Join us this Sunday, January 7th at 1:30pm for a short unveiling celebration of a new youth-inspired mural at the Louden Nelson Community Center - downtown! The ceremony will take place outside at the corner of Laurel and Center Streets.

The mural, titled “Unify, Decolonize, Thrive” represents the past, present and future of marginalized groups – transitioning from a bleak history to a hopeful and vibrant future where everyone is included and valued. A bridge with the word “intersectionality” sits at the crux of the mural and invites people to think about how the interconnected nature of social categorizations such as race, class, and gender and overlapping and interdependent systems of discrimination or disadvantage.

The theme for the mural was developed in conversation with teens at the Diversity Center and at Louden Nelson Center, and local mural artists Manny Garcia and Oliver Whitcroft brought the vision to life. “It was particularly important to the teens that the mural show solidarity with all marginalized groups,” explains Manny Garcia - noting that many queer youth also belong to other marginalize groups.

The mural is sponsored by the Diversity Center of Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz City Arts and the Santa Cruz Arts Commission, Santa Cruz Parks and Recreation, the Louden Nelson Community Center and Arts Council Santa Cruz County.

Stick around after the short ceremony and check out the newly renovated Louden Nelson Community Center from 2-4pm. During the open house, visitors of all ages will be invited to witness the unveiling of the new Louden Nelson Community Center sign, browse before and after photos of the renovated facilities, tour the renovations inside the Center, check out examples of weekly class offerings, and enjoy free entertainment and refreshments. Renovations to the facility were made possible by the Department of Housing and Community Development.

Check out the photos below!