Meet Ms. Esposito’s Class

At Pollock Elementary, 7th grade social studies teacher Christie Esposito watched something powerful happen when she welcomed our Design Education program into her classroom. One student, quiet and hesitant at first, slowly began to open up. Guided by our volunteers, she started participating, smiling, and taking creative risks. “This program not only helps my students come out of their shell,” Christie shared, “but allows their voice to be heard.”

By the end of the program, that same student, Christelle, was leading her group with confidence.

“Mike made me laugh. Fran made me feel seen. Elizabeth helped me explore my creativity. Bonnie allowed me to be myself,” Christelle lovingly said about the Design Education volunteers. “They listened to me, and it felt like I could voice my ideas.”

For another student, Benjamin, who had just moved from Argentina, design became a bridge: “It helped me socialize with my peers by building designs and made me feel comfortable. I am still learning English.”

For Christelle, Benjamin, and hundreds of students like them, design became a language of belonging and a way to connect. This is the power of DesignPhiladelphia’s Design Education program and it’s made possible by supporters like you. Check out our 2025 Design Education Impact Report to read more about DE's stories in each classroom.
 

Join us this Giving Tuesday for the Designing Futures Breakfast, our annual fundraiser that celebrates creativity as a force for opportunity and helps ensure every student in Philadelphia has the chance to see themselves as a designer of their own future. This year, we’re proud to honor Dr. Lakita Costner, a visionary educator, artist, and advocate whose work has transformed how young people experience design across Philadelphia. Because when we invest in design education, we invest in more inclusive futures for our students and our city.

Your attendance or support does more than celebrate Dr. Costner. It changes students' lives. Together, we can help more students like Christelle and Benjamin find belonging, confidence, and a voice through the power of design.