Donations Needed To Continue Activities At Bed-Stuy BLM Mural

BED-STUY, BROOKLYN — Since it was painted in June, the Black Lives Matter mural has turned Fulton Street into a hub for community activities, activism and even celebrations of love — but it needs help to keep it up.

The Bed-Stuy Collective, the group behind events at the mural, has started a GoFundMe so that its long list of community programming can continue, both at the mural and for the rest of the neighborhood.

"Bed Stuy Collective’s Activate the Mural programming has helped transform the historic Black Lives Matter themed open space public art from a passive memorial to one that provided residents and visitors healing opportunities to cope with stressors, manage fears, and find some relief," member Abbie Robinson-Hobson told Patch.

"With your support, we can continue to provide quality, socially responsible programming, led by teaching artists, creatives, performers, and health and wellness experts from our community who prioritize distancing and safety as their top priority."

Money raised with the GoFundMe will help the collective continue finding "gig workers, entrepreneurs, creatives, and small businesses" to participate in their events, many of whom are struggling financially because of the pandemic, Robinson-Hobson said.

It had raised more than $2,000 of its $7,500 goal as of Wednesday.

The collective has so far hosted Labor Day and Caribbean-focused celebrations, a "Black Laughs Matter" comedy show, a "Black Love Matters" wedding and a series of "Synergy Saturday" and "Feel Good Fridays" programming at the mural.

The Collective, once called the Bed-Stuy Mural Collective, has also changed its name so that it can expand to help the neighborhood outside of the mural programming.

"The Bed-Stuy Collective hopes to continue its support and ingenuity as it relates to rebuilding and reviving the mental, physical, emotional, and economic health of our beloved Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood, while the community attempts to move through the phases of trauma that’s recently eroded throughout our nation," Robinson-Hobson said.

Find out more about the fundraiser here.