Students Transform Brookdale Resource Center with Colorful Murals
Karsen Coley, an 11th-grade student at VIP Academy, expressed his enthusiasm as he participated in repainting the nearly 600 squares of the Hello Mural at the Brookdale Resource Center. “I love art, and it sounded fun,” he said, adding that the project made him feel good about beautifying the building.
Karsen is one of six students collaborating with Mama Hawk Draws through a Macon Violence Prevention grant and the Men About Change program to refresh the Hello Mural and create a new mural for the Hello House. His mentor, Dr. Clowers, encouraged him to join, marking his first experience in mural installation.
Erin Hawkins from Mama Hawk Draws emphasized the initiative’s goal: “We want to show kids that art can be a successful and thriving career, and that you can solve problems with it.” She believes that a visually appealing environment fosters a welcoming and safe atmosphere.
Alison Bender, Director of the Brookdale Resource Center, stated, “From day one, we wanted Brookdale to be a place where people are comfortable and safe during a trying time in their lives.” The colorful murals play a significant role in achieving that mission.
The students not only repainted the Hello Mural, which greets visitors at the center, but they also began work on a new mural for the Hello House—a converted gymnasium offering overnight shelter for individuals not ready to enter the full program.
Jordan Butts, an 8th-grade student at Weaver Middle School, expressed pride in their work, saying, “We did a great job.” Now that he has participated in one mural installation, he is eager to design the next.
Bender remarked that the Hello Mural has become central to Brookdale’s identity, brightening the entryway and serving as a backdrop for celebrations of residents’ successes. The new mural aims to instill a similar sense of support for those using the Hello House.
During their Fall Break, the students focused on repainting the Hello Mural, and they are now embarking on a six-week process for the second mural. They will engage with staff and residents to gather ideas on what the mural should convey. Each student will create a design to be pitched to their clients, with the selected design set for installation during Thanksgiving Break.
Hawkins highlighted the initiative’s aim to equip students with valuable skills while involving them in community projects. “We wanted to have these gentlemen come out and give them an experience they wouldn’t normally get,” she said.
Before concluding their first phase, Hawkins introduced the students to the wall designated for the new mural and discussed the program’s goals.
Bender hopes the project instills a sense of contribution and accomplishment in the students, reinforcing that creativity can bring hope and joy to others.
The mural projects are funded by a $10,000 Macon Violence Prevention grant from Macon-Bibb County, facilitated through the Community Foundation of Central Georgia. Bender noted, “Support from local initiatives like MVP gives us the opportunity to do things within the walls of Brookdale that we otherwise could not afford.” She emphasized the collaborative effort to create a welcoming environment for those experiencing homelessness while providing a positive outlet for youth.
About Macon Violence Prevention
Macon Violence Prevention is an evidence-based, multifaceted program created to address public safety in Macon-Bibb County. Supported and funded by the consolidated government, MVP is a community-wide effort that brings together elected officials, community leaders and representatives from more than 20 agencies, organizations and departments.
This summer, 25 organizations announced more than $800,000 in grant money to 25 non-profit organizations. Since the inception of MVP in 2021, $1,685,000 has been awarded to 40 different organizations’ missions.
Though MVP is still fairly new in its implementation, it has already helped the community realize significant results in becoming safer. From 2022 to 2023, Macon-Bibb had a nearly 43% reduction in homicides, from 70 to 40. The reduction in homicides for children (those 18 years old and younger) went from 15 in 2022 to 5 in 2023 – which is a 66.7% reduction in just one year.
While other cities in Georgia and around the country also had a decline in their homicide rate, Macon-Bibb County’s 43% far surpassed them. Atlanta had a 21% decline, Columbus a 12%, Savannah a 13%, Mobile, Alabama a 21%, and Jackson, Mississippi a 14%.
The MVP program operates under the guidance of the MVP Strategic Plan, which was introduced in June of 2021. Created by community stakeholders and violent crime experts, this strategic plan combines data and research with community feedback to implement proven solutions that reduce violent crime and strengthen the community over time.
