The San Rafael Social Justice Community Art Project formed in October 2020 and is comprised of arts and community advocates who live and/or work in the City of San Rafael.  Youth in Arts is proud to be the lead organizational partner. The group formed to address and respond to public social justice messaging created as a chalk art mural over the Summer of 2020 honoring Breonna Taylor’s life and Black Lives Matter at the intersection of Las Gallinas and Freitas Parkway.  In collaboration with YIA, the community coalition is working toward the common goal of creating a publicly sanctioned mural in Arbor Park in Terra Linda, in the same vicinity and theme as the original mural.  

 The overarching goals of the public art work project are:

* Create a public and positive message to celebrate core social justice themes as a greater community that uplifts and amplifies the Marin-based BIPOC experience

* Co-create with the City of San Rafael an expeditious pilot process for public art approval to catalyze future policy change

* Promote dialogue, healing, and education as a broader community regarding issues of race and diversity

* Engage youth in the creation and response to the art work

The Community Art Group will work with Youth in Arts to create additional meaningful and educational programming in collaboration with the selected BIPOC Mentor Artist(s). 

 Arbor Park resides in the northern part of San Rafael in the Terra Linda neighborhood. Located at the southwest intersection of Las Gallinas Ave and Manuel T. Freitas Pkwy, Arbor Park is what San Rafael calls a Parkette, or a small park. It consists of a few benches, grass area, and walking path. The park is highly visible to cars and pedestrians who travel in Terra Linda along Manuel T. Freitas which is the main thoroughfare for the neighborhood.   

 HOW YOU CAN SUPPORT

The San Rafael Social Justice Community Art Project is responsive to the Community’s desire to honor the Black Lives Matter movement. By supporting this very timely and important project, you are helping advance racial equity in Marin County. 

Together, we can address the deep racial disparity in Marin County and create a more just and equitable community by investing in public art that represents and celebrates our diversity.

 Funds directly support bringing this public art piece into reality.