Twelve youth accompanied by many volunteers and led by artists Belle Benfield and Sophia Dawson partnered with the Brooklyn Public Library to create this mosaic installed on the walls of the Brooklyn Public Library. “Roots of Knowledge” highlights the role of the Brooklyn Public Library as an invaluable resource for free education. The design features images of three abstract trees, each representing an aspect of the Library’s relationship to its users. The words “Connect, Learn, and Explore” highlight how individuals can connect with their community, learn and educate themselves, and explore the vast resources of knowledge the library encompasses. The background of the mosaic features Sunset Park, the neighborhood in which the mural is located.

"The Perfect Equilibrium of Nature" was created in partnership with Tillary Park Foundation, Councilmember Letitia James, and The Urban Assembly School of Music and Art. The goal of the project was to illustrate modern life in developing Brooklyn communities. It was a concept shaped from research about the nineteenth century immigrant laborers that built the Brooklyn Bridge, which then led to discussions about the similarities to life in Brooklyn today. Participants based the mural’s theme on private moments and the surroundings that residents in Brooklyn experience daily. These private snapshots allow for the environment to play a far greater role in revealing the pulse of contemporary Brooklyn life. There are also hints to immigrant populations and the gentrification process.

A group of eight young women worked with professional artists Crystal Bruno and Tanya Albrigtsen-Frable to create a colorful mural at the front entrance of PS 506 in Sunset Park, Brooklyn. Groundswell partnered with PS 506 and the Center for Family Life to create this monumental mural. “Connectivity Continued” is inspired by the school’s theme of global communication through technology and journalism with an emphasis on multicultural children. The continued emergence of new technology can be a scary thought for some, but the youth working on this project wanted to show how technology is positive and necessary for humans to connect and flourish in an ever-growing society. A vine grows throughout the mural and intertwines with the diverse groups of children playing and learning. The vine also evokes a wire, highlighting both technology and the balance of nature. A light bulb represents the ideas and creativity that are born through the use of technology.

“Utopia Express” focuses on human and natural diversity, connecting elements from the urban environment with the natural world. The mural is located on the back of the Sweet’N Low (Cumberland Packing Corporation) headquarters in Brooklyn, NY. It consists of a continuous surreal mural composed on five bricked up windows. The New York City skyline is intertwined with surreal natural elements - a dinosaur, the Brooklyn Bridge, an octopus, career woman. These urban images flow toward outdoor landscapes depicting youth and animals. This mural appears very playful, but it contains latent messages about respecting and conserving nature. “Utopia Express” is in a very industrial neighborhood, but many people live there and raise children. Several local residents have commented on how the mural brightens up the entire neighborhood.

“This Too Shall Pass” focuses on the dreams, wishes, and aspirations of the inmates at Rikers Island. The large mural was created in two sections by 18 incarcerated teenagers and adds color and beauty to a hallway in the jail. The class established a safe place of mutual respect, and the young artists were obligated to keep any conflicts they had separate from the project. The class began with introductory drawing and color theory lessons. In the mural, five dreaming inmates are shown in their beds. Their dreams and wishes appear in bubbles and are integrated throughout the design. Most of the pictured inmates dream of family, while others dream of simply walking down the sidewalk. During the creation of the mural, participants learned important lessons about hard work and collaboration. When the project was completed, both students and teachers were left with a vast sense of pride and accomplishment.

“Connectivity” is featured at the entrance of PS 506 and was created by two fifth grade classes. While sketching, the students discussed the best way to represent their school. The mural focuses on the ideas of global community, technology, and journalism. The mural design references a motherboard or circuit board, evoking connectivity and the many parts that make up the whole. Highlighted in the composition are some of the drawings created by the students in the design phase of the project. Inside images of squares and circles, children are represented reading newspapers, writing/drawing, and reaching new heights. Imagery of organic plant life symbolizes abundance, growth, and harmony with the living environment in an urban landscape.

“Peace and Freedom” adds color and life to the walls of the community room at Claremont Neighborhood Center. This serene mural was created by formerly incarcerated Justice Corps youth, who chose the theme of “Peace and Freedom.” The Justice Corps program’s concentration on hard work and cooperation is especially significant for the young artists. In the mural, a white bird is depicted in flight at sunrise, over a forest landscape. In the bird’s beak is a red ribbon with the words Peace and Freedom inscribed on it. The mural depicts an environment designed to transport the viewer into an alternate space, from the urban landscape of the Bronx to a tranquil forest.

"Uplifting" was created in partnership with Turning Point in order to transform the walls of Claremont Community Center. The center is utilized by over five hundred community members of all ages every week. The theme for this mural is reaching for the stars, finding the path to success, and following one’s goals. Many of the diverse activities offered at Claremont Community Center are featured in the mural, including gymnastics, basketball, and music. A dreamer is pictured in the sky, looking down a path which has a Justice Corps youth at its lowest point. The path rises into the sky, past the sun, where a child flies with a book in his/her hands. The young artists that created this mural were formerly incarcerated youth, and the emphasis on encouragement and team work was especially significant for them.

"I Have a Dream" graces the walls of the computer room in the NYC Housing Authority Chelsea Elliot Houses. This mural project began in 2008 as a class at The New School, whose primary aim was to research the history of public art and to design and create a work of public art in New York. The focus of the mural is the importance of education, with seven intertwining parts showing the process, the struggle for funding, and the advantages of education. All of the sections are linked with imagery of subway lines, signifying mobility and the idea that learning is a shared journey that leads to a better future. The mural transforms the computer room into a colorful, cheerful space. The theme of the importance of education is a significant message for the many people who utilize the room. Working throughout the spring, the mural was completed in May, with over 60 children from I Have a Dream (IHAD) Chelsea present at its dedication.

Groundswell worked with City Councilmember David Yassky's office and the Open Space Alliance to create six murals by selected artists on India Street. Groundswell artist Chris Soria created one of the murals and facilitated two community painting days so that the community could contribute to the final work.