Westside Lansing is raising $6,000 to $8,000 for a community mural that will be designed by artists, local residents and junior high school kids.
The “Community Diversity Mural” will be outlined at Shanora’s beauty store on the corner of Saginaw and Butler. Shanora’s already has a mural largely represented by black leaders of the 1960s, but Jessica Yorko, with the NorthWest Initiative, says the new mural will depict diversity as well as national role models.
“The owner really wanted to get something up there that’s about diversity and working together,” Yorko says.
They also want to include role models that are still living, such as Serena Williams and Ben Carson, who is a famous African American surgeon. The group is asking kids ages 11-18 to design the mural. Area artists will help turn the concept into reality.
“We want them to come and brainstorm about their nationally recognized role models,” Yorko says. “We’re also going to teach them a little about how to sketch.”
“We’re hoping to engage 200 to 300 kids throughout this whole process,” Yorko says.
Painting is scheduled to start June 16.
Source: Jessica Yorko, NorthWest Initiative
Ivy Hughes, development news editor, can be reached here.
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