Pittsburgh King School reflects on COLORFUL COMMUNITIES project impact, expansion

Published : 21-Feb-2023

One year after the initial COLORFUL COMMUNITIES® project at Pittsburgh King pre-kindergarten-eighth grade school in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, PPG employee volunteers, including members of PPG’s Black Employee Network (BEN) returned to expand inspiring murals and colorful revitalization.

Featuring quotes from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and images of students and unity, the project marked Black History Month and built on the initial energy created in 2022.

According to Dr. Monica Lamar, assistant superintendent, Pittsburgh Public Schools, the students’ reactions to the first project were filled with joy and she anticipates the same response to the second Colorful Communities project.

“A learning space needs to be vibrant; it needs to be colorful. It needs to have some care and love into it,” said Dawn Gordon, Pittsburgh King principal. “The diversity in the pictures actually is a representation of every single kid in our building.”

LaNita Whittle, PPG manager, PMO aerospace and BEN Sponsor and Lead Chair, participated in the recent project to see the continuation of the school’s transformation.

“It is our purpose to make sure that we are giving back to these students and making it a positive atmosphere for them to come learn every day,” said Whittle.

CLICK HERE or see below to hear from Pittsburgh King representatives on the impact of Colorful Communities projects in their school.