“This mural will go on and on and I know I’m a part of it.” – Mural Participant

A person’s identification with the place in which s/he lives–houses, streets, schools, rooms–shapes that person’s worldview and self-perception. For example, a community filled with vacant lots, crumbling buildings, and deteriorating wall space will have an impact on the individual’s and community’s sense of self and pride. In addition, a person’s sense of belonging to a place is based on his or her familiarity with that place. Their sense of self is based on the places they pass in their life. A mural replaces deteriorating or dreary wall space with something that was created by those same people who will be viewing it everyday, creating familiarity and connection, thereby enhancing community pride and sense of self.