Groundswell worked in collaboration with the Passages Academy at Crossroads Juvenile Center in Brownsville, Brooklyn to develop a three-panel interior mural in the spring of 2015. Groundswell worked with a small group of youth participants in sixteen sessions to plan, design, and execute the mural. In the first third of the sessions the group collaboratively developed a theme and individually created visual symbols that related to that theme. The group then discussed composition and color choices for the final mural. The lead muralist then combined images and ideas from the students’ artwork into a cohesive sketch for “Powerful Beyond.”
 
The major themes of this mural are Life After Incarceration, the Quest for Freedom, and Personal Success. In the three main panels of the mural, five primary figures serve as the protagonists. They are adolescent dreamers who are looking into the future, pondering their goals, and strategizing steps they’ll take to realize a rewarding life. Surrounding these figures are visual remnants of incarceration, such as prison bars, that are being bent or subverted. Moving upwards in each mural panel are symbolic images depicting career choices and symbols of hope.  Several banners connect these three panels and showcase quotes about education and self-discovery.

Groundswell worked in collaboration with Rikers Saturday Academy to create a mural inspired by the Nelson Mandela quote: “For to be free is not merely to cast off one's chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.” Groundswell worked with a small group of youth participants in eight sessions to plan, design, and execute the mural.
 
Nelson Mandela lights his fist in a sign of overcoming huge odds and racism to realize personal potential. He has a shining heart over his chest to illustrate strength, perseverance, and love. The light from the heart leads to a boy in profile. He looks out to both overcome challenges and face his potential to succeed. Rays of light color his skin multiple tones, representing all races. He is surrounded by compasses from antique maps, which symbolize the multitude of choices in life. A bridge entitled “Education” bisects the mural, showing how schooling can lead to the achievement of aspirations. To the right, Nelson Mandaela’s quote is included on a swirling coil.

For most students, spring break means relaxing at home or with friends. Instead of taking a vacation, the high school sophomores in JPMorgan Chase’s program, The Fellowship Initiative (TFI), used their spring breaks to engage in learning activities designed to help them discover new talents, build their skills, and deepen connections to their JPMorgan Chase mentors.
 
Through a partnership with Groundswell, the TFI Fellows participated in conversations about what it means to be successful, and how to achieve their personal and professional goals. Two teams created two murals in New York, and another two teams painted two more murals in Los Angeles. All of the art was developed and painted by the TFI Fellows, under the direction of the Groundswell artists. This project provided the TFI Fellows with opportunities to hone their research, observation, analysis, and collaboration skills. TFI mentors contributed to early brainstorm sessions by discussing strategies for achieving goals, focusing on personal growth, and being successful in today’s competitive economy.
 
The New York team led by Chris Soria created “Unbonded Steps.” Achievement is represented as a step pyramid in which each succeeding platform is supported by a foundation that expands as it is incrementally traversed. The pinnacle of the pyramid is obscured by two hands coming down from the top, with a handful of soil and flowers growing out if it, representing our co-creation with the natural world. Roots extend down from the soil, enveloping the steps of the pyramid with impeding coverage, suggesting that overcoming obstacles and bumps in the way can contribute to our lives once they're succeeded. To the left and right of the pyramid are two faces, one looking back at the past and the other looking toward the future. 

For most students, spring break means relaxing at home or with friends. Instead of taking a vacation, the high school sophomores in JPMorgan Chase’s program, The Fellowship Initiative (TFI), used their spring breaks to engage in learning activities designed to help them discover new talents, build their skills, and deepen connections to their JPMorgan Chase mentors.
 
Through a partnership with Groundswell, the TFI Fellows participated in conversations about what it means to be successful, and how to achieve their personal and professional goals. Two teams created two murals in New York, and another two teams painted two more murals in Los Angeles. All of the art was developed and painted by the TFI Fellows, under the direction of the Groundswell artists. This project provided the TFI Fellows with opportunities to hone their research, observation, analysis, and collaboration skills. TFI mentors contributed to early brainstorm sessions by discussing strategies for achieving goals, focusing on personal growth, and being successful in today’s competitive economy.
 
The New York team led by Angel Garcia created “The Success of Knowledge.” Some of the key imagery in the “The Success of Knowledge” are the butterfly wings, the trophy in the center, vines, flowers, and stairs. The butterfly wings on each side of the design represents the ability to overcome obstacles. The center image of this mural contains a trophy coming out of the top of a head, with hands holding it up, as well as vines that form the shape of a brain. This symbolizes the importance of gaining knowledge and education. The vines and flowers growing out of the trophy and throughout the mural represent the growth of the young men into successful adults.

For most students, spring break means relaxing at home or with friends. Instead of taking a vacation, the high school sophomores in JPMorgan Chase’s program, The Fellowship Initiative (TFI), used their spring breaks to engage in learning activities designed to help them discover new talents, build their skills, and deepen connections to their JPMorgan Chase mentors.
 
Through a partnership with Groundswell, the TFI Fellows participated in conversations about what it means to be successful, and how to achieve their personal and professional goals. Two teams created two murals in New York, and another two teams painted two more murals in Los Angeles. All of the art was developed and painted by the TFI Fellows, under the direction of the Groundswell artists. This project provided the TFI Fellows with opportunities to hone their research, observation, analysis, and collaboration skills. TFI mentors contributed to early brainstorm sessions by discussing strategies for achieving goals, focusing on personal growth, and being successful in today’s competitive economy.
 
The Los Angeles team led by Angel Garcia created “Reciprocity.” The overall shape of the mural design is the shape of an infinity symbol. The artist team chose this shape to represent the idea of giving back and helping each other once success is achieved. The stairs represent the steps needed to achieve one's goals. The tool materializing from the boy’s head is cutting a rope that has a weight tied to the end of it. This represents the overcoming of both mental and physical obstacles on their way to success. The rope is tied at the other end to a pair of wings that surrounds the main figure’s head. 

For most students, spring break means relaxing at home or with friends. Instead of taking a vacation, the high school sophomores in JPMorgan Chase’s program, The Fellowship Initiative (TFI), used their spring breaks to engage in learning activities designed to help them discover new talents, build their skills, and deepen connections to their JPMorgan Chase mentors.
 
Through a partnership with Groundswell, the TFI Fellows participated in conversations about what it means to be successful, and how to achieve their personal and professional goals. Two teams created two murals in New York, and another two teams painted two more murals in Los Angeles. All of the art was developed and painted by the TFI Fellows, under the direction of the Groundswell artists. This project provided the TFI Fellows with opportunities to hone their research, observation, analysis, and collaboration skills. TFI mentors contributed to early brainstorm sessions by discussing strategies for achieving goals, focusing on personal growth, and being successful in today’s competitive economy.
 
The Los Angeles team led by Chris Soria created “Embodying Attachment.” Reciprocity is personified in this painting with a central figure in an unbounded gesture returning to open the door for another. With arms that appear to be orbiting their own body in a figure eight motion, one hand is accessing its potential and opening possibilities, while the other is guiding the intention of the plant growing from out of the mind. A translucent pattern of pedestals extends horizontally in either direction depending upon how you focus. The pedestals flowing left represent milestones and accomplishments, while the ones flowing right represent goals and ambitions.

Brought to national attention with groups such as HollaBack! and Stop Street Harassment, street harassment affects the feeling of safety many women experience on the street. “The majority of women have been catcalled while walking the streets of NYC,” explained youth artist Eona John about the importance of the mural. “Women are harassed to the point of fear being imprinted in their skin. I feel as though the mural made the fear and annoyance of the women of NYC come to life.”
 
To complete a mural on street harassment, the young women researched and referenced concepts from feminist activist graphic art, from political posters to more contemporary works by artists such as the Guerrilla Girls, Jenny Holzer, Ellen Gallagher, and Maria Atcha-Kutcher. The team also referenced Ms. Marvel and Priya Shakit comics to help build a graphic and imaginative narrative. 
 
“Respect Is The Strongest Compliment” uses a comic book style to show a narrative of change. On the left, a group of men depicted as zombies stumble across the mural as they catcall women, who are wary of the men. At the center, a classical statue inspired by art historical styles rejects the catcalling. To the right of the figure, women stand powerful with a series of anti-calling declarations, such as “I Object to Objectification” and “Stop.” A “To Be Continued” bubble acknowledges that the mural is just a part in the ending of street harassment, and more work must be done to change the culture that perpetuates gender-based violence.

 
 
 
 
⇒ Download educational curriculum (pdf)
 
⇒ Watch video series on the mural by WNET Thirteen (website)

Every person in a community should be recognized for his or her contributions, but there are often not enough opportunities to reflect on the people who make a neighborhood vibrant. Through the completion of “The Wall of Reflect,” a team of talented youth recognized one community’s residents in Brownsville.
 
This mural was created as part of “Transform/Restore: Brownsville,” a two-year participatory public art project focused on the transformation of vandalized walls into painted murals by young adult probation clients alongside Groundswell youth leaders. Launched with funding from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) through its national Our Town initiative, “Transform/Restore: Brownsville” is designed to engage young adult probation clients, local businesses, and community members in supporting the creation of visible and permanent change in Brownsville, Brooklyn.
 
This mural in particular utilized the tradition of the People’s Art practice through extensive interviews, youth-led design, and community painting days. The mural challenges the division of “high” and “low” art by using the template of a salon to paint Brownsville residents. Brightly colored designs span the length of the wall like wallpaper, incorporating elements of ironwork fence designs from around the neighborhood. Throughout, styled frames are painted to highlight portraits of Brownsville residents, created by Lead Artist Crystal Bruno, Assistant Artist Jose de Jesus Rodriguez, the youth participants, and Brownsville volunteers.
 
“Over the last two years, both Brownsville and dozens of youth artists have been transformed through the ‘Transform/Restore: Brownsville’ series. It makes sense that this mural serves as the capstone to this project. The team brought in the community through intentional, thoughtful practices at every step of the process, revealing the hidden treasure of the community support in the process,” said Daniel Murphy, Executive Director of Pitkin Avenue Business Improvement District.
 
By bringing to life the beauty and strength of Brownsville, Groundswell artists truly celebrated the community’s ‘hidden treasures’ – the neighborhood’s community members.

In partnership with The Trust for Public Land (TPL) and PS 15 The Roberto Clemente School campus, Groundswell inspired stewardship of the environment in youth artists through the artistic transformation of an East Village school campus playground. “The Power of Flourishing Minds” depicts the Habits of the Mind educational philosophy, which describes sixteen intellectual habits to solve a problem such as persistence, creativity, and interdependence.
 
Installed across two walls in the playground, the mural design reflects upon the values highlighted in the PS 15 The Roberto Clemente School’s Habit of the Mind philosophy. These values are juxtaposed with imagery celebrating the environmental stewardship mission provided by TPL. The central image of one wall is a figure with arms outstretched, emphasizing the young people’s vision of the idea of reaching for your goals. Vines and leaves hold the images together, to further reflect upon the idea of nature and the concept behind unity, interconnection, and network. The second wall aims to inspire both young and old alike to strive for success, using vibrant images such as a nest composed of hands, a Phoenix bird, and a turtle with a maze for a shell.
 
“Throughout the mural-making process, the youth engaged nature as a tool for learning, inspiration, and creativity,” said TPL Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer William Rogers. “They have become ambassadors for environmental stewardship through this collaboration, and ‘The Power of Flourishing Minds’ will ensure healthy, livable communities for generations to come.”

 
 
 
⇒ Download educational curriculum (pdf)

In New York City, approximately 4,000 New Yorkers are seriously injured and more than 250 are killed each year in traffic crashes. Because every New Yorker deserves to feel safe as a pedestrian, the citywide Vision Zero Action Plan aims for zero traffic deaths.
 
During the research stage, NYC DOT representatives educated the youth artists in the goals and elements of Vision Zero. The young people also met with street safety activists and families of community members killed by collisions. “It meant a lot to have a speaker that had actually been through something so tragic. It really hit home for all of us in the team and we’re all greater advocates,” said youth artist Daniela Umana.
 
The centerpiece of the mural is a grand image of Lady Justice, holding up her scales. There is a vehicle on one side of Justice's scales, outweighing our lost human lives represented on the opposing scale. Her blindfold has been removed to show that Lady Justice will not overlook injustice in car crashes. She stands at a crossroad, surrounded by protests, traffic signs, and several examples of recent Vision Zero initiatives such as new bike and bus lanes.
 
“Justice at the Crossroads” stands as a call to action against the injustices created in traffic fatalities and addresses the four key principles of Vision Zero: education, enforcement, legislation, and street modification. With this mural, Groundswell youth advocates urge all New Yorkers to consider their part in keeping streets safe by centering justice in the Vision Zero dialogue.