What is your Name:
David Zwier
What is your Organization's Name:
Oakland Planning and Development Corporation
What is your title:
Community Programs Manager
How was your organization involved with MLK Mural:
OPDC worked with MLK Mural to engage Oakland residents in the design brainstorming process, and create two new murals on an important corridor in the neighborhood. We also reached out to each property owner and secured $1,000 in donations which OPDC matched 1:1.
What project or projects were you involved with:
Semple Street Murals, Central Oakland
What did working with MLK Mural teach you:
We learned all the steps, details and planning that go on behind the scenes when you create a mural.
What impact do you think MLK Mural had on the individuals you work with:
We have had an overwhelmingly positive response from residents about the murals. One neighbor said she changed her daily walking route because the murals brighten her day. This corridor of Oakland is highly traveled by cyclists, vehicles, and pedestrians and the murals transform the block for all passerby.
What was the best part of working with MLK Mural:
We appreciated the expertise and collaboration that MLK Mural brings to the table.
Who did you work with?
Olga Brinda, MLK’s lead artist on the project, was inspired by the Green Team’s ideas and referenced a photo collection of her mother’s garden to come up with the final illustration. She did a great job of working with the community to tweak her initial design and come up with a stunning result that is enjoyed by all.
Any other thoughts about MLK Mural?
We love that one of the main components of MLK’s murals is engaging youth. What’s remarkable is the educational component that MLK adds to the experience, not only do youth create the murals but they also learn about the techniques and processes that they are using.
photo credit to Rebekkah Ranallo, OPDC’s Communications Manager.
photo credit to Rebekkah Ranallo, OPDC’s Communications Manager.
photo credit to Rebekkah Ranallo, OPDC’s Communications Manager.