Youth Take Pride in Mosaic at Local Coffee Shop

Buckets filled with broken tiles sat next to paint cans of mixed colors, and the crew in yellow stood at the ready. A new location, Cafe SouthSide, presented itself with a large and unique project for Mentoring Peace Through Art. The walls were taller than before, and artist Jimmy Longoria revived plans to make a mosaic that had been discussed several years ago.

Throughout the summer, Mentoring Peace Through Art has worked with STEP-UP teens to paint murals in Minneapolis to keep gang graffiti away. The program works specifically to give young people responsilbity they otherwise wouldn't have, and they find this responsbility through MuralWorks.

"We're getting young people to design real pieces," Longoria said. "Most art programming never gives young people the opportunity to really sink their teeth into a project."

Mentoring Peace Through Art works differently than most art organizations, allowing their youngest and newest workers to design and paint on large-scale murals. They are not afraid to take chances or make change, and that is how young people will continue to thrive and prepare for a global economy. 

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