A Youth Vision of Holyoke
Collaborative Mural Project
by Nuestras Raíces and
Community Partnerships for Social Change
Spring 2004

While an Alumni Fellow at Community Partnerships for Social Change, Hampshire College, I coordinated the mural, "A Youth Vision of Holyoke" mural. It was created by youth from Nuestras Raíces, a Latino run urban agriculture organization rooted in Holyoke, Ma in collaboration with students, staff, and faculty of Hampshire College's Community Partnership for Social Change program. The city of Holyoke, once a thriving economic center of activity from the mill days, has been severely impacted by post-industrial decline and affects of globalization. The city is rebuilding itself through the collective work of grassroots organizations, activist leadership, and partnerships with the city, local businesses and area colleges. The mural represents the artists' view of the community-led movement of their city and dreams for their future. The creation of the mural took place over three months in the Spring of 2004. The initial idea for the mural came from the youths desire to demystify negative stereotypes of their city and to represent the positive community work happening and their visions for a more green future. Since the project, the Nuestras Raíces youth muralists have gained recognition for their work and have begun a small business venture for the organization.