The For Alamance Faith Team joined hands with local artists and Eastlawn Elementary to create a mural that reflects the community’s shared hope for belonging.
BY LINDA GUPTON
Everybody belongs.
That message now greets students and staff in the hallway at Eastlawn Elementary School each morning, encouraging everyone to embrace each other as a valued member of the school community.
The mural came to life quickly before the opening of the new school year in August. During a clean-up and beautification effort sponsored by the For Alamance Faith Team, team lead Tara France asked Eastlawn principal Syeda Smith-Williams what else the team could do to support the school. Smith-Williams suggested the idea for a colorful mural to brighten the school’s hallway.
France and her team went to work, recruiting local muralists Aleesha Morgan and Artie Barksdale to create the mural. The For Alamance Bridging Team suggested the theme “Everybody Belongs” to reflect the desire expressed in community listening sessions that Alamance County be a welcoming, inclusive place.
The Faith and Bridging Teams are two of several community groups working through the For Alamance initiative, a partnership among local residents and organizations that aims to strengthen civic culture and act on shared community aspirations. The Faith Team’s purpose is to model what it means to be people of faith who work across lines of difference to make a positive impact.
Morgan took the lead on developing the concept for the mural’s message, and a team of volunteers assembled to begin work on the Sunday before students would arrive for the first day of school.
“With the short time we had to work, I decided to go with bright colors and a simple design that would come together quickly,” said Morgan.
Barksdale built on Morgan’s design and added a human element with flowing, energetic figures covering the wall leading up to the main panel of the mural.
“The style of the figures I used in the mural is something I only incorporate into my murals in Alamance County,” said Barksdale. “This was a great opportunity for me to do something to give back here in my community.”
The project also demonstrates the power of persistence and connection. France’s steady, turned outward leadership helped move the idea from conversation to reality, building trust with school leaders, creating partnerships across teams and ensuring the mural reflected the voices and aspirations of the community.
About For Alamance
For Alamance is a partnership between Alamance County community members, Impact Alamance and The Harwood Institute for Public Innovation. Their aim is to inspire community members to work together despite their differences to build a better Alamance. The initiative comprises five action teams: the Arts & Culture Team, Bridging Team, Faith Team, Narrative Team and Youth Wellness Team. The teams have been gathering public knowledge through community conversations since early 2023. Now, they are beginning to take action to create an Alamance County that is rooted in the aspirations of its community members.
Get Involved
If you’re interested in learning more about the Faith Team, please contact Tara France at tara.france@alamancecountync.gov. If you’re interested in learning more about the For Alamance Initiative, please contact Jewel White at jewel.tillman@conehealth.com.
