Hope Grows
Youth Voices in Environmental Education and Action
Mural and Educational Initiative
Youth Voices in Environmental Education and Action
Mural and Educational Initiative
Project Description
As an artistic anchor for the Hope Grows Climate Resilience Hub, youth designed and painted a layered mural depicting life above and below ground, ecological cycles, and themes of renewal. The mural serves both aesthetic and educational roles – bringing environmental awareness to life and embedding climate literacy into our space. Genesis, supported by Khareese, (both Andrus residents) and ecology staff led the youth in translating environmental concepts into art. Students mapped layers of ecosystems—roots, soil microbiomes, pollinators, plant life, water flow—and painted in bold, vibrant colors. As they painted, conversations about climate, stewardship and interdependence naturally unfolded. Despite weather and scheduling challenges, the mural is now a permanent feature and continues to evolve with fresh student contributions.
Outcomes
Creative expression with purpose: Students saw how their artistic voices communicate scientific and ecological narratives.
Ownership and pride: Many youths remarked that their name or handprint in the mural was the most meaningful moment of the project.
Cross-disciplinary learning: Art sessions doubled as science classes, bringing climate education into everyday practice.
Inspiration for peers: The mural draws staff, visitors, and other students into dialogue about nature, resilience, and youth voice.
Continuity and legacy: Because the mural can be added to and renewed, it becomes a living chronicle of youth engagement over time.
Sustainability and Next Steps
The mural will continue to serve as a living canvas: new cohorts of students can add layers, interpret new climate themes, and refresh sections.
Mural-based lessons (e.g. soil ecosystems, pollinator cycles, climate narratives) will remain part of curriculum integration and therapy groups.
We will invite community and family participation days (painting, commentary) tied to Climate Action Days.
Maintenance protocols (touch-ups, protective coatings) will be scheduled annually.
We aim to link the mural with interpretive signage, QR codes, or augmented reality overlays to deepen visitor engagement.
Lessons Learned
Weather and outdoor conditions: Rain or wind sometimes disrupted paint work— scheduling when conditions were favorable helped.
Coordination of large groups: Managing many youth painting simultaneously required floor plan sketching and role assignments.
Material selection and durability: Choosing paints and coatings suitable for outdoor exposure required consultation and testing.
Sustained upkeep: Ensuring that future cohorts feel responsible for adding and maintaining the mural is key.
We overcame these obstacles by planning buffer painting days, designating sections for small teams, and selecting durable materials. We also recruited mural “ambassadors” from current youth to mentor future participants.
Students Involved
Project Leaders: Genesis, with help from Khareese (both Andrus residents), led the project, with official mentoring from Erik Ghalib, and help and guidance provided by Andrus Staff member Dr. Argentina.
Project Participants: Joel, Payton, Lucas, Pharaoh, Christopher and Mason (Arnwine class); Vanessa, Olivia, Asaiah, Damian, Alere and Jordan (Cassey class); Khristian, Bentley, Dwayne, Jahir, Sincier and Trishana (Chambers class); Destiny, Cavione, Alanni, Derek and Khareese (Kolodziejcuk class); Joseph, Gianni, June, Amber, Eli, John, Joan and Kalvin (Martin class). All of these children, a mix of residents and day enrolled students participated in the project.
Budget Summary & Financial Report
Expense Category Spent
Art materials / paint / murals $3,353.33
Educational signage & displays $1,070.27
Workshop materials $ nil
Event supplies / unveiling $ nil
TOTAL $4,423.60
All receipts across both projects provided separately. Total spend across both projects is $9,030.85, split $4,607.25 on the Green Infrastructure Demonstration Site project, and $4,423.60 on Hope Grows Mural & Educational Initiative project.
The journey begins – the heavy-duty canvas is put up. Now a permanent landmark on campus, it's a reminder of the importance of sustainability and our fragile and beautiful existence with nature.
Initial designs and layout are a team effort under the watchful eye of Genesis and Khareese.
The details in the mural help the student participants learn and educate others about the complexity of nature and the importance of interconnectedness.
Positioned so that everyone leaving our campus sees this mural, it is a reminder of what hope represents and our vision to grow it for everyone while ensuring we do it within a sustainable framework. The mural is a work in progress and will be added to as part of our ongoing ecology program. The mural, in various stages of completion, can and will be weather-proofed (multiple times) so that it is resilient – like our youth – against future challenges (in the case of the mural, from extreme weather).
Thank You's and Reflections
The Hope Grows Mural stands as a testament to what youth imagination, passion, and purpose can yield. From initial sketches to bold colors, students brought nature’s hidden stories into the light, weaving together art and ecology. More than a painting – it is a conversation, a sanctuary, and a banner of hope for generations to come. Thank you, Village of Hastings-on-Hudson and Bloomberg Philanthropies, for your belief in youth-led climate action and for helping us plant this beacon of inspiration.