Reintroducing New Brunswick’s Latinx Community Through a Mural
New Brunswick, New Jersey is a city with a predominantly Latinx community. Unfortunately, many members of this community live in poverty and face significant barriers to accessing resources and support. To address this issue, I plan to commission artist Lenny Correa to create a mural on Bayard Street that celebrates the vibrancy and strength of the Latinx community. In this essay, we will explore the challenges faced by this community and how this mural aims to bring greater visibility to their struggles and triumphs.
Living below the poverty line is a reality for nearly half of the Latinx residents of New Brunswick. This often means that resources, such as healthcare and nutritious food, are limited or inaccessible. These challenges can contribute to mental health issues, which are compounded by the fact that almost 20% of New Brunswick residents are undocumented. As a result, members of the Latinx community may not have access to the resources they need to support themselves and their families. Additionally, language barriers and lower levels of education can make it difficult for Latinx community members to advocate for their needs and navigate the existing systems of support.
This is where the mural comes in. Located on Bayard Street near City Hall, the mural will be a striking visual representation of the Latinx community in New Brunswick. The mural will be split in half, with one side depicting a dark, monochromatic representation of the challenges faced by this community, including the barriers to mental wellness. The other side of the mural will show a bright, vibrant Latinx community that is connected and full of resources, representing hope and resilience.
The location of the mural is significant, as it will force people who work in City Hall to see the community every day. The goal is to make sure that the Latinx community is seen and acknowledged by those who make decisions that affect their lives. By bringing visibility to the challenges faced by the Latinx community, the mural serves as a means of advocacy and representation.
Several stakeholders will benefit from this project, including New Brunswick Tomorrow (Esperanza Neighborhood — French Street), Catholic Charities Diocese of Metuchen (Unity Square Community Center), and the University UBHC Mental Health program. These organizations all play a role in improving the health outcomes and employment opportunities of the Latinx community in New Brunswick. By supporting the mural, they are helping to bring greater visibility and representation to the community.
After the mural is unveiled, there will be a reception with a panel discussion at the CLAC. The panel will include the artist, Latinx leaders in the community, and Latinx student leaders. This will be an opportunity to discuss the significance of the mural and its representation of the Latinx community. Measures of success for the project might include an increase in the use of city resources by Latinx community members and an increase in community engagement.
There are various ways in which we could measure the success and community impact of the mural that Lenny Correa will paint on Bayard street in New Brunswick. One measure of success could be an increase in the use of resources provided by the city. Given that nearly half of the people living below the poverty line in New Brunswick are Hispanic/Latinx and that there are language barriers and other challenges preventing some from accessing available resources, the mural could help to draw attention to the need for more equitable resource allocation. By making the Latinx community more visible and highlighting the challenges they face, the mural could prompt more individuals and organizations to seek out and utilize existing resources, leading to a tangible improvement in their well-being.
Another measure of success could be an increase in community engagement. By raising awareness about the Latinx community and the issues they face, the mural could encourage more people to become involved in advocacy efforts aimed at improving their living conditions. This could include attending community meetings, participating in local elections, and volunteering with organizations that serve the Latinx community.
Additionally, the reception and panel discussion that will follow the unveiling of the mural could serve as another measure of success. The panel will include the artist, Latinx leaders in the community, and Latinx student leaders, and will provide an opportunity for community members to engage in dialogue about the issues raised by the mural. This could lead to increased understanding and empathy between different groups within the community, as well as the development of concrete plans for addressing some of the challenges faced by the Latinx community.
Overall, the success and community impact of the mural will likely be measured by a combination of these factors. By increasing the visibility of the Latinx community and raising awareness about the challenges they face, the mural has the potential to prompt positive change in the form of increased resource utilization, community engagement, and meaningful dialogue.
In conclusion, the mural created by Lenny Correa is an important means of advocating for and representing the Latinx community in New Brunswick. The project seeks to address the challenges faced by this community, including poverty, limited resources, and mental health issues. By creating a highly visible representation of the community, the mural aims to make sure that the Latinx community is seen and acknowledged by those who make decisions that affect their lives. This project is a step towards greater advocacy and representation for marginalized communities, and we hope to see more initiatives like this in the future.
