Road to NABJ: Driving Chevrolet for a Cause

August 3, 2011 3:00 pm ET

For Kathy Peyton-Chaney of Chicago, driving to the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) conference in Philadelphia was unlike any other road trip. Kathy, who writes for Chicago Defender, drove to the City of Brotherly Love with three other journalists in an all-new Chevrolet Suburban. On the way, Kathy and the team made stops in Cleveland, Ohio, and Bedford, Pa. Along the way, they engaged in community service projects that aligned with the theme of the NABJ convention, “The Power of Now: Claiming Your Destiny.”

In Cleveland, the Chevy Chicago road trippers worked with young writers from “Voices for Change” and the League Park Market Place Community Garden. Upon their arrival in Philly, the team got to work at Bodine High School in Philadelphia’s Northern Liberties neighborhood to participate in a service project for the Mural Arts Program (MAP).

Kathy pitches in during the community build day at Bodine High School

The project is part of Mural Arts’ Restored Spaces Initiative, a multi-year, multi-site endeavor designed to create several large-scale, multi-dimensional public art projects that will breathe life back into Philadelphia’s schools and neighborhoods. Spearheaded by Mural Arts’ Mural Corps students, Bodine High School is being transformed into a functional work of art that includes mural and mosaic elements, gardens, and a bench and trellis project called chainlinkGreen. The Chicago team assisted with the final phase of chainlinkGreen: building benches out of chain link fencing and reclaimed materials, such as concrete rubble and wood.

The NABJ Chicago team, with chainlinkGreen lead architect Scott Shall (third from right) and Nina Price, GM Diversity Communications Manager (far right), in front of the benches they helped construct

To view videos of the road trip experience and the community service projects, please visit: https://nabj.site-ym.com/?RoadToNABJ.

The NABJ Chicago Team in front of Bodine High School with the 2011 Chevy Suburban