Spotlight Project: Kensington Wellness Initiative with Mural Arts Philadelphia

Over the last year and a half, I had the true honor and pleasure of contracting with an all-female project team on a community-focused project in one of Philadelphia's toughest and most challenged neighborhoods, Kensington. I served as the project manager on the team, and our client organization was Mural Arts Philadelphia.

The project objective was to help leaders within the organization design systems, evaluate progress, and facilitate an approach to support the multi-faceted needs of the community, such as extreme poverty, opioid epidemic and more. Kensington is also known as the largest open-air drug market on the East Coast. The Kensington Wellness Initiative is an effort to address trauma, cultivate wellness, and strengthen community capacity in a section of the City’s 19134 zip code. Community trauma is widespread in Kensington—both for those in active addiction and long-term community residents impacted by poverty. The additional challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic increased community stress levels in 2020 and 2021.

I must say that I learned a quite a bit about myself through this work. First off, the project launched as we worked during a global health crisis, so 95% of the engagement was done virtually. We had a pretty good rhythm going, too. This project was the first time in a while that I had the opportunity to work on a project team on a consulting engagement; earlier in my career I worked as an analyst in a national consulting firm. This project gave me the opportunity to get back to using some of the skills I hadn't been able to really hone and refine in yean experienced, high-functioning team. We dabbled in survey design and setting metrics for the client, all while producing periodic written reports and holding monthly meetings with the client team. We also did a few rounds of 1:1 interviews with both internal staff and community members, including our analyzed findings in our reports. In a few cases, we even made visits to the community as well to help inform our findings and support the work we were doing.

So, what did I learn? Well, I learned that dormant skills don't fade away. I so enjoyed having the opportunity to engage with both the client and community members to hear their stories, document their ideas, and recommend an approach to help this organization continue its incredibly important work in a very challenging community. I also learned that while my past experience in government was not all in vain; I thought back to some of the challenging internal agency works I'd participated in and could leverage those learnings to help me get through some of the more tense moments of this project. For example, the internal political challenges regarding budgets and built-in organizational silos reminded a lot of some of what I'd seen in a prior role. To me, that approach breeds inefficiency and enables division. However, our team's ability to work together, listen to both one another and the client, and gently encourage different departments to be more open to the idea of collaboration proved to be beneficial. By the end of the project, we saw them more willing to cross-share some resources and even learn from one another. Working and holding space together is key to helping Mural Arts to accomplish its goals and meet the needs of the community it seeks to support.

I also learned to trust myself and my instincts when presenting. Granted, I'd not done a lot of virtual presentations leading up to this project, but I certainly had plenty of opportunities to experience and practice while a part of this project team. I took my time and got out of my own way, and that was incredibly helpful for the project team, the client, and even my own professional development. And finally, I enjoyed learning from two other teammates with very different work styles that lead their own consulting businesses. It was an eye-opening experience.

To be honest, this project was a game changer for me. The opportunity was unexpected, and I will be forever grateful for it. I do think it helped me along my way as I pivoted my career and learned more about myself both personally and professionally.

Here's hoping that you take a close look at those unexpected and unanticipated opportunities come your way and urge you to stretch and soar. We're never done learning and growing. And, in some key instances, you'll connect with colleagues that can both cheer you on and help you thrive when it matters most.