School Murals

The Biggest Project Ever

The “I Am NYC” collaboration with the High School of Telecommunications, Arts, and Technology is a case study in why we love collaborating with teachers and NYC high school students. This, from first year art teacher Veronica Giurdanella: “This will be the view for every student attending HSTAT in Bay Ridge from now on. The…

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El Diario: Create an Immigrant Sanctuary

The June 11, 2017 issue of El Diario newspaper includes a photo essay from the production of La Lucha Continua: “’La Lucha Continúa’ se renueva en Manhattan como ‘santuario’ inmigrante,” by Marielis Acevedo, El Diario (June 06, 2017). Las manos de un niño de apenas dos años dejan su huella de color en el espacio como símbolo…

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Touch the World

In 2011, a Brooklyn elementary school embarked on a great adventure to proclaim through collaborative public art that all families are welcome in Bay Ridge regardless of immigration status, and all children could thrive at PS 102. In 2015, Rez and Rupsha — originally from Bangladesh — confirmed that the strategy worked. This spring, eight…

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Parent.Co Features #BringArtBack

The online journal Parent.co features Thrive Collective’s Bring Art Back campaign in their new Parent Co. Stories video series sharing “authentic stories for curious parents.” Thank you, Brendan Bubion, for representing our story so well, and to Sam Wisneski, Nico Collazo, and Victoria Cruz for sharing your lives so honestly. Special thanks to Imago Creative, Brendan Bubion, and Christine…

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The Beautiful Struggle

It’s a beautiful struggle that draws us out of ourselves into community with others – a community rooted in faith, hope, and love. Faith that change is possible, hope in a future that doesn’t yet exist, and a love that binds us together in good times and bad. Jeremy Del Rio proudly represented Thrive Collective alongside…

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Why Should Parents Get Involved?

Why should parents get involved with Thrive Collective? “Learning goes beyond the classroom, and this is truly beyond the classroom. … Sometimes we get stuck in the everyday, and this gives us a chance to do something beautiful. … Working on the painting with my daughter and my husband and the rest of the community…

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La Lucha is Finished, but the Struggle Continues

“La Lucha Continua” (2017) Art Direction by Sam Wisneski / ThriveCollective.org Loisaida Center + FABNYC + Thrive Collective Community Mural at First Street Green Corner of 2nd Avenue & Houston Street, Manhattan Celebrating the 30th anniversary of the twenty-six La Lucha Continua community murals painted by the community mural collective Artmakers Inc. in the Lower…

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Why We LOVE Faith Motivated Volunteers

On April 8th, twenty-five incredible volunteers from Christian Cultural Center prepped three school mural projects at MS 42, MS 183, and PS 282. Then they produced this video to challenge their congregation to help #BringArtBack to NYC public schools. Watch the video to find why faith motivated volunteers are some of our most dedicated. Sign…

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Mission: ImPossible L.A.

The mission, which we chose to accept: instigate, mobilize, and help facilitate a new school partnership nearly 3,000 miles away to complete our first School Murals project in Los Angeles. Our phenomenal collaborators: Urban Youth Workers Institute, which was hosting its national conference with nearly 2,000 youth workers at Azusa Pacific University; Neighborhood Homework House, a local after school…

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Leaders Agree: #BringArtBack

What can Democratic city councilman, Republican state senators, and nonpolitical public school principals all agree on? “When I saw that mural on the wall, the word ‘Thrive’ just comes right out!” “This is what it’s about: giving art back to our children.” “Thank you for making this possible.” Featuring long-time supporters and collaborators NYC Councilman…

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