SDG #9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
Coming in 2025, the Global Philadelphia Association will proudly unveil a new mural by acclaimed artist Jon Laidacker. Sponsored by Masonic Temple Lodge No. 51, this vibrant artwork will celebrate the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), connecting global aspirations to our local community.
This mural will shine a spotlight on SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure. By promoting resilient infrastructure, fostering innovation, and encouraging sustainable industries, SDG 9 is essential to building stronger, more inclusive communities. Stay tuned for updates on the mural’s location and unveiling details as we get closer to the big day. This project reflects the power of art to inspire change—don’t miss this exciting moment to engage with creativity and sustainability in action.
Unveiling Details
Artist: Jon Laidacker
Mural Location: Coming soon!
Sponsor: Masonic Temple Lodge No. 51
Grantee: Currently undecided
Unveiling coming in 2025, stay tuned!
About the Sponsor
University Lodge No. 51 is a lodge of Freemasons in the City of Philadelphia that meets at the historic Philadelphia
Masonic Temple right next to City Hall and Arch Street Methodist Church. True to our roots, we attract a fair number of university students and alumni from the various schools in the area; however, the Lodge is made up of a diverse group of men ranging from eighteen to eighty-five years old and coming from all walks of life.
Lodge No. 51 was formed in 1791 at the Free Quaker Meeting House located at Fifth & Arch Streets. This was the Meeting House for those members of the Religious Society of Friends (a.k.a. the Quakers) who became known as the “Free Quakers” or “Fighting Quakers” because they chose to take up arms against the British in the American War of Independence. (Quakers are traditionally strict pacifists.)
Meet the Artist
Jonathan Laidacker, a talented public artist, brings nearly two decades of experience in creating large-scale murals that blend realism and community collaboration. With a master’s degree in fine art from the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Jonathan has been a leading contributor to Mural Arts Philadelphia since 2005 and has completed artist-in-residence commissions for the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts.
His works are celebrated for their striking trompe l’oeil style, where realistic figures, still life, and landscapes blur the line between two-dimensional surfaces and reality.
About SDG #9
"A functioning and resilient infrastructure is the foundation of every successful community. To meet future challenges, our industries and infrastructure must be upgraded. For this, we need to promote innovative sustainable technologies and ensure equal and universal access to information and financial markets. This will bring prosperity, create jobs and make sure that we build stable and prosperous societies across the globe."
United Nations, The Global Goals
LEARN MORE ABOUT SDG #9 AND ITS TARGETS
