Ther was was a time not so long ago when the neighborhood i live in was not such a good place to raise three little girls. so in my mind i imaed that ther would be a place that could go when I was at work/school where my children can be safe. so while speaking to a co-worker of mine about this delima. i said you know my daughter has been drawing for years ans she is good at it, and she has always asked me to buy her paint sets,markers colored crayons it would be wonderful if there were an art studio that she could go to after school to so that she could work on her talent. My co-worker said there is such a place and it called groundswell mural. she gave me the telphone number and my daughter and i went to visit. we met some staff the director and my daughter and nephew became student. it is and has been a great place to for my daught they taughter her somuch more than art. she worked with groups of people from different back grounds, met adults who really cared about her and provided a safe place for her and her friends to go. since then my daughter had gone away to college and is still pursueing her college degree in fine arts, she has become a tattoo arts. As for me groundswell has educated med on the world of arts i had the pleasure of participating in the 2008, Gala event which was a wonderful experience and was introduced to another part of a culture that i didn't know exited. I just want to say if you or anyone you know is interested in art, community, bridging gaps and family connection groundswell has it to offer and more, education employment safty and you get to met some awesome people. so my hat goes of to those who make grouswell great!.
Groundswell not only beautifies the neighborhood but also the people of the community. I witnessed how the organization impacts the lives of kids that are faced with the harsh reality of inner city living. Groundswell uses the mural painting process to teach young adults tangible skills that will help them for the rest of their lives. I wish the organization could be easliy duplicated in many challenged urban areas.
I first came to know Groundswell way back in 2002 as a graduate student. I was immediately impressed by the organization's excellent youth programming as well as its commitment to the creation of poignant and thought-provoking murals. Now that I live in NYC, I have the opportunity to see Groundswell's work all over the city. As a board member, I can attest to how well the organization is run.
Groundswell's annual art benefit is a terrific party and an opportunity to see the organization's broad impact on the city, both through the participation of artists as donors of works to the event, and through an opportunity to see and hear from both the organization staff, and the kids and artists they work with. Groundswell's impact on my neighborhood through their murals has been tremendous, and has helped to call attention to important public issues and interesting insights to my neighbors and their concerns.
I have been involved with Groundswell since 2000, when I met the Director Amy Sananman while working at the Brooklyn Children's Museum. Under Amy's expert direction, Groundswell has grown into a thriving local arts organization, that not only works with a number of New York City community partners to make beautiful and socially relevant murals, but also provides ongoing educational outreach to its youth artists.
The potent combination of art and social justice drew me to Groundwell Community Mural Project, brainchild of Amy Sananman, a long-time family friend. I watched, from the sidelines, as Groundwell grew and prospered, joining the Board in 2006. My professional work is focused on early care and education policy (for children birth to eight), and my involvement in Groundswell has offered an opportunity to support the development of older youth, and, indirectly, their communities. I have co-chaired Groundswell's annual art auction benefit, which colorfully highlights the organization's commitment to the development of young people's social, civic and artistic consciousness and skills. I have been priveleged, too, to accompany twenty heads of international youth organizations on a tour of Groundswell's murals in Brooklyn. And most recently, I heard Newark's mayor, Cory Booker, praise the efforts of Groundswell and that city's arts organizations at a mural dedication.
This past summer (2009), I was invited to a dedication ceremony in Harlem for one of the Groundswell murals. I had recently been asked to become a member of the Board of Directors and wanted to understand a little more about the organization before I made the commitment to be on the board. After the ceremony, I had the opportunity to meet one of the parents of a young woman who was a participating artist. I asked the mom about her feelings on Groundswell and her daughter's experience. My questions immediately brought tears to her eyes. She grabbed my arm and began to tell me how she felt, prior to Groundswell, that she was losing her daughter to the streets. Her daughter (about age 15 at the time) starting hanging out with the wrong crowd, was neglecting her studies and generally being disrespectful. She spoke of her feelings of desperation and helplessness. She didn't know what to do. "I felt I was losing her." When the Groundswell opportunity came along, she encouraged her daughter to participate. As she described the impact, her eyes light up and more tears began to flow. She struggled to speak. She described her daughter's attitude shift. It was as if there was a full 180 degree turn. Her daughter started to pay greater attention to her schoolwork, spoke of wanting to attend college, build a career and generally take charge of her own future. I remember the tears that came to my eyes and the realization that I had found the right organization to support. It occurred to me that giving a child the opportunity to be on a team of peers that creates and executes a plan to transform their community throught art is a very powerful and unique experience. Children in under represented communities do not have many of these opportunities. This realization came to me through the words and tears of a mother who felt helpless one day and proud the next. I joined the board that fall and plan to be actively involved in Groundswell helping young adults take charge of their lives. I am very honored to be a part of the organization. I am very proud of the work of Groundswell.
Groundswell programs and staff are deeply involved and engaging in the communities they serve. Kids on the mural projects find pride and fulfillment in creating the works, and then enjoy the prestige and acknowledgement of their communities thereafter as all view and enjoy their works. The staff are very professional, upbeat and supportive of young people as they explore either a pleasant excursion into art and community service, or in some cases the discovery and commitment by a student to a career in the arts, advocacy and/or community ervice.
I have worked as a muralist and later a board member for this wonderful organization. Groundswell works excellently with community organizations and local youth participants to create stunning works of art that address social issues. Leadership, collaboration and creative expression are gained and strengthened through this work!