New Mural Makes a Statement Against Graffiti

Artists behind the mural Photo Courtesy: Ulana Kushner

(SALEM) - The Salem community is invited to join students from Chemeketa Community College and McKay High School for the dedication of the mural that they painted to abate graffiti at McKay Park. The dedication will take place on Saturday, April 22nd at 1:00 PM at the park.

Under the leadership of Life Direction's young adult volunteers, Lisa Nieblas and Oscar Chaidez, high school and middle school students transformed the old handball court walls into works of art. The south wall depicts "Hope for the Younger Generation in the midst of violence in our world, country, and community"; and the north wall, `The Richness of Diversity in Art, Music, and Communities".

A Mural Project was selected as a community service activity by Life Directions because of it's proximity to McKay High School, where Life Directions serves young adults in the Peer Motivation Program. Approximately thirty young adults were involved in the project. The volunteers` backgrounds included Anglo, Latino, African American, Vietnamese, and Russian students of all ages. The project began in July and was completed before the rains and cold temperature came around Thanksgiving. The McKay Community Progress Team and the Oregon Community Foundation funded materials and supplies for the project.

People using the park have received the mural with great enthusiasm. `What is this? It is so beautiful. This is so much better than the �placas` (graffiti) that`s always on this wall", said a woman who lives in the neighborhood and came to see what was happening. `Very good that the young people are doing this!" commented a parent bringing his small kids to the park on a hot summer day. `Sorry about the graffiti!" said a young man. "I am really glad you are here to touch it up again! It`s only a few young people that mess things up. I really like the large hands and all the small hands (on the south wall). Thanks to the young adults for helping our community," remarked an adult passing by on a Saturday morning during the winter months.

Life Directions is an organization whose mission is to reach out to young people in high school and middle school who are at risk for drugs, violence, dropping out of school or facing challenges due to difficult economic or family situations. The concept is to help young people forgive those who have hurt them, and to turn their anger and hurt into becoming peer mentors for those who might be experiencing some of the same challenges. In the two and a half years that Life Directions has been working in Marion County, it has graduated almost three hundred students in the Salem-Keizer school district, and has mobilized 120 active adult mentors through its neighborhood program.

Please join us in supporting young people involved in positive actions within our community! Come out to McKay Park on Saturday April 22nd between 1:00 and 3:00 PM. The entrance to the park is by Carolina Street off Lancaster (across from Shuck`s).