Posted by Media Release

The Manuel D. and Rhoda Mayerson Foundation will unveil the latest public art project to be completed through the Foundation’s High School Service-Learning Program.  The unveiling will take place at a dedication ceremony at 4:00 PM on Thursday, May 22 at the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless, 117 East 12th Street in Over-the-Rhine.  The mural, created by over 100 students from seven local high schools, tells the story of the Coalition for the Homeless in strikingly painted panels installed both inside and on the exterior of the Coalition’s offices.

Located in an unremarkable building just one block west of the Main Street entertainment district in Over-the-Rhine, the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless will mark its 25th year of service in 2009.  Its mission to end homelessness in Greater Cincinnati is fulfilled by improving services for homeless individuals, educating the public about homelessness and empowering homeless individuals to advocate for their civil rights and housing needs.  The Coalition’s 45 member agencies serve the homeless through emergency shelter, transitional living facilities, permanent housing, medical services, social services, soup kitchens, and mental health/addictions services.  The new mural will transform this previously non-descript storefront into an eye-catching work of art that honors the Coalition and its quarter-century of work on behalf of Cincinnati’s homeless citizens.

The 15 year-old Mayerson High School Service-Learning Program provides support to over 50 local schools whose students do community service in nonprofit organizations throughout the Tri-State.  Homelessness is an issue that captures the minds of many high school students who seek to get involved in eradicating this injustice in their home town.  The Coalition provides ways in which students can learn about the extent and causes of homelessness.  Many students serve in the soup kitchens and shelters that are members of the Coalition.  Some students create temporary shantytowns on their school’s campus to raise awareness of homelessness.  Students from seven high schools who have been involved in homelessness helped to create the mural that will be installed at the Coalition on May 22.

According to Mayerson Foundation President, Dr. Neal H. Mayerson, “the process of creating the mural helps students make sense of the experience they have had dealing with homelessness in their community.  The mural becomes a symbol of their feelings and an inspiration to others to get involved in the issues they feel strongly about.”

Steve Elliott, the Director of the Mayerson High School Service-Learning Program sees value in bringing diverse high schools together to work on projects that make the community stronger.  “The mural for the Coalition on the Homeless will be the 50th public art project completed by our program.  Large projects like this bring urban and suburban, public and private schools together where students share and learn from each other the ways in which their passions around service can help to build bridges,” said Mr. Elliott.

Building bridges between those who serve and those who are served is an important part of the Mayerson Program.  “Getting beyond the stereotype of homelessness is often the first step in our work,” said Georgine Getty, Executive Director of the Coalition for the Homeless.  “The high school students working on the mural really got it.  They have understood there are many different ways of being homeless and they have captured that in a creative, very respectful way that will help us reach out to the public at-large”, said Ms. Getty. 

In addition to paying for all the materials used in the mural, the Mayerson Foundation hires a professional artist who serves as the coordinator for the mural project.  “I help the students refine the images they create and keep all seven groups of artists on track”, said lead artist Carol Ann Newsome.  Ms. Newsome has previously created murals to beautify neighborhoods throughout Cincinnati.

The schools and teachers whose students participated in the mural project are: Mt. Notre Dame High School – Shelly Brauer, Art Teacher; St. Ursula Academy – Alison Probst and Kurt Nicaise, Teachers; Seton High School – Margie Metz, Art Teacher; Lasalle High School – Mike Knueven, Art Teacher; Mason High School – Beth Ann Eline, Art Teacher; St. Xavier High School – Ted Mechley, Teacher; and Aiken University & College and Career High Schools – Family and Children First, Joan Pack-Rowe, Marty Kamrani, Gayla Sherman, Carolyn Bloomfield and Debbie Ray, teachers and sponsors.

The public is invited to the dedication ceremony of the mural at which refreshments will be served.  For additional information contact Jeff Seibert at 513-621-7500 or . 

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