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Northern New Jersey Community Foundation (2021) Print
2021 AARP Community Challenge Grantee
Project Category
Public places
└ Public art installations
└ Public art installations
After a local ordinance update to allow murals in Englewood, the Northern New Jersey Community Foundation set out to create public art celebrating Black women's history. The Foundation commissioned an artist to create the Black Women's Mural Project's first installation, which celebrates the work of Black suffragists who fought to expand voting rights to women. Two community engagements coincided with the mural's installation, where community members could watch the artist work. Participants learned more about the artists' vision and the history informing the subject matter. Organizers invited residents to share their feedback and personal stories. Additionally, the Foundation provided information on registering to vote, as well as polling locations and hours. To celebrate the new artwork, they also produced a documentary about the mural.
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See More Projects Like This One
Baltimore, MD
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2022
Project Category: Public art installations
Description: Patients and visitors at a new outpatient tower lacked a welcoming space. Art with a Heart installed a 245-square-foot mosaic mural in the main entrance, created through eight workshops with volunteers, many age 50-plus. The mural's stained glass and ceramic pieces reflect community identity and offer comfort. "I am very grateful for the opportunity and the fact that we can always visit the site and re-connect with the whole experience," said one volunteer, underscoring the lasting impact of this collaborative effort.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Las Cruces, NM
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Public art installations
Description: To strengthen community ties and reduce isolation among older adults, Cruces Creatives led a paint-by-numbers mural project in downtown Las Cruces. More than 600 residents, including nearly 200 people age 50-plus, helped transform a highly visible wall into an 1,800-square-foot work of art. The mural gives volunteers lasting pride and has prompted continued engagement with local programs. Integrated research will produce the first peer-reviewed study on participatory public art, shaping similar efforts elsewhere. One participant summed up the experience: "Being a team and working together to improve our city feels fulfilling."
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Newton, KS
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Public art installations
Description: Downtown Newton needed a way to connect generations and enliven Railroad Park near the train station. Newton Murals & Arts Project created a metal mural featuring Kansas-themed figures and papel picado designs, with local students submitting artwork and welding pieces. Volunteers and students celebrated their work at a ribbon cutting, and the mural now offers travelers and residents a vibrant stop. "It is a wonderful thing to deliver a project in the community that is possible because of all the people who get involved and help make it happen," said a project lead. Plans for lighting and seating will further enhance the space as the mural naturally ages into a lasting attraction.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects
Hackensack, NJ
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Public place improvements to withstand extreme weather events
Description: Flooding repeatedly damaged homes in Hackensack's low-lying neighborhoods, where many older adults lacked resources for protection. To spark action, the foundation launched "Barrels o' Art," a public display of 11 artist-painted rain barrels in a local park and distributed 21 barrels to residents. The project raised awareness of green infrastructure and environmental preservation, strengthened community trust and inspired future art-based initiatives to promote flood prevention.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Teaneck, NJ
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2019
Project Category: Roadway/sidewalks/crosswalk improvement
Description: The Township of Teaneck installed rapid flashing beacons at a busy intersection to alert drivers of pedestrians crossing the street. Project organizers hoped making crosswalks safer would encourage walking, leading to better health outcomes for residents. Teaneck has since upgraded additional crosswalks by adding more flashing beacons, lit pedestrian crosswalk signs and improved pavement striping.
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