Rosa Parks Community Wall Mural Project

By Corinthia Parker

Special to The Truth

The mission of the Jamil Lewis Multicultural Center for the Arts is to provide space and opportunity for a multicultural community to express itself as a collective.

JLMCA Executive Director Audrey Johnson has been an advocate for the arts and youth programming for many years. Johnson and the JLMCA board members recognize the importance the arts as a way to “bridge cultures around the world”.

This year is the beginning of many local collaborations and global connections. As such JLMCA has asked for support in a celebration to display the mural and achievements of the participating youth.

The Jamil Lewis Multicultural Center for the Arts with the support of Hostelling International Toledo Area Council, City of Toledo Youth Commission and City of Toledo Board of Community Relations sponsored a Community Wall Mural project created by seven youth, ages 11-18. The participating youth worked as a team instructed by artist Odes Roberts, Sr. to research and create a 40”x 60” mural in honor of Rosa Parks reflecting images of the 1950’s era.  

The participating youth were recommended by teachers from Rosa Parks Elementary School, Horizons Science Academy Toledo and Scott High School Arts & Media Department. The Rosa Parks Community Wall Mural will become a permanent collection to be placed at the newly named Rosa Parks Elementary School located at 3350 Cherry Street. 

In April, the mural was presented at the Hostel International Regional Conference in Detroit Michigan.  The Community Wall project has established a JLMCA youth mentoring program and partnership with the Toledo Museum of Art Outreach Program for scholarships to continue further development in the arts.

The mural will be on exhibition throughout NW Ohio during June – September of 2008: City of Toledo One Government Center (June 24-July21), Mott Branch Library (July 28-August 18) and Kent Branch Library (August 25-September 15).

This project afforded underserved youth the opportunity to utilize their creative talents while developing skills, experience history, fostering group interaction and the learning mechanics of presentation. The project was designed to engage the youth to participate in performance fundamentals and leadership roles.  The group project ensured awareness of talented youth and established their potential in a positive view through multiple disciplines of the arts in a non-traditional environment.

“You can do anything if you really believe you can,” said young artist Will White, Jr. of the lesson he learned from his time working on the mural.

Artist Melvin Claybrooks, who graduated this spring from Scott High School and will be taking his talents to Owens Community College in the fall, has already branched out with his art. The mural gave Claybrooks an opportunity that he quickly translated into a number of individual pieces.

The aspiring young writer and artist sums up his artistic goals succinctly: “I’m striving for change.”

More Articles....

This Strikes Me…A Call for Black Civic Education

My View By Jack Ford

Does Scott High School Really Want to Survive?

Achievement Gap Program Brings Teens in Touch with Motivational Speaker

Obama Campaign Holds Unite for Change House Parties
 

Back to Home Page