WILMINGTON, DE – On Friday, September 4, 2020, 11 high school students from the Charter School of Wilmington unveiled a social justice, diversity, and inclusion mural at the Latin American Community Center’s (LACC) Manuelita Olson Building (MOB) at 301 N. Harrison Street. The group of students, called the Social Justice Alliance, aims to encourage youth participation in the promotion of change and equity. Their goal is to also celebrate diversity and bridge the gap between socioeconomic barriers and unprivileged youth by amplifying minority voices. The mural, conceptualized by student Esther Adebi, was painted over the course of two weeks by group members Nya NeSmith, Zarah Zurita, Vansh Kapoor, Emily Chmiel, Lucía Gotera,
Emma McKinley, Abby Jarrell, Bing Yang, Athan Livaditis, and Aliyah Harrison.
The mural reveal event, which took place from 5pm to 8pm, drew 115 attendees from all over the local region. Individuals could either drive by to view the mural from their cars or walk by in person, as long as they followed safety guidelines. This event was also live-streamed on the LACC’s Facebook page. Social Justice Alliance members spoke about their experiences with racism, while musicians from Delaware Shakespeare performed for the audience.
The Prevention Promoters Program of the LACC, funded by the Delaware Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health, co-hosted this event with the Social Justice Alliance. Speaking of the program’s collaboration with the group, LACC staff member Mildred Ortega said, “I was absolutely honored to partner with this group of motivated teenagers. Their work has revitalized the community and has illustrated the need for us all to be united, no matter where we come from.”
This event was made possible through a collaboration of many individuals, but a special shout-out is issued to the following: Latin American Community Center President/CEO Maria Matos, local artists Monica Lopez and Eduardo Carrera, The C.A.U.S.E., and Servicio Latino, PC owner Sergio Garduno. To learn more about the Social Justice Alliance, feel free to follow their Instagram page @socialjusticealliance. For more information about the Prevention Promoters, or the LACC, please visit www.thelatincenter.org.
Everyone is encouraged to check out the mural at their convenience!
