West Philadelphia native Quinta Brunson returned to her old stomping grounds on Wednesday, May 28, as she was honored by the City of Philadelphia.

During a ceremony at her alma mater, Andrew Hamilton Elementary School, Brunson was presented with the key to the city by Mayor Cherelle Parker.

As the mayor presented the honor, she thanked Brunson for “never allowing anyone to put your Philadelphia grit and resilience in a box” and for “remembering our great city on your personal journey to self discovery and amidst your global success.”

When the award-winning actress, writer, and producer reflects on her journey, she also highlights how important her education was.

She uses her own educational journey to promote the power and value of public education, teachers, and the arts.

Fittingly, many of those who have played such an integral role in her education were in attendance. This includes her former teacher Joyce Abbott, the inspiration and namesake of her hit show, Abbott Elementary.

However, Brunson had to give a shoutout to her first educator: her mom.

“My mom was my firsthand view of what it was like to be an educator. I knew that being a teacher was more than just showing up everyday,” she said.

Being able to spend time with her mom both outside and inside the classroom and school halls on a daily basis brought out a clear indication to her.

“Education is not just a job, it is a life long dedication,” Brunson said.

The impact that educators can have simply can’t be overstated.

“The educators in our lives, specifically here in Philadelphia, have a lasting impact on the children. You are the difference between some of us making it out of the city and not making it out of the city,” said Brunson.

‘Blooming Futures’

The ceremony was also used to celebrate the unveiling of a new mural outside Andrew Hamilton.

Titled “Blooming Futures,” the mural is a work inspired and spearheaded by Brunson in partnership with ABC, Disney Television Studios, and talented local artist Athena Scott with Mural Arts Philadelphia.

The finished product is a mural that highlights the school as a garden with blooming flowers and features the faces of some of the school’s educators, staff, students, and community members. 

This, however, wasn’t the first idea.

According to Brunson, the original design idea presented to her was to have a mural of the Abbott Elementary staff. 

However, she had a clear vision of what she wanted the mural to represent.

“I was like … I don’t want a mural of the fictional characters of Abbott, I want a mural that reflects the actual community,” Brunson said.

“Kids from the neighborhood, kids from the school, people from the neighborhood, people from the school. We have to see ourselves in the big picture. That’s how we know there’s a tomorrow. That’s how we know there’s a community to take care of,” she added.

This vision was shared with the creator of the mural.

“I hope when you see yourselves, your classmates, or colleagues, that it is a reminder of how beautiful and amazing you are, that we are all in this together, and there are no limits to what you can do,” Scott said. 

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Editor’s Note: This post was originally published on PHILADELPHIA Today in May 2025.