Mayor Domenic J. Sarno, Health and Human Services Commissioner Helen Caulton-Harris, Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer Judith Crowell, and Mayoral Aide Shenell Ford joined for the unveiling of the Graffiti Stories Project with Community Research Liaison at the UMass Center for Community Health Equity Research (CCHER) Brenda Evans, Executive Director of Government Relations and Springfield Partnerships for UMass Lidya Rivera-Early, a group of 7th – 10th grade students from Springfield who participated in CCHER’s Public Health Equity Summer Enrichment Program, along with their parents, and UMass PhD students Geraldine Puerto and Damien Leach who worked with the students who explored public health careers and higher education through the program.
The Graffiti Stories Project is an art exhibit that showcases powerful, personal artwork in the form of graffiti stories, created by 15 youth participants in the Public Health Equity Summer Enrichment Program, a public health careers exploration program for rising 7th – 10th graders from historically underrepresented backgrounds. The Graffiti Stories Project pieces explore health inequities through body mapping. This arts-based method allows people to express how their social and physical environments shape their daily life and well-being.
The UMass School of Public Health and Health Sciences (SPHHS) Center for Community Health Equity Research (CCHER) launched the Public Health Equity Summer Enrichment Program to encourage interest and eventual entrance into the undergraduate program in public health sciences at UMass Amherst, building a pipeline for future leaders in public health practice, policy and research.
The Graffiti Stories Project unveiling and opening celebration took place on Tuesday at City Hall with the art exhibit displayed in the front lobby. The art will remain on display at City Hall through May 6, 2025. It will then be featured at the Community Music School of Springfield followed by the UMass Center in Springfield. Mayor Sarno and city officials were honored to join with the youth artists and the UMass Amherst Center for Community Health Equity Research (CCHER) for this special unveiling.
Mayor Sarno states, “Thank you to the UMass Amherst Center for Community Health Equity Research, Brenda Evans, and the students and parents for sharing this excellent creative exhibit with us. The students did fantastic work and are a shining example of our Springfield youth and future leaders. We are honored to display the Graffiti Stories Project here at City Hall and see our youth explore future careers in public health sciences. Each student presented their art piece and made us all proud. Shout out to Matthew for doing a great job sharing about the program and what it meant to him. Continued success to each of the students both in and out of the classroom. Continued success and God Bless.”
Learn more about the program and Graffiti Stories Project: https://www.umass.edu/health-equity/news/building-pipeline-diverse-public-health-workforce
