John Jay Pershing MS 220: Be Your Own Superhero

For Immediate Release

BROOKLYN NETS, HOUSE OF SLAY AND THRIVE COLLECTIVE UNVEIL PUBLIC MURAL AT JOHN JAY PERSHING MIDDLE SCHOOL

Mural Unveiled Ahead of Brooklyn Nets’ AAPI Heritage Night Celebration on Monday, Nov. 28

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BROOKLYN (Nov. 22, 2022) – The Brooklyn Nets are bringing their 10 Years in Brooklyn celebration to life through various community programs this season. Recently the team worked with Thrive Collective, fashion designer Phillip Lim and his team at House of Slay to unveil a public mural at John Jay Pershing Middle School (J.H.S 220) in Brooklyn titled, “Be Your Own Superhero.” The mural was designed by artist Peach Tao who collaborated with J.H.S. 220 students participating in CPC Beacon School program to develop the overall concept and bring to life their vision of what being a superhero meant to them and how to make the world more beautiful.

“The mural is an invitation to think beyond our current circumstances – beyond any of the limitations that society might try to place on us and imagine a world that doesn’t yet exist,” said Jeremy Del Rio, Executive Director of Thrive Collective. “Isn’t that what being a superhero is all about?”

The mural was unveiled earlier this month with Tao and Lim along with local basketball legend and former Nets player Albert King; Commissioner of the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs, Manuel Castro – who is also an alumnus of J.H.S. 220; and Executive Vice President of Community Relations for the Nets, Mandy Gutmann. After the unveiling, students participated in a free basketball clinic hosted by the Brooklyn Nets Basketball Academy, and enjoyed arts and crafts activities along with food inspired by the diverse ethnicities found in Brooklyn.

“It was great to have the community out here – everyone working together with the young people,” said King, a former NBA Rookie of the Year and three-time NBA All Star who graduated from Brooklyn’s Fort Hamilton High School.

“As someone who has benefited from the Beacon school programs and New York City public schools, I am proud to be here in support,” said Castro. “Beacon’s after-school activities help develop our young people.”

“Be Your Own Superhero” is the first of 10 murals the Nets have committed to creating this season as part of the team’s 10 Years in Brooklyn celebration.

The mural was unveiled ahead of the Nets’ annual AAPI Heritage Night game on Monday, Nov. 28 at Barclays Center where the team will celebrate the culture and contributions of people of Asian and Pacific Islander descent. During the game there will be a blank replica of the mural that fans can color in themselves, located on the main concourse. The Nets will also recognize Thrive Collective and a group of students from J.H.S 220 will be in attendance as well. For more information on the Nets’ AAPI Heritage Night, visit netsunite.com.