Community Realized Through Art
In celebration of City Impact’s 25th year, we partnered with The PALETTE Project to create a collaborative mural for our space. It’s important that our youth and families feel welcome when they come to City Impact. We wanted to create a piece that celebrates our community and our mission.
City Impact’s ripple symbol demonstrates the impact we have, both as individuals and collectively, on the world. There’s even a ripple story in this mural! PALETTE Project Founder and UNL student Erika Casarin became connected with City Impact last year through one of her classes. Erika wanted to learn more about City Impact, so she volunteered at Gifts of Love helping prepare our building for the hundreds of shoppers who would be served through the event.
Inspired by what she saw at City Impact, Erika shared about PALETTE Project, which quickly led to a partnership. PALETTE Project uses art to build connections between businesses and organizations in Lincoln with the goal of strengthening community. Erika recruited fellow UNL student and artist Gannen Ingalls to bring her talents to the project. The two met with City Impact youth and staff to design a piece that reflects our identity.
Dozens of City Impact kids and their families helped to paint the mural, as did a select group of local business sponsors.
The kids were elated to help paint the mural! Every time they see this on the wall, they can say, ‘I did that!” and know that they belong here.
Lisa Guill, Communications Director
The piece is titled “Community” which is one of City Impact’s core values. Community is often messy and hard. It’s decades of relationships, joys, and sorrows. The beauty of community speaks to our great potential as humans to lift one another up and recognize that everyone’s voice matters.
The mural’s subtitle is a quote from Mother Teresa, which speaks to the impact we have collectively.
I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples.
~ Mother Teresa
We love how this mural captures the essence of City Impact, celebrating so many facets of our community. It’s wonderful to have an original piece in our space that so many of us helped to create!
Many thanks to The PALETTE Project for their vision and talents. This amazing mural truly reflects City Impact and welcomes our community.
