“This year’s Youth Mural Arts program brings together nine hard-working high school youths to learn about Chinatown history, public art, and arts activism. This summer, the group worked collaboratively towards BCNC’s new mural, Our Nature Here and Now, which revolves around the Experience Chinatown theme, Imagine a Greener Future for Chinatown.

The mural tells the story of a resident, seen riding from the gates of Chinatown, winding through the various facets of what makes a green community, and snacking on watermelon while resting under a shady tree. Illustrated by a winding green path, the youth wanted to demonstrate that sustainability and eco-practices are ever-evolving, interconnected, and shaped by our environment, which includes respecting biodiversity and cultivating green spaces and structures. Most importantly, community and collective care lie at the heart of their work; the title directly relates to today’s climate crisis and urgency. They hope to inspire onlookers and passersby to think constructively about what it means to inch closer to a greener future and work towards it.”