Building A Change

  • Enlivened with New York City imagery, “Building A Change” invites transformation in our local communities.
  • A grid method is used to transfer an image onto a larger canvas.
  • The team receives a painting tutorial from the Lead Artists.
  • Adding vibrant movement to the color brings the portraits in this mural to life.
  • Adding vibrant movement to the color brings the portraits in this mural to life.
  • With some silliness, the team presents their finished piece.

Project Description

In partnership with the Center for Court Innovation and its Red Hook Community Justice Center, a team of Groundswell youth created a vibrant new mural for installation in the Justice Center’s community room. The Justice Center’s innovative youth court trains teenagers to serve as jurors, judges, and attorneys, handling real-life cases involving their peers. During their research, Groundswell youth visited the Justice Center and spoke to the teenagers involved in its programs. They also researched area crime statistics and learned how a youth court approach can use positive peer pressure to ensure that young people who have committed minor offenses pay back the community and receive the help they need to avoid further involvement in the justice system. The mural is a warm welcome to all who visit the Center and celebrates the positive role that young people can play in the Red Hook Community.

Comments

I really like the painterly style of this mural and the buildings as letters.

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Project Info

Fun Facts

Research
According to the 2010 New York City ATI/Reentry Coalition Services Report 2010, the annual cost to incarcerate one person in juvenile detention is $261,000 per year.
Fun Fact
During their training, the team learned about the psychology of color, which is the study of how colors affect us. For example, blue can make you feel calm and peaceful and can make you be more productive.
Quote
"We researched Red Hook's crime level, which is high, but we also saw that the system typically finds it easier to put people in jail rather than try to help them. Community courts are different." - Fabio Gomez, Youth Participant