05/21/2026
Create 48 AC has been busy this spring working alongside the incredible young writers and artists at Mighty Writers Atlantic City, and we are so proud of what these kids are taking on.
This week, the group visited the African American Heritage Museum of Southern New Jersey at the Noyes Arts Garage for a tour with founder Dr. Ralph Hunter and his staff.
Dr. Hunter walked the kids through the history of Atlantic City’s Northside, the 80 square block neighborhood that was once home to a thriving community of Black-owned businesses, doctors, lawyers, entrepreneurs, and professionals. They learned about the legendary Kentucky Avenue entertainment district, where Club Harlem, the Paradise Club, and other venues drew icons like Sammy Davis Jr., Ella Fitzgerald, and Dizzy Gillespie, rivaling Harlem itself as a cultural hub for Black America.
Dr. Hunter has spent decades preserving these stories, and there is no one better to pass that history on to the next generation of Atlantic City kids.
That history connects directly to what comes next. This July, the kids will be helping artist Ernel Martinez paint his epic new mural celebrating Kentucky Avenue, with sponsorship from the Atlantic City CDBG program. Learning the history first, then putting brushes to the wall, is exactly the kind of full circle experience we want for these young people.
The group also took a trip to City Hall to help artists Susan E. Daly and Glenn Taylor paint the new Small Business Incubator room. The space will be available to participants in the City’s Small Business Cohort, offering a place to hold meetings, co-work, and build the businesses that will become the next generation of Atlantic City entrepreneurs.
Huge thanks to Mighty Writers Atlantic City, Dr. Ralph Hunter and the African American Heritage Museum of Southern New Jersey, Ernel Martinez, Sue Daly, Glenn Taylor , the City of Atlantic City , our bus driver Kashawn Mckinley and the CDBG program for making this spring happen. These partnerships are giving Atlantic City kids real exposure to the arts, the history of their own city, and the people building its future.
