PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Philadelphia’s own Quinta Brunson received the key to the city from Mayor Cherelle Parker and a special tribute at her elementary school from Mural Arts Philadelphia.
Hundreds of people, including friends and family filed into the auditorium of Andrew Hamilton Elementary School in West Philly, where Brunson attended. In the front row sat her teacher Mrs. Joyce Abbott and her mother, also a teacher. Both women were inspirations — with Abbott the namesake — behind her Emmy-award winning sitcom, “Abbott Elementary.”
Before handing Brunson the key, Parker expressed her gratitude to the sitcom star for staying true to Philly despite finding global success. “Thank you for never allowing anyone to put your Philly grit and resilience in a box,” she said. “Thanks for remembering our great city on your personal journey.”
Addressing the hundreds inside the auditorium, Brunson shared her appreciation for the mural dedicated to her, created by artist Athena Scott and titled “Blooming Futures.” The mural was designed with input from Brunson and Hamilton students and staff. Its brightly colored depictions of real people from the school wrap around the outside of the school's red brick facade.
The star acknowledged her friend Gregory Wright, who inspired the character Gregory Eddie, played by Tyler James Williams. “The funny thing is, Gregory and I were both in Ms. Abbott’s class,” said Brunson.
Wright admitted he finds it funny when people make the connection. “It's funny when people come to me and say, ‘I saw this character named after you — wait, is it you?’” he said, while adding he’s just happy Brunson hasn’t gotten too fancy over the years, and hasn’t changed a bit.
“Quinta was like this,” he said, “the energy and the emotion.”
Brunson, who is currently working on the show’s upcoming fifth season, told KYW Newsradio that fame is fine, but in a turbulent world, she wants the mural and her own work to inspire Philly’s youth to look toward brighter days.
“I need people to know there is a tomorrow,” she said, “and we need to give them hope for the future.”
The Associated Press contributed to this story.