Join us as we celebrate Professor Walter Palmer’s 92nd birthday and his remarkable 75-year legacy of social justice and community advocacy during the official street-renaming ceremony. Professor Palmer is a lifelong resident of Philadelphia’s historic Black Bottom community and a tireless advocate for justice for the approximately 3,500–5,000 residents who were displaced between 1950 and 1970 as a result of urban renewal and the expansion of the University of Pennsylvania. Since 1968, Professor Palmer has taught courses on American racism in Penn’s Schools of Social Policy & Practice, Education, Urban Studies, Africana Studies, Medicine, Wharton, and Psychiatry. Through his teaching, scholarship, and activism, he has educated generations of students while advocating for recognition of the Black Bottom community and its history.
The celebration will take place on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., in front of 3675 Market Street. The program will feature acclaimed vocalist Denise King and her jazz quartet, followed by the official street-name unveiling and an indoor reception.
Following the ceremony, all guests are invited to continue the celebration at a community mixer hosted by Two Locals Brewing Company, beginning at 3:00 p.m. and continuing until closing. The brewery, located at 3675 Market Street, will provide an opportunity to honor Professor Palmer’s lifelong connection to the Black Bottom community, recognize his decades-long efforts to seek justice for those displaced by the University of Pennsylvania’s expansion, and celebrate his 75 years of social activism in Philadelphia and beyond.