We were proud to honor Talib Coffield, a 10 year-old from South Philadelphia as a TD Bank Young Hero last month in our award ceremony at the National Liberty Museum.

Talib Coffield is an exceptional “friendship builder” who stands alone when it comes to meeting, helping or mediating new or current students.  What makes Talib’s skills so unique is his innate ability to recognize challenging situations among his student body. He is always the first student to help every classmate navigate the halls, classrooms or resolve any conflict between classmates.  

His teacher, Candace Kean, sang his praises when she stated that “when it comes to meeting or helping new students, or even mediating when friends argue, Talib stands alone in this field.” He goes out of his way to become friendly with newly admitted students and students who have been rejected by others, gladly inviting them into his circle. Before Talib, Kean had never seen any student come close to this type of relationship-building behavior in all of her years of teaching.

Talib not only caught our attention, but that of the South Philly Review, a community newspaper from South Philadelphia.

Congratulations to you and your family!

The National Liberty Museum Young Heroes Award recognizes extraordinary, young people from across the area and the U.S. – from every sector of society – who make outstanding and selfless contributions to drive change from their local communities. On August 5, we were proud to recognize thirty-nine amazing youth leaders from the tri-state area.

The award, which is sponsored by TD Bank, is given to young people who make positive changes in their schools and communities through art and creative writing, leadership, volunteer work, political involvement or peer mediation.

Ron Matthew, Greater Philadelphia Market President of TD Bank, says: “These young leaders dedicate their energies to bettering the lives of others; they do not do it for financial award or publicity: they do it to make a difference.”

Receiving the Young Heroes Award empowers young people to improve the society we live in and gives them public recognition for the valuable work they do.  Each year, the event has grown to honor hundreds of outstanding students, under age 18, who are creating change through a variety of uplifting activities.

Our winner this year, Deana Vega, a remarkable 11-year-old cancer survivor who is dedicated to improving the lives of those around her, received a $1000 grand prize and a laptop computer. All winners received recognition at the Young Heroes Awards Ceremony at the National Liberty Museum; a certificate of recognition, medallion and gifts; a plaque featuring their story in the Museum’s Young Heroes Exhibit and a wonderful accomplishment to include on college and job applications.

The 2010 Young Heroes have received some outstanding press including:

Philadelphia Inquirer

Channel 6 ABC in Philadelphia

KYW Newsradio 1060 in Philadelphia

Philadelphia Tribune

Courier-Post Online

NJ.com

Admin: B Blumenthal

The Let Art Freedom Ring Liberty Bell created by students from George W. Sharswood Elementary School does not just celebrate democracy and liberty, but the history of communication.

Let Art Freedom Ring is a cooperative program between Philadelphia Arts in Education Program and the National Liberty Museum.

Called BOB, meaning Birth of a Bell, this Let Freedom Ring Liberty Bell shows the role of the Liberty Bell within the evolution of communication. The voyage begins with the earliest ringing of the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia to commemorate the birth of the nation. The story on the Bell ends in present day, where we use cell phones to keep ourselves constantly connected.

The students and artists working on Birth of a Bell took a multimedia approach, using various mediums to create and design their bell.

This bell can be seen at the National Constitution Center on Independence Mall on 525 Arch Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Admin: B. Blumenthal

If you have been to the National Liberty Museum recently, then you probably saw our two newest editions. In our Let Freedom Ring and Education Center galleries, we are proudly displaying two Let Freedom Ring Liberty Bells made by local school students. 

The Let Freedom Ring Liberty Bells were created jointly by students from five Philadelphia middle-schools and local artists as a part of a program called Let Art Freedom Ring.

Let Art Freedom Ring is a program of the National Liberty Museum and the Philadelphia Arts in Education Partnership. The goal of the project is to provide middle-school aged students with the opportunity to study the concept of democracy, civic responsibility and learn different art techniques by working with professional artists. 

For the duration of the summer, two of the bells can be seen at the National Liberty Museum, and the other three are on display at the National Constitution Center.

Over the next five weeks, we will be featuring these artistic Liberty Bells on our Heroes of Character Blog. We will be learning more about the schools, students and artists involved, as well and trying to understand how they chose to portray their perspectives of liberty and history through art.

For more information go to www.letartfreedomring.org, and remember to check out the bells soon, because in the fall they are traveling to New York to go on display.

Admin: B.Blumenthal

We had an essay submitted to us that we'd like to share. Micah Hampton is a fifth grader at Philadelphia's Hamilton Disston Elementary School, and he has this to say:

"Dr. Martin Luther King was a pioneer who strived and endured a struggle for equal rights for African American people. He led peaceful protests by marching boycotts and delivering inspiring speeches. During his life he was dedicated to this cause and inspired African Americans to follow in his footsteps for many generations and because of his relentless nature he became a legend. He was a leader who was respected and loved by all mankind. Among his many accomplishments, he won the Nobel Peace Prize.

Dr. King's hard work is alive and well today. It is like when Olympians are running and passing the torch. Although there have been many crusaders, one of the most important events in our time is the election of our President Barack Obama, the first African American President of the United States of America. This has been a monumental event and not only is President Obama a great president, he was nominated and won a Nobel Peace Prize the first year in office.

I Micah Hampton, pledge to follow in the spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and President Barack Obama by trusting in God and being a good student, brother, son, and friend. I am striving for peace in my life. Being a good person to all humanity, trying to cure some of the bad things in the world like violence, wars and racism are some of the ways that I can help."

We've just unveiled our latest "Young Heroes" exhibit in partnership with TD Bank. Come on in to the National Liberty Museum and check out the newest awardees, all students who have made the world better by sharing their time, talents, and resources.  Here's one of them:

Erica is multitalented, and boy is she generous with her talents and time! Erica can sing, dance, and act. She excels at academics. She’s opened for Aretha Franklin in front of a sold-out crowd, is a member of Philadelphia’s All City Choir, and dazzled tens of thousands of Phillies fans with her rendition of the National Anthem. Instead of using these gifts for her own glory, though, she uses them to give back. She organizes regular clean-ups around her neighborhood, and performs at events for the Philadelphia Prison System. She has organized voter drives, volunteered for President Obama’s campaign, and translated for citizens on Election Day.

Does her generosity know no bounds? Well, she hasn't found any yet.  Keep up the good work, Erica!

Do you know any heroes, 18 years old or younger, who are doing some outstanding things in your school or community? Nominate them for a 2010 TD Bank Young Heroes Award. To see more of the 2009 TD Bank Young Heroes (and heroes of all ages), visit the National Liberty Museum! We're open Tuesday - Sunday, 10:00 am to 5:00 pm.