help us determine topics to represent each theme. To see what’s coming up in the year ahead, check out our events calendar.
Please join us for this unprecedented investigation of the ideas and themes that lie at the heart of our shared history. (If you need more incentive, our first event this Wednesday, March 23, will be followed by a reception co-sponsored by the Historical Society of Pennsylvania and the Mid-Atlantic Regional Center for the Humanities.) Our thanks to the Pennsylvania Humanities Council for support of the Greater Philadelphia Roundtable series, and to the many civic partners who have helped us to organize these events.