Philadelphia’s public spaces are shaped by people with different skills working together to improve the city.
Through the Gateways Project, the Community Life Improvement Program (CLIP) and Mural Arts Philadelphia combined their expertise to transform prominent entrances into Philadelphia through public art and beautification. The initiative was designed to create improvements that residents and visitors can enjoy beyond the city’s major events in 2026.
For Kari Smith, Deputy Director of Operations for CLIP, and Sahiti Bonam, Project Manager with Mural Arts Philadelphia, the project also highlights the different career paths behind the work happening across Philadelphia.
Two career paths, one shared impact
Kari began his City career as a graffiti abatement worker in 1996. Over 30 years, he worked his way up to Deputy Director of Operations while watching CLIP’s tools and work evolve.
For Kari, one of the most rewarding parts is seeing the results firsthand. “You come back and you see, like, wow, we did that. It’s a great feeling.”
Sahiti has spent more than three years with Mural Arts, working in the Community Murals department to incorporate community and neighborhood voices into public art. Her background also includes arts management and work as an independent practicing artist. “I think the day-to-day impact of a mural is just simply that it uplifts the surroundings it’s on,” Sahiti said. “There’s a vibrancy that really contributes to its setting.”
Bringing different skills together
The finished murals are only one part of the Gateways story.
Sahiti helped guide the artistic process, including identifying artists who could bring creativity and community representation to highly visible spaces. Kari and CLIP helped prepare those spaces by scraping, priming and prepping walls, supporting specialized equipment and helping seal completed work.
Sahiti described working with CLIP as an “extremely collaborative experience” and said the murals would not have been possible without the team’s work on the ground.
Their partnership demonstrates how people with very different backgrounds and expertise can work toward a shared goal and make an impact residents can see.
Watch the full interview with Kari and Sahiti to hear more about their career journeys, their collaboration, and the work behind the Gateways Project.
Find your place in Philadelphia’s workforce
A career in public service can take many forms. It can mean starting in the field and growing into a leadership position, bringing specialized skills to a project, or working alongside people from different professions to improve the city you serve.
Ready to explore where your skills could make an impact?
