PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Philadelphia’s own Jill Scott this month returned to her alma mater, Girl’s High, for the unveiling of a new mural honoring her. The Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter said it was the honor of a lifetime, and she fought back tears throughout the day.
Jill Scott on Bridging Philly podcast
“It was a day," Scott said after the unveiling ceremony on Oct. 10. "It has been a very, very long day — but a good one, one of the best of my entire life, of my entire life. And I'm telling you, I have had some days.”
The mural, called “Luminaries,” was designed by a local artist and one of Scott’s close friends, Patrick Dougher, who worked closely with Mural Arts Philadelphia to bring the project to life.
“Honestly, it’s a dream come true. Jill Scott is an icon and such a source of inspiration. We’re so happy we could do it,” said Mural Arts Philadelphia Executive Director Jane Golden.
“It’s a mural, but it’s really a beacon and focal point — a sign for all the girls that go here — that anything is possible.”
The design includes a pattern of crowns on crowns, which Dougher says was particularly important to him.
“Crowns symbolize royalty,” he said. “I wanted to call light to the fact that the alumni and students — all of Philly — are royal in my eyes.”
The girls and the crowns meant something to Scott, too. As did Dougher's involvement. Scott says she has been a big fan of his work, and she reached out to him on Instagram.
"I talked to that man so much, and I had no idea. I just thought I made a new friend. That's it. Sometimes that's enough. But this was bigger than that."
She says the mural, from conception to execution, was an emotional process.
"Mural Arts brought this to my attention — that this is something that they were even considering doing. First, I cried. A lot. Then it's Patrick Dougher. ... And then it took, like, a year and a half. And then I'm here at Girls High with my face on the side of my school. Bigger than life. It's huge. And it's gorgeous."
The day was a celebration — with food, musical performances and a lot of very star-struck Girls High students.
“It means uniqueness and also like it’s a celebration of our community,” said Girls High student Jayda.
“It makes me feel proud that somebody who was a Girls High girl can become something so great and to have her own mural in our school,” said Girls High student Lauren.
The students had their ears all the way open, listening to Scott, hanging on her every word, because what she had to say mattered to them. Asked how to convey to those students that their voices matter, too, Scott said it all comes down to focus and joy.
"I think I just confirmed to them that you don't know, but as long as you're moving in the direction of peace of mind and joy, the rest of the stuff falls into place in a way that you cannot imagine. It's far better than you dream. Just stay true to this thing, follow that path," she said.
"I'm glad to be here to inspire young women to be all of themselves and to go ahead and be joyful. Follow it."