Emmy-winning actress and writer Quinta Brunson returned to her roots on Wednesday (May 28) for an emotional ceremony at her alma mater, Andrew Hamilton School, in West Philadelphia. Surrounded by family, friends, students, and city leaders, Brunson was honored with a key to the city — a symbolic recognition of her success and ongoing impact on the community.
Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker presented the award, telling the crowd, “Quinta Brunson, this is your city and you are ours.” The honor marked a full-circle moment for Brunson, who credited the school and neighborhood for inspiring her hit ABC mockumentary sitcom, Abbott Elementary.
“Even when I first walked in the door, I was like, ‘Oh, I’m home. I’m home. I’m in Philly,’” Brunson said during her acceptance speech. “This gym felt so big when I was a kid. Being back here really feels like coming home.”
The show, which has earned critical acclaim and a dedicated fanbase, was directly inspired by Brunson’s experiences at Andrew Hamilton and named in honor of her sixth-grade teacher, Joyce Abbott — who was also in attendance for the celebration. “It’s unbelievable,” Abbott said. “I always knew she was headed for greatness like all of my students, but it’s just amazing to see this.”
In addition to receiving the key to the city, Brunson helped unveil a new mural on the school’s exterior, created in partnership with Mural Arts Philadelphia. Though she was initially presented with the idea of incorporating Abbott Elementary characters into the artwork, Brunson redirected the vision to reflect the real community.
“That was very important to me,” the 35-year-old said. “At first, there was a mockup that incorporated the show, which I thought was very kind. But to me, growing up in Philly and seeing these murals, it was just important to me that the mural incorporated faces from this neighborhood, faces from this school.”
Brunson also acknowledged the real-life inspirations behind some of the show’s key characters. Her mother, Norma Jean Brunson, a former kindergarten teacher, served as the muse behind character Barbara Howard, played by Sheryl Lee Ralph. Gregory Wright, a former classmate who is now an educator and consultant on the show, inspired the role of Gregory Eddie.
As part of the celebration, Brunson also announced a $50,000 donation to two local nonprofits — one dedicated to music education and another focused on providing fresh groceries to children in underserved communities.
As far as an update on Abbott’s fifth season, she told the crowd, “We just started in the writers’ room last week. I’m really excited about what’s coming next.”
See Quinta Brunson receive a key to her hometown of West Philadelphia above.
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