Friends
“When you stop having dreams and ideals you might as well stop altogether.” —Marian Anderson
Mighty Writers garners inspiration from a wide variety of sources, most especially from the many Philadelphians we meet who remain determinedly sunny and optimistic even on the cloudiest of days.
We are inspired by 826 Valencia, the nonprofit tutoring, writing and publishing organization launched in San Francisco in 2002 by writer Dave Eggers and educator Nínive Clements Calegari. Despite being busy with multiple locations, 826 is exceedingly generous with time and guidance. A good deal of our future work will no doubt be built on their success.
We are humbled by the work of Bill Strickland, the CEO of Manchester Bidwell, a Pittsburgh-based jobs training center and community arts program. Touring Strickland’s mightily impressive center, we saw kids recreating gourmet meals in Strickland’s culinary arts program and raising orchids in his horticultural technology greenhouses.
“If you are paying attention to your life at all,” Strickland says in his recently published memoir, “the things that you are passionate about won’t leave you alone.”
Below, just a few of our friends, inspirations and favorite resources:
The Neon Museum of Philadelphia
Marian Anderson Historical Society
Philadelphia Arts in Education Partnership
Philadelphia International Records
Philadelphia Public School Notebook
South of South Neighborhood Association
