NYCHA Jacob Riis: Choose Joy

These two murals – Choose Joy and Create Memories – hit a little differently.

What we now call Thrive Collective started as an after-school and summer camp in NYCHA Jacob Riis Houses in 1996. Generation Xcel was co-founded by 13 teens from the Lower East Side and a then 21 year old Jeremy Del Rio in this building on 10th Street at 152-154 Avenue D.

The teens who started Generation Xcel wanted a safe space for their friends and neighbors to have fun and choose joy over adversity. None of us imagined what Xcel would evolve into.

This mural, designed and painted by Tats Cru artists BG183, Bio, and Nicer, with input from resident seniors, celebrates joy’s beautiful legacy in the neighborhood.

Thank you Abounding Grace Church, NYCHA, Public Housing Community Fund, Assembly Member Harvey Epstein, NYC Council Member Carlina Rivera for your support.