On June 14, 2011 from 6:00pm to 8:00pm at the Independence Visitor’s Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, a long-time Virtual Farm Creative client will review a short and impressive history while unveiling exciting new plans for growth.
It started with a single, innovate charter school opening up in Philadelphia’s Tacony neighborhood nearly ten years ago. VFC, having a deep understanding of independent school branding and promotion with our clients Montgomery School in Chester Springs, PA and the Russell Byers Charter School in Philadelphia, was eager to help the start up. But the First Philadelphia Charter School was different from the beginning.
Launched by a group of energetic and enthusiastic founders, the First Philadelphia Charter School for Literacy (First Philly) started small in a converted warehouse but within a year had relocated to a brand new, state of the art complex with a huge auditorium, gymnasium and amenities schools everywhere would love to call their own. VFC supported the school’s ambitious initial growth with branding and promotion that was fun, vibrant and exciting.
Before long, the success of First Philly grew into an institution on which the team could model other schools throughout the city. First Philadelphia Paradigm, named and branded by VFC was born with the intention of developing schools that worked for communities, parents and above all students. With the parent organization came the next school, Tacony Academy, that broke ground on a brand new state-of-the-art structure with beautiful views of the Delaware River.
Before long, the success of the two Philly schools garnered regional- even national- attention and the vision to grow and serve a broader range of communities became a reality. This year, VFC helped transition the parent organization into a new brand– American Paradigm Schools –established to open and administer more unique charter schools and to manage failing public schools. American Paradigm Schools also mentors to other similar organizations as they are literally changing the state of education.
On June 14, 2011 American Paradigm Schools (APS) will officially launch with several new schools to be announced under the organizational umbrella including a complete public school district. VFC is collaborating with APS on the launch of this new effort and also consults to manage the brand of each individual school.
Philadelphia’s Independence Visitor’s Center will host a celebration of the successes of First Philly and Tacony while announcing the launch and mission of APS. Guest speakers include Paul Vallas– former Superintendent Recovery School District of Louisiana, Soledad O’Brien– CNN broadcaster and Jeremy Nowak, PhD– President and CEO of the Reinvestment Fund. The invitation only event will be hosted by NBC 10’s Monique Braxton.
Although the keynote speeches will impress, it’s expected that those in attendance will hear the story of the amazing beginning and impressive growth of these important entities with critical missions while leadership outlines a new, ambitious vision for the future.
Every school has it’s own unique mission (First Philly’s is literacy, Tacony’s is science), identity, colors and mascot. VFC has consulted on everything from interior decorating and school uniforms to the parent newsletter and diploma design.
As the schools grow and the parent organization evolves, VFC partners to create standards that are as consistent and professional and creative as the educational model that American Paradigm Schools is determined to perpetuate..
