Kelley Prevard

More than a month has passed since the dedication of “Labor of Love,” and I’ve found myself returning to the meaning of that day.

I’ve been reflecting on the role of ceremony in our lives. From Pride Month celebrations to Juneteenth gatherings, from the Summer Solstice to the many ways communities come together to mark important milestones. Ceremony helps us honor what matters. It creates space for remembrance, gratitude, connection, and hope.

The dedication of “Labor of Love” was one of those moments.

We were led to the stage by a drumline. There were performances, speakers, community leaders, and dignitaries gathered to celebrate the extraordinary legacy of Dr. Constance E. Clayton. The street and building were officially renamed in her honor. And to open the ceremony, a young girl began singing “Lift Every Voice and Sing.” One by one, voices joined until the entire crowd was singing together.

That moment reminded me that public art is about more than paint on a wall. At its best, it creates a space where memory, history, and community can meet.

My deepest gratitude to Mural Arts Philadelphia (Mural Arts Philadelphia The School District of Philadelphia (School District Philadelphia , the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, the Constant E. Clayton Committee, community members, and everyone whose vision, partnership, and care made this day possible. It was an honor to help tell Dr. Constance E. Clayton’s story, and to witness a community come together to celebrate her extraordinary legacy.

Odunde Festival in Philly. One of those yearly traditions that just feels like home. ✨

Started with a little hair moment, ended in music, dancing and pure joy.

I’ve been thinking a lot about impact and what that word really means. We often imagine impact as something big and visible, measured by recognition, awards, and huge accomplishments. Something the world can clearly point to. But I’m starting to think some of the most meaningful impact happens quietly, in small soul-to-soul moments.

A few weeks ago, at my latest mural dedication at the School District of Philadelphia headquarters, I found myself speaking out loud about my hope to leave a positive impact on the spaces and communities I move through. Later that same day, I received an email from a former student I had taught years earlier in an afterschool art program back in my hometown. He shared his excitement about continuing to create, and it reminded me that you never really know what moments stay with people.

Impact can be a conversation.
A moment of encouragement.
Someone feeling seen.
A reminder to keep creating.

Maybe sometimes impact looks like one person continuing to believe in their creativity because someone once believed in them.

Teaching youth gave me so many meaningful, hilarious, and unforgettable moments, and they impacted my life more than they could probably ever imagine.

And to my former student: I’m so happy to see your creativity still shining and your artistry continuing to grow. I can’t wait to see where your path takes you and all that you create along the way.

A Labor of Love: The Legacy of Dr. Constance E. Clayton. Installed across four panels at the entrance of the School District of Philadelphia building, this mural honors the life, leadership, and lasting impact of Dr. Constance E. Clayton—the first African American woman to serve as Superintendent of Philadelphia’s public schools.

As I spent time with her story, one thing became undeniable: her legacy was built on love. Not passive love, but a labor of love. A love that showed up in discipline, in expectation, in care, and in her unwavering belief in students and in this city.

To be the first requires strength. To transform systems requires vision. But to sustain that work—to give that much, for that long—requires heart.

This mural is a reflection of that legacy.
Her story continues to live through the students she believed in, the paths she created, and the future she helped make possible.

Thank you to the School District of Philadelphia () and Mural Arts Philadelphia ()for supporting this work and helping bring Dr. Constance E. Clayton’s story into public space, where her legacy can continue to inspire future generations.

Even though I love what I do… sometimes it’s still hard to just start. Why is picking up the brush the hardest part? 😅 So today I had to sing and negotiate with myself to get going 🎨

If you’ve been putting something off… this is your sign.
You got this. Just start. Or sing to yourself (even if it’s badly)

Quick behind the scenes of this mural portrait in progress.

There’s so much that happens behind the scenes in the life of an artist… but the moments I love most are when it’s just me, my brush, and the wall. Just creating. There’s something so beautiful about bringing stories to life and honoring legacies through art. I’m incredibly grateful to be working on this piece with Mural Arts Philadelphia () I can’t wait for the full reveal this spring. 🌸
Stay tuned…