[Communications] RECAP - MAXWELL GARDEN MURAL DEDICATION AUGUST 11th

[Marsha Wyatt]

Commander Gabriella Shemash of 012 District Chicago Police Department
joined Marsha Wyatt, Garden co-president,  Anne Farley Gaines, mural
program director, gardeners and members of the community   to "cut the
ribbon" to dedicate the new Welcome Garden Mural "Continuous Growth" on
August 11th.

This was the first of three murals to be created at The Maxwell Street
Community Garden. Pilsen artist Anne Farley Gaines  designed the
Continous Growth mural series last summer as a way to beautify the concrete
barriers that were left on the property by CHA.  With Anne's help, MSCG
applied for and secured a Grant from Chicago Housing Community Services
(CHCS), a new arm of CHA, in spring of 2020 for $5000 to cover the cost of
the first mural.
This is the first public art project funded by CHCS.

Students who live nearby and worked on previous murals with Anne at Jane
Addams Community Center on Loomis were selected to work on this project to
teach them advanced mosaic skills. Students Andrew Epps, Brianna and
Marshanda Norwood and Jade Shumpert worked individually and
collaboratively, beginning with supplies at home in April during the
shelter-in-place order and moving to the Garden in May. Cumulatively, the
students worked over 200 hours, with Anne investing many more.  Students
were paid $10/hour for their efforts in this educational program.

The Garden's  partnership and friendship with 012 Community Policing is
important, as our greenspace provides not only a place for members to grow
fresh vegetables for their families and to share with our community
neighbors, but a place where the community comes together to beautify the
land through planting, growing,  and now creating art.  During the pandemic
Maxwell Garden has provided a safe place for members, friends and neighbors
to gather outdoors to visit or share a meal, for book clubs and other
community organizations to meet in a safe, socially distanced manner.
We've seen so many "new faces" this season as a result, have shared much
knowledge about planting and our community giving, and have gained over 12
new "friends of the garden" - people who live nearby who joined simply to
help out so they can be outdoors and share our greenspace.

Facebook:  Maxwell Street Community Garden
You Tube: Take a quick Tour of The Garden, or view the Dedication Ceremony
at using these links:
1 minute Garden video
https://youtu.be/XvBJaXn_m44

7 minute presentation video
https://youtu.be/1Yp4pxfwrP0


Photos attached.
1-15th Ward Alderman Byron Sigcho-Lopez with Anne Farley Gaines and Marsha
Wyatt
2- 012 Sgt Mark Czapla, Mary Vega, Nancy Plax of Connecting4Communities,
Garden co-presidents Eric McKamey and Marsha Wyatt and mascot Girl Friday
3-Marsha Wyatt and Commander Shemash
4-Anne Gaines and Marsha Wyatt tell history of Project.
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