On Sunday, October 7th, the Southwest Youth Collaborative celebrated the unveiling of a beautiful new mural — a symbolic expression of local struggles against the criminalization of youth, and an examination of the community's vision for youth liberation in Chicago and beyond.

Commemorating the 15-year anniversary of the incorporation of the SWYC, the mural contains symbols and images identified through a community process with youth and staff of the AAAN, IMAN, Generation Y, and other youth program-focused organizations from the surrounding area. This project is partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a State agency.

Among the powerful images portrayed in the mural are busts of Harold Washington, the first black mayor of Chicago, who passed away in 1987, and nationally renowned Palestinian community organizer Samir Odeh, who died of a heart attack in Jerusalem in 1994 and was one of the founders of both the Arab Community Center and the AAAN in Chicago. Also highlighted in the mural are composite sketches of African American, Latino, Native, Arab, and other female and male youth—representative of the multi-national character of the southwest side of Chicago and the long and positive history of youth development work in the area.

During the day-long event, a panel discussion brought some of the core muralists — Mario, Ang13, Jinx, and Lavie — together to reflect on the production of art within the context of youth organizing in Chicago, the symbols of this specific mural, and the process of bringing the project to life.

This event to dedicate the mural was blessed by native Aztec ceremonial dancers, and featured break dancers, b-boys, and spoken word poetry, including a piece by Alliance of Young Women Activists (AYWA) member Allaa Salman, who was introduced by MC Gihad Ali, current creative writing instructor for the AAAN.

"The Southwest Youth Collaborative produced one of the first murals in this community 15 years ago, on this same outside wall of the Arab Community Center. It is only fitting that we celebrate our community's achievements by showcasing our youth and their incredible accomplishments here again today," said Jonathan Peck, Associate Director of the SWYC and co-MC of the event.