Passersby on the Edward L. Grant Highway may have been surprised by the free hotdogs, burgers, and drinks being handed out on July 24. But what left the biggest impression may have been the new giant mural, \u201cTropical Passage,\u201d created as part of a mission to uplift our borough.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kerry A. McLean, Vice President of Community Development at the Women\u2019s Housing and Economic Development Corporation (WHEDco), explained that the idea for the mural came after WHEDco received a multitude of requests for beautified spaces that improve quality of life in the community.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWe were able to raise funds from the Department of Small Business Services as part of a merchant organizing grant that we had. [It] included a mural beautification project as a part of the plan,\u201d McLean said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Through partnership with the Department of Transportation\u2019s art program (NYC DOT Art), WHEDco was provided with a permit to complete the painting on the step street. WHEDco enlisted William Acevedo, Executive Director of the Young Urban Christians & Artists (YUCA) to help bring their vision to life.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThey should want to beautify, they should want to take care of this space. Wherever possible, we try to connect with young people so that they can start thinking about these things more seriously, and maybe when they finish their schooling, or even well before they get to school, they\u2019ll plug in and start getting involved. That\u2019s what really what it\u2019s about,\u201d Acevedo said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Lead teaching artist at YUCA, Nancy Mendez, designed the mural with the help of Cassandra Maniotis, a longtime friend she recruited for support.\u00a0\u00a0\n<\/p>\n
\u201cThe whole mural is about connecting cultures, connecting people,\u201d Acevedo said.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n
Mendez and Maniotis began the mural in a way that could involve the community; they outlined flowers on the first four steps of the staircase for children and other community members to easily fill in with certain colors.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI was pretty much guiding them and mentoring them and teaching them through every step. It was beautiful to watch and to speak with the youth in the community,\u201d Mendez said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Maniotis recalled how even people walking by would share encouraging words and how that kindness pushed the two and Acevedo to keep working, even in unpredictable weather conditions.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI feel that encouragement from other people, just cheering us on or saying \u2018Hey, you\u2019re doing a great job,\u2019 was also an extra boost of motivation to continue working,\u201d Maniotis said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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The colorful \u201cTropical Passage\u201d mural brightens the West 168th Street Step Street in Highbridge after a community-driven beautification effort led by WHEDco in partnership with Young Urban Christians & Artists (YUCA) and NYC DOT Art. Photo by Maurice Burbridge<\/p>\n
Mendez met Maniotis 16 years ago when the two were studying for their masters in art education at Lehman College. Their friendship has persisted ever since, and Mendez knew Maniotis would be the perfect partner for completing this mural.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cTo watch her work is pretty amazing. I\u2019m telling you, I couldn\u2019t have done this without my dear friends and artist, Cassandra,\u201d Mendez said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
In querying the community\u2019s interest in a potential mural, WHEDco spoke with the Highbridge-Concourse Merchants Association. Kevin Naranjo, owner of NB National Bakery, handed out free fresh food to the community as part of the mural unveiling, thanks to a large order from WHEDco.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cHonestly, the team was so helpful. I went to college, they don\u2019t teach you about finances for a business. You don\u2019t learn that there. So they [the Highbridge-Concourse Merchants Association] actually brought out people to help you out,\u201d Naranjo said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He added \u2014thanks to a bit of pushing from his wife to join the association\u2014 he\u2019s learned important information on how to sort his business finances, how to reach more customers, and how to use social media to his benefit. Additionally, he\u2019s found a new community.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen we do that; meet business owners, other nonprofits, and pull our resources together; we\u2019re more effective, and it gives us a better chance to aspire and reach those things that we want for the community,\u201d Acevedo said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cTropical Passage\u201d remains on view in the stairwell at West 168th Street Step Street, connecting Edward L. Grant Highway to Shakespeare Avenue.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n
Maurice Burbridge is an intern at the Bronx Times. He can be reached at mburbridge@schnepsmedia.com. For more coverage, subscribe to our newsletter<\/a> and follow us on Twitter<\/a>, Facebook<\/a> and Instagram<\/a>!<\/p>\n