KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A mural with a message is working to make a positive impact on Kansas City.

Kyle Holbrook is known for his street and murals across the country. His work and activism started in his hometown of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

He said he’s lost 46 friends and family members to gun violence during his lifetime.

To help the healing process, Holbrook decided to challenge himself to a national tour. His “National Stop Gun Violence Tour” began last year. Holbrook said he plans to travel to all 50 states and paint murals.

He hopes people will snap selfies with the mural and spread the message of peace and awareness to stop violence.

Holbrook said he added a mural called “Peace Kansas City” to the side of the Arts Tech building in the Crossroads.

A spokesperson for Arts Tech said the organization doesn’t know Holbrook and didn’t know about the mural, but is happy to have the artwork on the side of its building.

“It doesn’t surprise me that someone would come paint something with a message on it, antiviolence related just because that’s what we do at Arts Tech, our building is an empty canvas,” Juan Tabb, Executive Director at Arts Tech, said.

Arts Tech works with kids and teenagers on antiviolence initiatives. It also promotes healthy lifestyles, offers mental health programs, and teaches de-escalation techniques.

“Impact is what we need here in Kansas City. That means a consistent message about antiviolence and the antiviolence movement. I think once individuals or once our community members hear that message I think we will see a lot of the changes happen. It’s all about making partnerships with schools, with the police, but also with city hall,” Tabb said.

Holbrook has painted murals in 42 states and 43 countries around the world.

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Walk the Walk Fashion Show Mural 〰️

“Walk the Walk” -87 and Running Fashion Show

Travis Kelce started Eighty-Seven & Running because of what he saw during his childhood. Growing up in the diverse suburb of Cleveland Heights, Ohio, his community transcended normal economic and cultural boundaries; merging rich and poor, black… — Travis Kelce started Eighty-Seven & Running because of what he saw during his childhood. Growing up in the diverse suburb of Cleveland Heights, Ohio, his community transcended normal economic and cultural boundaries; merging rich and poor, black and white, and different religious affiliations into one big melting pot. Because of this he noticed some of his closest friends didn’t have the same family structure he was blessed with, and weren’t able to enjoy the same experiences.
While he was supported by “the village” of family and individuals in the community, Kelce struggled in school and at times lacked the motivation to keep going. Many of the people he considered role models in the community never came back to support their hometown once they reached success. Because of these experiences, Kelce felt obligated to provide opportunities to disadvantaged youth and to help them aspire beyond their current situations. Now as tight end #87 for the Kansas City Chiefs, Kelce’s passion for changing the plight of youth experiencing adversity is the inspiration behind Eighty-Seven & Running.
Eighty-Seven & Running helps underserved youth strive to become productive citizens by mentoring and motivating them to explore and develop their abilities while learning critical life skills. Founded in 2015, we have remained dedicated to providing resources and enrichment opportunities for youth and their communities through fundraising, athletic programs, mentoring, and outreach initiatives.

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Operation Breakthrough provides a safe, loving and educational environment for children in poverty and empowers their families through advocacy, emergency aid and education.