remembering a Mayor Nutter moment in Philadelphia

Philadelphia. I love her. I write about her. I celebrate her. But don't think that I can't see. This can be a hard-knock city. It doesn't always love you back.

Today I'm remembering a moment I will forever cherish. Dangerous Neighbors, my Centennial novel, being featured as part of a First Book celebration. Mayor Nutter, standing beside me, signed my books for 120-plus young people who had never owned a book before.

I was honored.

I always am.

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Philadelphia's Literary Legacy Unveiling, at the Philadelphia International Airport (A wing)

We dodged the rain and made our way to the Philadelphia International Airport for the Literary Legacy unveiling. So many thoughts, but, really, the pictures tell the tale. Great thanks to Leah Douglas (exhibit curator), Siobhan Reardon and Andy Kahan of the Philadelphia Free Library, Mark Gale, CEO of Philadelphia International Airport, and Dr. Adrienne Jacoby of Philadelphia Reads for making this such a memorable day.

Most important fact: Some 3,000 books were donated through this event on behalf of Philadelphia school children.

The exhibit, which Leah designed, is beautiful and will hang for a year in the A terminal of the airport. We have a mayor who loves books and kids—and supports both. And I am honored to be among those who love stories as I do, as well as my very first teacher, Rosellen Brown.

Among those photographed here: Mayor Michael Nutter, Siobhan Reardon, Andy Kahan, Karen E. Quinones Miller, Lorene Carey, Sonia Sanchez, Diane McKinney-Whetstone, Solomon Jones, Teri Woods, Judy Schachner, Charles Fuller, and Michael Swanwick. Rosellen Brown is featured behind the Mayor. I was amazed to find The Heart is Not a Size, Nothing But Ghosts, and You Are My Only as featured book spines, and am proud that Flow: The Life and Times of Philadelphia's Schuylkill River, Handling the Truth, and Small Damages are featured in the author panel.

Newly added: The Philadelphia Inquirer coverage of the event can be found here.

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Street Portraits: Philadelphia International Festival of the Arts

Scenes from this day. 

Can you tell which one is my fine city's fine mayor, Michael Nutter?

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How Philly Moves: this is my city, dancing

Tonight marks the opening of the Philadelphia International Festival of the Arts, and as part of that celebration, a 45-foot digital projection mural will animate the face of the Kimmel Center over the course of the next few weeks.  From the Philadelphia Mural Arts Program notice that just appeared in my in-box:

This constantly changing mural, created by photographer JJ Tiziou in collaboration with PIFA and Mural Arts, will showcase photos and video of 174 dancing Philadelphians—including 26 who will also be featured in Mural Arts' 50,000-square-foot How Philly Moves mural currently being installed at Philadelphia International Airport.

I have dreams of someday writing a book that sells, really sells.  If that happens, I will buy a small apartment in the heart of my city and live closer to the pulse of its renaissance, closer to people who dream this big and see these sorts of ideals through.  For now I'm just sending this out to you—proof that the nation's fifth largest city has a whole lot of good going on.

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A very special Dear Author honor

I have had a year of gifts—quiet moments I'll never forget.  Late today (it was bitter cold; I was blurred by exhaustion), another gift arrived—word that John of the wonderful Dear Author site had chosen Dangerous Neighbors as one of the top published books of the year.

I choose this Michael Tolbert photo, taken on the day Mayor Michael Nutter and I celebrated a First Book milestone at KIPP, to celebrate John's generosity.  Because books are written to be read, and it's especially wonderful to be read by a reader like John. 

Thank you.

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Mayor Michael Nutter, First Book, and Yours Truly: A Few New Scenes

Readers of this blog know that I had the privilege of spending part of an afternoon with the students of KIPP, in the company of Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter, in celebration of First Book, that wonderful organization dedicated to ensuring that every child has a book to call his or her own. More than 100 copies of Dangerous Neighbors were given to the ninth graders that day, a chance for the Mayor, First Book President Kyle Zimmer, and me to spend some time with young Philadelphia readers.

This morning, Regina Cronin sent along the photographs taken by Michael Tolbert—images that return to me memories of a most spectacular day. Thank you, Regina and Michael (and First Book and Mr. Mayor).

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Where the heart is: 1209 Vine Street, Philadelphia

Today I sat in a teacher's room listening to children sort b's from g's, and pigs from bibs, all under the encouraging eye of a reading tutor.  I watched a multi-purpose room take on countless purposes and, shortly after noon, absorb the ninth graders of Philadelphia's KIPP DuBois Collegiate Academy.  I listened to Kyle Zimmer, president and co-founder of First Book, as she told stories about the revolution that book ownership yields; listened to the mayor of my city compare books to passports; listened as one sponsor after another made promises they plan to keep about literacy, education, and tomorrow.  And then I watched as Dangerous Neighbors made its way into the hands of those KIPP ninth graders, stewards of our future, all.  There were so many people who made today happen, and key among them is a young lawyer named Heather Steinmiler, who seems to do many things in many ways on behalf of the children of Philadelphia.

My dear friend Jan Suzanne Shaeffer was in the room today, and it is because of her that I have these photos to share.  I looked out, saw her sunny face, and took calm from it as I stepped up to the microphone.

Gratitudes.

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