Student-created mural depicting equity, inclusion on display at NewBo City Market

CEDAR RAPIDS — A student-produced mural representing vibrancy and diversity in Cedar Rapids is on display at NewBo City Market.

The mural was created by 22 area high school students in the 2021 Leadership for Five Seasons Youth Class, a program at the Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance, in collaboration with NewBo City Market, Murals & More and a local artist.

“We are so excited to have this piece displayed at NewBo City Market. I think it’s cool that it will be there forever,” said Olivia Scott, 18, a senior at Kennedy High School. “A lot of us are going away for college, so we are excited to know that a piece of us will always be in Cedar Rapids.”

The Leadership for Five Seasons Youth Class introduced Scott to career opportunities in Cedar Rapids, she said.

“Before the program, I didn’t see myself here after college at all,” said Scott, who will be attending Loyola University in Chicago this fall. “The program helped me realize why people choose Cedar Rapids and all the great things about it. It’s a really great community.”

The mural conveys equity and inclusion and was created to show how differences can be embraced to bring a community together, some students say.

Iowa City artist Eliezer Sotillo worked with the students on their ideas and sketches and helped “bring the vision to life,” Scott said.

“It was a full-on collaborative effort,” Sotillo said in a news release. “I really enjoyed working with students and the entire flow of going from concept to canvas. This has been a really rewarding and fun process.”

Ella Tallett, 18, a senior at Xavier High School, said it’s “amazing” to see the mural now up at NewBo City Market after the months of planning that went in to the project, which started over a year ago. Tallett was the one who brought up the idea of creating a mural to portray inclusion, she said.

“I had no idea I would be involved in actually painting it,” Tallett said.

The final project accomplished what the class intended, Tallett said, “which was to convey that we are all one family and must treat each other accordingly.”

“As an art student, I am a huge believer in the power of art creating change, and something as simple as a mural can do that,” said Tallett, who is attending Duke University in North Carolina this fall.

The Leadership for Five Seasons Youth Class raised money for the mural by selling T-shirts, designed by Tallett, that read “One Human Race.” Financial assistance also was provided by the Linn Area Credit Union.

“This mural is a fantastic representation of both the vibrancy and diversity present here at NewBo City Market, showcased by our shopkeepers and our guests,” said Brad Klinger, NewBo market and facilities manager. “It’s a simple and yet profound message of warmth and cultural representation prominently displayed for our entire community to enjoy.”

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