At Last, A Philadelphia Victory Parade! Celebrating a Champion of Hope

It was the first week of January, the sun had gone down, the wind had kicked up, and two questions consumed my thoughts: Why have I been standing in line outside City Hall for two hours? And, more importantly: Why on earth didn’t I wear a coat?

Answering the latter was easy, which in fact helped to answer the former: unseasonably warm January weather conditions had emboldened me to forego typical winter layering, while at the same time encouraging thousands of Philadelphians to express their gratitude, support, and hope for newly elected Mayor Michael Nutter at a City Hall “Open House.” My lack of preparation was palpable, and my regret grew by the hour as the line crawled forward and the temperature continued to drop.

After a few days of reflection (and the sniffles), I came to realize that the true source of my ill preparedness was not a shift in the weather, but a changing tide of civic engagement manifested in this event. The thousands who waited hours to shake the hand of Philadelphia’s new mayor were not in line for a momentary a glimpse of Nutter, a soft pretzel, and coffee. Rather, they spent their evening at City Hall in what became dramatic public display of support for the ideals Nutter has embraced and the universal hope for a better future.

As a young Philadelphian, it was a truly moving experience. Growing up in suburban Lower Merion, my identification with the city started and stopped with its sports teams. Indeed, it has been said about Greater Philadelphia: “The one area in which regional identification with Philadelphia still seems to run high is in relation to its professional athletic teams.”

Now a city resident, my fervor for the Flyers, 76ers, Eagles, and Phillies runs deeper than ever. However, civic engagement is still a relatively new concept to me. Hours spent shivering in line afforded me the opportunity to ponder what – if anything – would capture my attention enough to endure such discomfort. Live 8? The all-day concert on the Ben Franklin Parkway was long, but it was July and the weather cooperated. A sports championship parade? Probably, but it’s hard to say because I’ve never experienced one.

At this point, the magnitude of the moment struck me. Live 8 – with its worldwide media coverage and close to one million people in attendance – was one of my proudest days as a Philadelphian. And in many ways, my life-long yearning to experience the unadulterated joy of rooting for a championship team has defined my connection to the region I call home.

Yet, something about this event seemed to transcend both the awe of global rock-stardom and sports glory. Perhaps it was a sense of incredulity; concerts are planned for months, sports championships are won over the course of an entire season. It was as if thousands had descended on City Hall to just to make sure their newfound sense of hope was real.

Perseverance through hope is something that Philadelphia sports fans have perfected. Unfortunately, Mayor Nutter cannot compel a championship parade. But, for one night, he offered Philadelphia an opportunity to celebrate hope in his own victory. If he does nothing else in office, cultivating this sense of hope beyond the playing field and into the daily lives of Philadelphians promises to have a transformational effect on the city. And, if Greater Philadelphia’s enthusiastic support for its sports teams is any indication, such a changed mindset could have a positive impact on the entire region.

After two hours and forty-five minutes, I left City Hall with a handshake and a soft pretzel. I was uncomfortably cold; still, leaving with a reaffirmed hope for a new day on the horizon, warmth seemed closer than ever.