YES: Youth Empowerment Solutions

  • About
    • Mission
    • What is YES?
    • History
    • People
    • Newsroom
    • Contact Us
  • Programs
    • YES for Peaceful Communities
    • MI-YVPC
    • Genesee County After School Study
    • Adaptations for STRYVE
    • YES for Healthy Relationships
    • YES-IDEAS
    • All YES Sites
  • Research
    • Studies
    • Theory
    • Publications
  • Curriculum
    • Download
    • Adaptation Guide
    • Evaluation Guide
    • Mexican American Cultural Sessions
    • Healthy Relationships
    • Youth Led Projects
    • Photovoice
  • Training
  • Resources
    • Evaluation
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Publications
    • Videos
    • Rap Song
    • Tip Sheets
    • Brochure
    • News & Blog
You are here: Home » Boat Mural

November 1, 2013 By Alison Grodzinski

Boat Mural

2008

The YES youth in Flint identified the graffiti on the sides of locally-owned stores as a community  liability.  They felt that the graffiti was a symbol of violence and they wanted to paint a mural over the graffiti as a way to communicate the importance of non-violence.  The Boat Mural, which was competed in 2007, represents several themes. The youth worked as a team to generate the themes: intergenerational connections, community liabilities and the desire for the community to move forward.  

The bridge represents inter-generational connection between adults (represented by the buildings, with strong foundations) and youth (represented by the flowers, as new growth). Community liabilities (bottles, handcuffs, gun) are under water to indicate the community is moving past them.  The boat represents the importance of love in bringing the community together. The writing on the wall is a poem written by a YES alumni the previous year. The students liked the poem and had it incorporated into the mural.  A local artist helped the participants to merge those themes and words into a paper draft of the mural.  The artist outlined the picture and the words on the wall and the students applied the paint.

The result is an outstanding piece of art for the community to enjoy. It is interesting to note, that even though the mural is located in an area that has lots of graffiti, in the years since the mural was painted it has never been tagged by graffiti.

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • More
  • Email
  • Print

: Featured, Youth Led Project Highlights

Start Here »

  • Explore YES
  • For Program Leaders
  • For Researchers

Youth Led Projects

YES: Hands for Peace
YES Boat Mural

All Youth Led Project Highlights

Questions or Comments?

  • Contact Us

Curriculum

YES Boat Mural

Everything you need to know about the YES Curriculum & how to implement it.

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • More
  • Email
  • Print
The logo for the Prevention Research Center at the University of Michigan School of Public HealthThe logo for the School of Public Health, at the University of Michigan Logo for the Michigan Youth Violence Prevention Center at the University of Michigan School of Public Health

Youth Led Projects

Mt. Morris Garden (8)
Projects 2012 031
Hamady#2

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • More
  • Email
  • Print

Photovoice

Photovoice engages people in taking pictures of their community. It is used to identify local problems and strengths and to develop ideas for change.

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • More
  • Email
  • Print

Youth Empowerment Solutions
University of Michigan
School of Public Health
1415 Washington Heights
Ann Arbor, MI 48109

ph: (734) 763-1989
email: contactYES@umich.edu
Brochure

Contact Us

The logo for the Prevention Research Center of Michigan, at the University of MichiganThe logo for the School of Public Health, at the University of Michigan Logo for the Michigan Youth Violence Prevention Center at the University of Michigan School of Public Health

Copyright © 2023 · Regents of the University of Michigan · Prevention Research Center of Michigan