YMCA-PG&E Teen Center Mural Inauguration, Unveiling and Celebration

“The Tree of Resistance Rises from the Roots of Struggle
De las raices de lucha surge el arbol de la resistencia”

True Colors Mural Project and YMCA-PG&E Center Presents:
The New YMCA-PG&E Teen Center Mural Inauguration, Unveiling and Celebration
Painted by the True Colors Mural Project,
Directed by Juana Alicia, with Assistance from Cece Carpio

Saturday, June 4th, 2011 1-4pm. 2111 Martin Luther King, Jr. Way, Berkeley, CA 94704

Come celebrate the inauguration and unveiling of a three-story mural at the new YMCA Teen Center on Martin Luther King Jr. Way and Center St. This mural has been created by the True Colors Mural Project of Berkeley City College and Earth Island Institute.

The celebration will include live music by Berkeley High School Jazz Ensemble, traditional Aztec Dancing of Cuahtli Mitotiani, True Colors Student’s Art Exhibition, Spoken Word & Poetry, DJs and many other performances. The True Colors Mural project will also serve special Culinary Delights.

This dazzling mural, created by the True Colors Mural Project, depicts a world that faces environmental, social and moral foibles, while expressing the dreams and hopes of a young generation as they prepare to become the future leaders and guardians of this planet. Patterns of color create powerful images that weave their way up this three-story mural, which will be illuminated on the interior stairway that faces Martin Luther King Jr. Way.

The True Colors Mural Project supports the development of young artist activists for the improvement of the urban environment through the creation of public murals. The purpose of the murals is to both educate urban dwellers and beautify the urban environment with messages and images that support ecological sustainability, conservation and restoration. The project recruits, engages and employs under-served, at risk youth from Berkeley and the greater East Bay, in vital community environmental mural arts projects. True Colors trains young artists to design and create community murals with social and environmental justice themes. Recent mural projects include “Visions of Peace and Justice” at Inkworks Press, and “Vivir Sin Fronteras/Living Without Borders” at Mi Tierra Foods Market in West Berkeley. For more information on the True Colors Mural Project, visit http://truecolorsmuralproject.wordpress.com/

The YMCA-PG&E Teen Center provides programs and services that teens want and need. With a focus on academic achievement, career preparation, service learning and leadership development, the Teen Center aims to empower high school age youth to develop the life skills and competencies necessary to becoming responsible community members. Donated by PG&E in 2007, the 8,000 sq ft building has been renovated using strategies aimed at reducing environmental impact such as energy savings, water efficiency, CO2 emissions reduction, and improved indoor environmental air quality. The YMCA-PG&E Teen Center is a branch of the YMCA of the Central Bay Area. For more information visit www.ymca-cba.org/teencenter

Program

1:00-2:00 PM
Opening Blessings ceremony by Cuahtli Mitotiani,
Speakers: Juana Alicia, Founder and Artistic Director of True Colors Mural Project , Ariana Katovich of Earth Island Institute, Tracy Hanna-executive Director of YMCA-POG&E Teen Center, and the YMCA AMP Council

2:00-3:00 PM
Live Sounds by Skrypt, Spoken Word & Poetry by Amy Rich, Taylor TayTay and Xochil

3:00- 4:00 PM
Live Performance by Y Teen Center Break Dancing Group lead by Jay Chanthalangsy

There will also be an exhibition of paintings created by the muralists, paintings will be available for purchase. Proceeds will go to the individual student artists. For each painting, the artist chose a section of the mural to interpret in their own way.

This project is a collaboration of True Colors Mural project, Berkeley City College, Earth Island Institute and YMCA-PG&E Teen Center.