by KYW's Karin Phillips

The dedication of a neighborhood mural on the walls of the Myers Recreation Center, at 58th and Kingsessing Avenue in Philadelphia, is the first of many "satellite" murals planned in neighborhoods with the highest violence rates. 

The Philadelphia Mural Arts Program works with more than 3,000 kids, after school, in a number of anti-violence programs. Jane Golden is the director:

"So many of our young people today are looking for a way to connect with the world, and I think that's what mural painting does."

Those young people come from the community, and from detention and treatment centers. They are also joined by some adult prison inmates.

"To do a mural, you have to learn to do math and architecture. You have to meet with people, you've got to engage citizens in a discussion about neighborhood concerns.  All of this really adds up to a young person being connected with work that's intense and rigorous and really makes them feel good about themselves."

More than 2,700 murals have been painted so far across Philadelphia, with another 2,000 on the waiting list.
 
"I just get to see successes all the time.  And you know something? When you see that change, it just ignites our passion and makes us want to do it forever."

(Drawing: Mural Arts Program)