Transforming the historic Phyllis Wheatley Library

From overlooked treasure to inspiration, the transformation of the historic Phyllis Wheatley Library in Coleman Park is underway.

Photo Credit: Grapeseeker

For years, this building sat vacant, a painful reminder of disinvestment. Today, it's being reimagined as a canvas that honors our community's legacy and points toward our collective future.

Murals in neighborhoods like Coleman Park do more than beautify; they reclaim narrative. They tell residents, especially our young people, "Your story matters. Your history is excellence. Your future is bright." In communities that have experienced decades of neglect, public art becomes an act of resistance and restoration.

Photo Credit: Grapeseeker

This mural will serve as a cornerstone for The Culture Yard, activating third spaces where community gathers, connects, and thrives. Third spaces, those essential places between home and work, are the lifeblood of strong neighborhoods. They're where relationships deepen, where culture is preserved and created, where belonging takes root.

Photo Credit: Grapeseeker

The Phyllis Wheatley Library once served as that kind of space. Soon, it will again!

This is what resident-centered transformation looks like. This is Coleman Park rising.