Celebrating the completion of our 6-week summer I AM-Mosaic project!

As a part of the 2023 POPLI (Power of People Leadership Institute) Youth Summer Enrichment Program, middle and high school youth were a part of this restoration and rebuilding project. 

I AM-Mosaic is a mural project, in which we use the universal language of ART and CREATIVITY to connect with our community in a unique and positive way. We uncovered it’s long history, what happened during our almost-three-year break, and talked about how THIS generation will rebuild our future.

This all began in 2010, and had been expanding with various groups ever since (timeline below) UNTIL - 2020 through 2022, when the mural that was on display at the A-Mill Lofts Art Gallery, was vandalized with inappropriate photos and words, and mirrors/supports broken.  

We used this opportunity to see it as a visual for how, at the same time, our world was broken down and forever changed. Beside rebuilding and adding new artwork to the mural, we had great discussions about the youths’ perceptions and intentions of building a new community and world in a better way. This experience made me even more confident in our future and these wonderfully talented young people! 

Find out about ALL the wonderful enrichment experiences at https://www.popinstitute.org/