Chasing LOVE: a Welcoming Week Global Cultural Celebration

On September 14, follow Little Amal—a 12-foot puppet of a 10-year-old Syrian refugee girl and global symbol of refugee rights— on a journey down the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, accompanied by dancers from BalletX and Mad Beatz Philly, to retrieve her heart-shaped necklace, created by artist Ife Nii-Owoo. Chasing LOVE is the concluding event with Little Amal in Philadelphia, and is an official City of Philadelphia Welcoming Week event presented by the City of Philadelphia Office of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy (OACCE) in partnership with the Office of Immigrant Affairs (OIA).

The Walk will begin outside of the Rodin Museum and culminate in a Global Cultural Celebration at LOVE Park with a love music playlist by DJ Foxy, an all-ages art-making activity led by Al-Bustan Seeds of Culture, giveaways, information on how to support and advocate for Philadelphia’s migrant and refugee communities, and more. All are invited to show Amal how truly welcome she and all refugees are in Philadelphia, and participants will receive their own paper heart necklace to wear to welcome Little Amal.

Local organizations, including the African Family Health Organization, Bread & Roses Community Fund, Haitian-Americans United for Change, ICNA Relief Pennsylvania, Gapura Indonesian Community Center, and Humanity United 4 Global Support, will be at LOVE Park to provide information on supporting and advocating for Philadelphia’s migrant and refugee communities.

Amal Walks Across America is produced by The Walk Productions in association with the Handspring Puppet Company. U.S. Producing Partner THE OFFICE performing arts+film. Impact+Outreach The Soze Agency. Marketing Cause Lab. PR + Communications DKC.