The For Alamance Faith Team’s mural project is helping students see themselves reflected in their school community through powerful works of art.
By Blair Mitchell
Recently, members of the For Alamance Faith Team and other community volunteers completed a second mural project designed to let students feel seen, valued and connected to their school community. Through images that reflect students’ talents, interests and aspirations, the murals offer a visual reminder that they belong.
The idea for the mural project began with a simple conversation.
During a team-sponsored school clean-up event last year, Tara France, lead for the Faith Team, spoke with Eastlawn Elementary School Principal Syeda Smith-Williams, who shared there was a need for students to have a greater sense of belonging. That led to the team’s first mural project at the elementary school. This second mural will be installed later this summer at Broadview Middle School.
“I am motivated by my belief that everyone deserves to feel like they matter,” France said. “Projects like this allow me to be part of something that brings hope, kindness and dignity into shared spaces.”
The team France leads works to bring together people from diverse faith traditions to build relationships and deepen trust through shared values.
From Conversation to Creation
The project was a true community effort, bringing together artists, For Alamance team members, Broadview Middle School staff, Impact Alamance staff and many other volunteers.
“This project has deeply impacted me because it reminded me how powerful community work can be when people come together with love, purpose and intention,” France said.
After listening to how Broadview students and staff envisioned the project, France began developing concepts for the mural. She partnered with artist Aleesha Morgan, who transformed those ideas into a series of unique pieces representing the many ways students might experience belonging.
Each panel features a student silhouette painted in Broadview’s blue-and-white school colors participating in activities such as sports, music, dance and other interests that resonate with young people.
For Skiedade Adetu, a volunteer and member of the Redeemed Christian Church of God in Burlington, that connection to students is what makes the project meaningful. She said the murals were intentionally designed around activities children enjoy so that every student can see a piece of themselves reflected in the artwork.
“If someone is playing ball, there’s something in it for them. If someone plays an instrument, there’s something different for them,” Adetu said. “Everybody will be involved.”
More Than a Mural
Like other volunteers, Adetu sees the project as part of a larger commitment to serving the community by investing in young people. Because children represent the future, she says, any effort that helps make school feel more welcoming and supportive is worthwhile.
More than anything, Adetu hopes students understand that the murals were created for them.
“I hope that the students take away a belief that somebody did this for them to put a smile on their face, and to make them feel at home,” Adetu said. “I hope in the future, they will come back and give back to the community. That’s my prayer.”
Jewel White, program director of the For Alamance initiative, aided France throughout the entire process. From her perspective, the project reflects how important art is as a form of expression and communication for not only children, but people in general.
“Sometimes the arts can be an inviting way to start a conversation, especially with youth,” she said.
France is looking forward to gathering in the fall to celebrate the finished project with the school community.
Looking ahead, the Faith Team hopes to expand the “Everyone Belongs” message to additional schools, faith communities and public spaces across Alamance County. For those involved, the project represents more than artwork. It is a reminder that every child deserves to be seen, valued and connected to their community.
“I hope the students look at the mural and think, ‘I can be anything I want to be, and I can show up however I want to show up. I can be myself and be true to myself, and not be like anyone else,’ ” White said.
Get Involved
Community members can learn more about the Faith Team through the For Alamance initiative, a local grassroots effort that empowers community members to act on issues that matter to them. To learn more, contact Jewel White at jewel.white@conehealth.com.
