 With the support of Mayor John Fetterman of Braddock, Pennsylvania, an economically depressed industrial town outside of Pittsburgh, Simon worked with the AmeriCorps Braddock Youth Project to create a major public artwork for and with the community.Simon and Braddock's youth created the mosaic "Welcome to Braddock" sign which won Pittsburgh Magazine's "Best Neighborhood Art" award in 2009.Prior to this, in 2008 Simon received a prestigious artist in residency grant from the Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation to design and create an exotic aquatic mosaic park, which is located on Verona Street in the center of Braddock.