BCNC Youth Install Murals for Experience Chinatown 2024
This summer, Pao Arts Center and BCNC’s Youth Center partnered on a 6-week youth mural creation project funded by the City of Boston Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Advancement Weaving Well-being Initiative. The program engaged 19 youths in workshops on collective care, community activism, and leadership training, culminating in the installation of Chinatown's Glowing Lanterns at BCNC Boston’s site at 38 Ash Street, Boston.
Youth received a historical overview of Chinatown and community activism from Tufts University Tisch Summer Scholar Emily Pham, and volunteer Melanie Chermin. Guest speakers Cindy Liu from Brigham & Women’s Hospital and Heang Rubin from CHIC Community Engagement Consulting, taught workshops on activism through research and the development of Chinatown’s cultural plan. In addition to learning about civic engagement, youth engaged in intergenerational learning and improved their presentation skills. Youth conducted their own Chinatown tours to BCNC Red Oak summer camp children as well as delivered a public presentation of their mural to staff and visitors.
Photographer Nick Eddinger held media training and video production workshops encouraging creativity and self-expression through mockumentary exercises. For the development of their final video, youth interviewed eight senior community members on their thoughts on this year’s Experience Chinatown prompt: “What are collective actions we can take for a healthy Chinatown?”
Next, youth worked with art educator and muralist Nell Valle on design thinking, public art and mural-making, and creative drawing. Collectively, the group used learnings from their interviews with seniors to design a mural. They even worked with Nell to paint and install the mural on the windows of 38 Ash Street.
The summer ended with a celebration, during which the youth presented their murals, final videos, and artist statements to local community members.
Check out this short video showcasing the highlights from this transformative six-week program!
A warm congratulations to our youth muralists who worked collaboratively and diligently on these projects: Vivian, Alex, Annie, Yeqing, Kevin, Ruiming, Nathen, Felix, Jiaying, Sareen, Sarah, Elly, Elaine, Angie, Brian, Zijian, Hugh, Mayka, and Cristiana!