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Building a Better World

Mural Artist: Isabel Halpern
December 2022

This mural was led by Isabel Halpern and created with Conway Elementary students from the after-school YMCA Expanded Learning Program, LEGENDS. Not only did the participating students help paint the mural, but they helped come up with the imagery shown through the actions of the different figures. From left to right one can see different characteristics of EPIC (Excellence, Perseverance, Integrity, and Compassion) in action: planting seeds in the school garden, advocating for social issues in the community, following dreams through creativity, and helping each other up with care. A paper airplane, a direct student drawing, flies high in the sky and adds a playful element representing the journey of going after our aspirations. A big sun represents joy and hope and different natural elements can be seen throughout: sprouts growing into plants, water drops of rain, stars in the sky, rivers, hills, and butterflies. All of the figures show different examples of what it takes to build a better world- contributing to themselves, their community, and to each other with compassion and connection. 

Which figure do you relate to most in this mural?