Art brings people together. The idea to bring local youth and officers from Brooklyn’s 90th together to paint a mural together was guided by NYCTogether and recording artist Usher Raymond IV’s New Look Foundation. The purpose was, “to create and depict a shared vision of positive police-community relations.”
After five weeks of workshops and art programming that paired up the two groups a mutual artistic vision began to develop. Workshops directly addressed some touchy subjects on both sides, such as: gun violence, disproportionate minority contact with the judicial system, and the school-to-prison pipeline.
The mural can now be viewed as a backdrop wall to a community garden that is funded by the Open Space Alliance for North Brooklyn and the Citizens Committee of NYC. Among the collaborators and supporters of the mural project are: artists Elle Sauer and Anne Joyce, Council Members Antonio Reynoso and Stephen Levin, Assemblyman Joseph Lentol, Deputy Borough President Diana Reyna, Brandi Barber & Anthony Katagas, Frances Perkins Academy, Williamsburg Pizza, Jimmy’s Diner, the Grand Street Boys Association, ConBody, and Brooklyn North Chief Jeffrey Maddrey.
The Greenline 