MLK Community Mural Project

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
April 23, 2008
Another Year of Moving the Lives of Kids Thru Murals Press Conference to Announce the Summer Plans of the National City Moving the Lives of Kids Community Mural Project Pittsburgh.

Join us this Friday, April 25, 2008 at 10 a.m. in the Office of the Allegheny County Chief Executive, 101 Courthouse, 436 Grant Street, Pittsburgh, for a colorful and exciting press conference. Award-winning local artist Kyle Holbrook will announce plans for the second year of the National City Moving the Lives of Kids Community Mural Project, which features portraits of people, events and structures that have shaped our region's history.

Last year, over 100 youth, guided by professional artist mentors, painted murals along the East Busway in Wilkinsburg, Edgewood, Swissvale, East Liberty and other Pittsburgh neighborhoods. This summer's murals will branch out in new locations throughout the city's North Side, East Side, West Side, Central area, as well as locations throughout Allegheny County. The 2008 National City Moving the Lives of Kids Community Mural Project will also feature bus tours for the public in the fall that will showcase the murals. "This year I'm extremely excited to expand our project to other areas in the city and county. As we collaborate as an official affiliate of Pittsburgh 250, we will continue to celebrate our talented youth, artists and their communities," said Holbrook. "It gives me the greatest joy for young people to take pride in their neighborhoods and watch them interact with their peers in such a positive manner." Supporting the mural project again this year and speaking out on behalf of this effort at the press conference will be Allegheny County Chief Executive Dan Onorato, Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl, National City President Todd Moules and the Allegheny County Jail Warden Ramon Rustin. National City, for the second year, will be the major corporate sponsor of this creative undertaking.

Kyle Holbrook was the driving force behind the 1,000-foot-long mural that hung on the Andy Warhol Bridge during the 2006 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, as well as the Martin Luther King Jr. East Busway Mural Project last year. We know the talent and enthusiasm he brought to each of those projects, and we're excited that this year's effort will help to beautify other neighborhoods and communities throughout the City and County," says Allegheny County Chief Executive Dan Onorato. Todd Moules, president, National City Banking in Pennsylvania, said, "National City enjoys a tradition of investing in meaningful community projects that create a new vibrancy to our region. We are particularly pleased at the artistic expression and experience the Mural project provides our youth and the pride it instills in the city's neighborhoods. For more than 150 years, National City has provided community leadership in the Greater Pittsburgh region and throughout our 19 county marketplace in Western Pennsylvania. Taking care of our communities is not only the right thing to do, it is the best thing we do."

Holbrook also will announce that over 130 students will be selected to participate in the project this year and over 100 local artists, educators and mentors will again work to enhance the lives of our youth. Collaborations include various local organizations. "I'm most proud of being able to inspire our youth to believe in themselves in their ability," said Holbrook. "We think it's important to give at-risk kids something positive to do during the summer, which also gives them a voice in their neighborhood and the confidence to pursue their dreams." For more information on the National City Moving the Lives of Kids Community Mural Project,?? visit our Web site at www.mlkmural.com.

Know students interested in working this summer on murals?

© 2009 MLK Community Mural Project