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Girard Students Design Space Pads to Promote Social Distancing for MLK Day of Service
Five talented students from Girard College will have their original artwork featured on a series of new Space Pads created by Mural Arts Philadelphia. The vinyl stickers that promote social distancing will be used during the COVID-19 testing event on the school’s campus as part of the 26th annual Greater Philadelphia Martin Luther King Day of Service.
This year’s King Day of Service theme is “Justice & the COVID-19 Health Crisis,” and in partnership with Global Citizen and the Black Doctors COVID-19 Consortium, Girard College will host drive-through and walk-up COVID testing for all who need it on Monday, January 18, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the school’s campus in North Philadelphia.
Tori M. ’21, Cah’leah R. ’21, Danielle J. ’23, Janai W. ’23 and Jessica ’31 entered the school-wide contest along with many of their fellow Girardians, and were announced to have the winning designs by Jane Golden, Mural Arts Executive Director, during the King Day press conference on January 6. In addition to seeing their design transformed into a Space Pad, each student will receive a commemorative print of their design and a $100 VISA gift card.
“Girard College came through with wonderful design submissions,” said Golden. “We always love working with Girard students.”
Golden also announced an exciting development in another project that involves Girard College high school students in the Protest Art class and the Philadelphia Freedom Fighters – a mural honoring Cecil B. Moore that will be installed on the College’s campus this year. Stay tuned for much more on that project.
The partnership between Girard College, Mural Arts, and Global Citizen has a rich history, with the school proudly serving for the 12th year as the signature host site for the nation’s largest MLK Day of Service event. In addition to the Space Pad contest with Mural Arts, Global Citizen is also engaging with Girard students on a poetry slam project that encourages them to creatively express their feelings about the pandemic.
“Our students were so excited about the Space Pad contest,” said A.J. Ernst, Dean of High School. “And I have to thank our art teachers Christine Enedy and Sarah Gregory for working with the students and the Mural Arts team to make this happen.”
Other highlights of the King Day press conference included the presentation of the Harris Wofford Active Citizenship Award, named for the late Senator from Pennsylvania. Mayor of Philadelphia Jim Kenney announced that this year’s recipient is Dr. Ala Stanford, Founder of the Black Doctors COVID-19 Consortium, which has done so much this year to provide testing for people of color and others disproportionately affected by the pandemic. Todd Bernstein, president of Global Citizen and founder and director of the Greater Philadelphia Martin Luther King Day of Service, presented the award on the Mayor’s behalf.
Dr. Ala Stanford, founder of the Black Doctors COVID-19 Consortium, is presented with the Harris Wofford Active Citizenship Award by Todd Bernstein, founder and director of the Greater Philadelphia Martin Luther King Day of Service. The Consortium will lead a COVID-19 testing event at Girard College on January 18, 2021.
More information on the Martin Luther King Day of Service, including details on the COVID-19 testing event at Girard College as well as more than 100 virtual events, can be found online at https://mlkdayofservice.org.
Additional MLK Day of Service Programming
The Philadelphia Orchestra
Martin Luther King, Jr. Tribute Concert
Monday, January 18, 2021, 7:00 PM
Eastern State Penitentiary
Dr. Martin Luther King Day (VIRTUAL)
Monday, January 18, 2021, 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM
https://www.easternstate.org/visit/events/dr-martin-luther-king-day-virtual
More Coverage
Philadelphia’s King Day Of Service To Be Held In Person, Virtually In Light Of Pandemic
CBS Philly
https://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2021/01/06/philadelphias-king-day-of-service-to-be-held-in-person-virtually-in-light-of-pandemic/