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22-2025 Strength Through Solidarity: the Art and Environmental Justice Co-Learning Initiative
The MAI team is dedicated to providing resources and supporting change- whether that’s connecting activists in other regions of the country with Philadelphia artists tackling similar issues, or sharing our unique approach to community driven public art as a way to advance the missions and impact of grassroots organizations nationwide. Through Strength Through Solidarity: the Art and Environmental Justice Co-Learning Initiative , we uplift strategies that center community leadership by supporting those working on the front lines of environmental racism as part of a 24-month partnership between Mural Arts and three BIPOC-led Environmental Justice organizations. Strength Through Solidarity provides each organization with $296,000 in funding and the resources to co-design a public art project or program with their community’s needs at the forefront. Since September of 2023, the Mural Arts Institute team has supported each team and their selected artists through customized training, conversations, and visits as they work toward their identified goals.
INITIATIVE COHORT members:
CHICAGO, IL
Baltimore, MD
Camden, NJ and Philadelphia, PA
environmental justice
Strength Through Solidarity Cohort members with artist Symone Salib
“The role of MAI is to help grantees explore how public art can help them meet their needs, said Ellissa Collier, Senior Program Manager of the Mural Arts Institute.”
“We offer access to opportunities, connections to peers nationwide, community engagement strategies, and personalized support. By working together, we uplift and amplify the work of each community while also passing on the knowledge we’ve learned as the nation’s largest public arts organization.”
ELLISSA COLLIER,
Senior Program Manager of
the Mural Arts Institute.
ELLISSA COLLIER,
Senior Program Manager of
the Mural Arts Institute.
About the Little Village Environmental Justice Organization Team
Based in Chicago, Illinois, the mission of Little Village Environmental Justice Organization (LVEJO) is to organize with community residents to accomplish environmental justice in Little Village and achieve the self-determination of immigrant, low-income, and working-class families. LVEJO has a long history of organizing for a healthier community, having organized hundreds of community residents to address local environmental issues for over 26 years through leadership development and building narrative power. Building upon the successful clean power, public transit, and open space campaigns, LVEJO remains committed to organizing with those most impacted by industrialization and climate change. LVEJO’s project will be led by Edith Tovar, a lifelong resident of the La Villita community and Senior Just Transition Organizer at LVEJO, and William Estrada , an arts educator, and multidisciplinary artist engaged in collaborative work with the Mobilize Creative Collaborative, Chicago ACT Collective, and Justseeds Artists’ Cooperative.
About the VietLead Team
VietLead was founded by a small group of Vietnamese folks who were born or long resettled in Philadelphia and Camden County as refugees and immigrants. They are a worker-led organization operating within a consensus-based structure that creates more equity and autonomy for workers and community members. VietLead’s guiding line is “Viet Leadership in Solidarity,” which means cultivating leadership in their community in solidarity with other communities. Over the last three years, their staff has grown also to encompass other Southeast Asian, South Asian, East Asian, Latine, and Black workers who are committed to racial, gender, economic, and land justice with roots from many parts of the country. Key team members include: Thao Tran , VietLead Farm Program Manager who oversees all operations of their farm in East Camden , relationship building with family and elderly constituents, and instruction of youth and adult farm crews on farm duties, as well as mutual aid food distribution.
About the South Baltimore Community Land Trust’s Mission Team
South Baltimore Community Land Trust’s mission is to create community-led development without displacement and a just transition to Zero Waste in Baltimore, Maryland. The organization developed out of a decade of grassroots and youth-led organizing in order to resist a development process that routinely sacrificed fundamental needs for a healthy environment. Their programming is multi-faceted and includes homeownership opportunities, developing youth and community leadership, advocating with residents for healthy and regenerative zero-waste economic development, facilitating planning processes, partnering to provide workforce development and financial coaching, and helping youth become leaders in their communities. Dr. Meleny Thomas , Ph.D., serves as the Executive Director and has over 15 years of experience serving youth and families and building community-based organizations. Meleny believes in equitable development and continues to advocate for marginalized communities like the one in which she resides.
2020-2022 Art & Environmental Justice Cohort
Botanical Dye Workshop led by artist Michelle Glass, Iglesias Gardens, September 2022,
Philadelphia, PA
The second iteration of the Art & Environmental Justice Capacity building Initiative (2020-2022) supported three teams of artists, environmental justice activists, and collaborators in using participatory arts-based processes to address local environmental issues, contributing to community resilience in a time of climate change. These efforts would help improve health and quality of life for communities of color and low-income communities who have been historically underinvested in, and bear a disproportionate burden from these challenges.
A selection of publications and videos from this initiative are highlighted below. Explore our Library to learn more.
Botanical Dye Workshop led by artist Michelle Glass, Iglesias Gardens, September 2022,
Philadelphia, PA
Austin, TX:
RAASIN IN THE SUN (Raasin McIntosh and Alexandria Anderson)
THE MISAIC WORKSHOP (J Muzacz and Carmen Rangel)
Dr. Rosanna Esparza,
Nayamin Martinez, MPH,
Dr. Catherine Garoupa White,
Executive Director of the Central Valley Air Quality Coalition
Santa Fe, NM:
Alas de Agua Art Collective (Israel Haros, John Paul Granillo, and Jessica Ortiz)
Three Sisters Collective (Dr. Christina M. Castro and Autumn Dawn Gomez)
2017-2019 Art & Environment Cohort
With the first iteration of the Art & Environment Capacity Building Initiative, Mural Arts sought to build the capacity of three organizations nationally to use public art as a catalyst for community engagement, leadership, and stewardship in advancing sustainable solutions to a range of environmental challenges and opportunities. Our approach to this was collaborative: we shared knowledge, experiences, and resources while also facilitating learning among the participating organizations.
Artist Lizzi Aronhalt poses with community and project leaders in front of the mural in Park East, Akron Ohio, 2019
akron, oh:
ARTSNOW and THE OHIO & ERIE CANALWAY COALITION working with artist Lizzi Aronhalt
Detroit, MI:
CULTURESOURCE and LIVE6 ALLIANCE working with artist Chazz Miller
Memphis, TN:
URBANART COMMISSION with CLEAN MEMPHIS working with artists Khara Woods and Jamond Bullock
