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Health & Fitness

Neighborhood kids write Mayor R.T. Rybak for the chance to paint a wall

Elementary school kids write to the mayor for permission to paint with artist Jimmy Longoria.

On a hot and sunny afternoon, dozens of people wearing yellow stood outside a building off of Lake Street, waiting with safety goggles and brushes in hand to embark on a day of artistry. It was June 9, and Jimmy Longoria had arrived to work his magic.

In the city of Minneapolis, Longoria is no stranger. With his murals popping up left and right, it's no wonder people begin to take notice. Elementary school teacher Eric Simpkins said "I tried to find a way to connect my students with the mural work [Longoria] is doing." 

And that's exactly what he did. With a stack of hand-written letters, Simpkins personally delivered his request to Mayor R.T. Rybak for his kids to paint a mural with Longoria. After receiving permission, all that was left to do was the physical labor itself, and so the day began.

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The heat hovered over everyone, but that couldn't mask the kids' enthusiasm. Sketches were drawn, equipment was settled, and children too small to fit properly into rubber gloves took paint to the wall. 

"It's a really big challenge," team member Mitch Bender said, "but it's lots of fun." As the day progressed and kids' hands were now different shades of red and turquoise, the mural had taken shape.

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The children remained as they were, but something detectable in them had awakened. Creativity had taken hold, and for at least that afternoon, they were artists.

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