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Kailua Intermediate School (2021) Print
2021 AARP Community Challenge Grantee
Project Category
Public places
└ Public art installations
└ Public art installations
Hearing and recording the stories of elders is an important part of Hawaiian culture. Students and staff from the Kailua Intermediate School honored this heritage by painting a large mural facing Kailua District Park. The project launched with a Huaka'i (field experience), during which people of all ages visited historically significant sites in the community. Learning about local cultural practices and values, students heard mo'olelo (stories) from kupuna (elders) They then shared the stories with their peers, who joined in to design and paint the mural.
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Pittsburgh, PA
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2018
Project Category: Public art installations
Description: To bring vibrancy to Pittsburgh's Beechview neighborhood, the Southwestern Pennsylvania Partnership for Aging engaged residents in a public art project. The result was Color Beechview. With the guidance of a local artist, community members wore LED lights on bodies, which they used to create light paintings through long-exposure technology. The resulting digital art depicts the silhouettes of Beechview residents, including children and older adults. SWPPA then displayed the art throughout the neighborhood, including on the sidewalk pavement in front of the senior center, on the side of light rail cars and along neighborhood fences. Organizers say key goals of the project were combatting social isolation and creating intergenerational connections. "We encouraged people who didn't know one another to reach across generations and across ethnicities to connect," Lively Pittsburgh's Ted Cmarada said.
Bismarck, ND
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024
Project Category: Public art installations
Description: A deteriorating pedestrian tunnel along Bismarck's riverfront trail discouraged use and raised safety concerns. To address this, the organization engaged 684 residents, including older adults, in paint and mosaic parties to create dozens of mural panels and a mosaic piece. Artists were trained in the Polytab method, ensuring the mural lasts decades and withstands harsh weather. Beyond aesthetics, the project fostered social connection and creative engagement for older adults. Upon installation, the tunnel will be transformed into a welcoming space and local artists will be equiped with sustainable skills.
Baltimore, MD
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025
Project Category: Public art installations
Description: This project will create a large-scale mosaic mural. The project will involve community members in workshops, fostering artistic engagement and beautification in Baltimore's Park Heights neighborhood.
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Honolulu, HI
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2021
Project Category: Emergency preparedness skills
Description: Low-income older adults in Honolulu's Chinatown neighborhood experience everyday stresses that can compromise their ability to adapt to environmental impacts. The Krause Family Foundation connected local elders with climate change research scientists, artists and civic leaders. To do this, project organizers installed several self-teaching learning stations and created a temporary art installation. The mural-like installation -- which they displayed at the ARTS at Marks Garage -- portrayed individual and neighborhood climate action goals. Organizers say the project helped older adults consider the impact of stressors such as heat, a lack of walkability, unsafe crosswalks, flooding and poor waste management.
Honolulu, HI
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Roadway/sidewalks/crosswalk improvement
Description: Dangerous multi-lane crossings left pedestrians navigating long gaps in traffic, with low vehicle yield rates that created daily safety concerns for people walking to homes, bus stops and community services. The project installed new signs, fresh pavement markings and a solar-powered rapid-flashing beacon to make the crosswalk more visible. Yield rates rose from 60 to 87 percent after installation, improving comfort for people on foot. One community member said, "Thank you for this, I feel better walking here." The pilot also showed the city it could deliver similar safety fixes more quickly at other high-need sites.
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