106 S Pearl St. Albany, NY // July 2020

Black Freedom marked the first installment of Amplified Voices, a youth mural and storytelling program founded by Jade Warrick and co-led by me to center Black and Brown youth through public art. In partnership with YouthFX, students transformed an abandoned McDonald’s facade into a large-scale mural focused on healing, liberation, and self-determination following the George Floyd protests. Through writing, concept development, and mentorship, youth translated lived experience into powerful visual narratives. What emerged was not just a mural, but the foundation of a program rooted in empowerment, cultural affirmation, and lasting community impact.

Post Results: ​​

• Documentary produced by YouthFX awarded at a PBS Short Film Festival

• Some students became future junior program mentors 

• Site converted into a neighborhood grocery store

• Increased city support for public art and youth-centered initiatives