Global Philadelphia Association and Saint Joseph’s University Will Create a Public Art Mural Focused on Quality Education in Support of Global Sustainability

As part of a broad campaign to bring awareness to the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Saint Joseph’s University and Global Philadelphia Association are inviting local artists to respond to a request for proposal (RFP) for a public art mural depicting SDG No. 4 – Quality Education. The SDGs urge all organizations and countries to transform our world by promoting prosperity while protecting the planet. In particular, the Quality Education goal recognizes that obtaining a quality education is the foundation of sustainable development.

“There is no time like the present to address the many global challenges we face,” said Zabeth Teelucksingh, executive director of Global Philadelphia Association, a nonprofit dedicated to enhancing the region’s global profile. “We are committed to fostering the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals, and this collaboration with Saint Joseph’s is an opportunity to further that commitment. This also connects with our Philadelphia World Heritage City Project’s mission to raise awareness that Philadelphia’s city heritage is in fact globally connected.”

This mural is one of a series of art installations throughout the City of Philadelphia that the Global Philadelphia Association is spearheading. For each mural that is created, there are five partnership components: the sponsor, host site, the artist and an NGO that will receive the project grant and accompanying academic project. Global Philadelphia Association has reached an agreement with SJU as the sponsor of this project for Goal 4. The host site will be on SJU’s campus and linked to the Samuel Gompers Elementary School, immediately adjacent to the University.

For more than 30 years, the University and Gompers have been community partners. Saint Joseph’s students serve as student-teachers and volunteers to support afterschool programming. Additionally, faculty have provided professional development training to Gompers staff.

“Saint Joseph’s partnership with Global Philadelphia Association is important to advancing our mission as a globally connected, Jesuit institution,” said Shaily Menon, Ph.D., dean of the Colleges of Arts and Sciences. “I’m excited to join both Global Philadelphia and Gompers on this project as it aligns with our values of quality education, sustainability, social justice and a hope-filled future for our youth.”

Saint Joseph’s has long been invested and active in the SDGs. This project represents a cross-campus collaboration bringing together a working group of faculty representing the College of Arts and Sciences, Haub School of Business and School of Health Studies and Education.

Experts in the Haub school created the SDG Dashboard, a collaborative data reporting and analytics platform for global business schools to share their best practice impacts on SDGs and transform business education into a force for good.

Responses to the RFP are due by May 15, and the final installation on Saint Joseph’s campus is planned for early fall 2020.