TYS x Urban Strategies Inc

Frankie, Shaun, and Nancy of TYS worked in collaboration with Urban Strategies Inc. to bring youth residents of Mirasol Village (formerly known as Dos Rios) together in a two-day workshop filled with meaningful discussion, art-making, healing & expression. The theme for the workshop was the Art of Racial Healing, which was conceptualized and proposed by a Youth Peer Leader. 

The artwork will be installed at the Mirasol Village community center, “as a constant reminder of harmony and healing”, as written by Youth Peer Leader, Jahnaya. She wrote, “Our project will address racial division and injustice in multiple ways. One way we are going to address racial division and injustice is by having an education based conversation / discussion about what racial healing means, and the different concepts that surround it like; racism, systematic racism, equity, injustice and more. Another way our project will address racial healing is by creating artwork that will serve as a catalyst to bring different races, people and perspectives together.”

The workshop was held at 1810 Gallery warehouse, where everyone participated in safely distanced discussion and collaboration. The first day discussion on racial healing and racial history in America was led by DeAngelo Mack, of Public Health Advocates. He posed questions such as - What is Race? What does healing look like? What does freedom look like? The discussion uncovered intergenerational traumas, how it's reflected in the ways we talk and treat one another. We also discovered ways in which the ignorance of these traumas show up in our everyday lives, how they get passed down to generations within our families without us knowing. We also talked about colonization, greed, fear, and the constructs used to oppress people. The discussion followed with honesty and vulnerability, and we began imagining what it means to heal.

Franceska Gamez and Shaun Burner, members of Trust Your Struggle & owners of 1810 Gallery presented their past public art projects related to the subject of racial healing, advocacy, and justice. 

Supplies for the project! Youth were provided with their own supplies so we didn't have to share brushes. Hand sanitizer before art supplies!

We came to agreement on an emoji for healing and sketched out an infinity symbol on a 4x8 plywood panel.

Each participant got their own puzzle piece and they were given creative freedom to interpret what racial healing looked like to them. Along the way, they learned about the grid method to transfer their sketches, color theory, and the use of spray paint. They each had a chance to share their reflections on their individual piece, as well as the piece as a whole. 

And here’s the finished piece!

Thanks to Urban Strategies Inc, the youth of Mirasol Village (Dos Rios) and 1810 Gallery for hosting this safe space for youth to work collectively (at a safe distance) to contribute their voices & experience to the ongoing work behind racial healing.

Check out the new wall on Loaves and Fishes in Sacramento !