Smith Memorial Playground presents its Leaders and Legends of Philadelphia Black History Month exhibit. This family-friendly event honors the contributions of local African American leaders across the fields of activism, architecture, education, finance, journalism, medicine, science, and performing and visual arts whose impact has made Philly a better place to live, work, grow, and play. The exhibition comprises educational displays focusing on each honoree’s life and achievements.

2023 honorees include: 

1. Natasha Brown (journalist and CBS3 anchor)
2. Dr. Beverly Coleman (Director of Fetal Imaging, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia)
3. Derrick Pitts, Hon.D (Chief Astronomer, The Franklin Institute)
4. Dr. Khalid Mumin (Superintendent, Lower Merion School District)
5. Hiliary Holloway (first African American officer at Federal Reserve Bank)
6. Julian Abele (architect who designed the iconic Philadelphia Art Museum steps)
7. Bishop Richard Allen (founder of the first African Methodist Episcopal Church in Philadelphia)
8. Sadie Tanner Mossell and Raymond Pace Alexander (prominent Philadelphia lawyers and civil rights activists)
9. Trudy Haynes (Philadelphia’s first African American TV news reporter)
10. Vashti DuBois (founder of The Colored Girls Museum)
11. Will Toms (entrepreneur and co-founder of RECPhilly)
12. Dr. Ethel Allen (physician and first African American councilwoman elected to an at-large seat in Philadelphia)