Published: April 9, 2013
Mayor Virg Bernero cuts the ribbon with youths who created the murals and other partners who worked together to bring the murals to the Sparrow St. Lawrence campus.
Murals designed and painted by area youths to beautify the neighborhood and promote healthy living are on display at the Sparrow St. Lawrence Campus parking structure.
The murals are the product of a partnership between Sparrow, Capital Area Women's LifeStyle Magazine, the Westside Commercial Association and One Love Global. Local artist Jen Loforese drew the piece with direction from teen members of One Love Global, a group dedicated to peace, prosperity and health. The teens painted the murals at the former Genesee Street School on weekends and during an event on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
"We are grateful for so many partners in the community to come together to invest in and beautify our community while engaging our local youth," said Lisa Benck, WCA Board Chair. "The voices of the young participants will be heard, and the corridor will benefit from the public beautification."
Additional murals will be created in future years and added to the parking structure in increase the impact and beauty of the project.
"Sparrow is proud to support this project and the efforts of these young people who want to make a positive change in their community," said Kira Carter-Robertson, Sparrow Specialty Hospital President and CEO. "Projects like this help Sparrow reach outside of our walls and help us achieve our mission of improving the health of the people in the communities we serve."
The Sparrow St. Lawrence campus is located at 1210 W. Saginaw St. and is home to Sparrow Specialty Hospital, Hospice House of Mid-Michigan, behavioral health programs, emergency services, and more.