On April 16th, Inspire to Teach in Philadelphia pulsed with purpose, creativity, and community. Designed to spark interest in teaching careers among high school students, the evening blended storytelling, music, and real talk from educators at every stage of the pipeline.

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Philly hip hop artist Dell-P kicked off the night with a high-energy performance. A panel of local educators—Regina Banks, Njemele Anderson, Courtney Ricketts, and SaRiyah Simmons-Flood—shared honest reflections and encouragement, moderated by Dr. Stephanie Joy Tisdale. Attendees explored real-world pathways into education through a resource fair with West Chester University, Neumann University, and Community College of Philadelphia.

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The evening closed with a powerful Creative Cypher workshop led by Zakariya Hardin, Executive Director of The Hip Hop Foundation, inviting students to express their dreams through original lyrics and performance.

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Hosted by PEDC with deep thanks to the SEPA Student Recruitment Working Group, Inspire to Teach was more than an event—it was a spark.  

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Enjoy the event pictures here.