Mural Walk and Workshop Inspire Mentoring Youth Board

On Wednesday, the Mentoring Youth Board—made up of fifth through eighth grade students—participated in a workshop titled “Voices for Leadership,” which was funded through the Brandeis Innovation Grants program. The first part of the workshop consisted of a one-hour mural walking tour of the Clarion Alley Mural Project and the Women’s Building in the Mission led by Vavi Toran, Israel education arts and culture specialist at Jewish LearningWorks. “We looked at all of the mural art and learned about special symbols and patterns,” explains a fifth grader mentor-leader. “Looking at the murals in this way was amazing, and something I’ve never thought about in this way.” Following the walking tour, students had the opportunity to create their own portable mural at Precita Eyes Mural Art Studio. “The process started with us writing out themes for our mural [all centered around the mentorship program]: responsibility, relationships, growth, community, and connections,” says another fifth grade mentor-leader. “After, we decided on imagery and symbols to express these themes in the mural. For example, we turned growth into a tree and connection into a double helix.”

 

Now, these mentor-leaders are tasked with creating an exciting last mentoring day, inspired by all that they learned yesterday. “Right now, we are thinking about a community mural and how we can bring that to life,” adds Sharona Israeli-Roth, dean of student life. “What does this wonderful year of mentoring look like through art?” MORE PHOTOS