LOS ANGELES, CA — The 2025 Inclusion Conference, hosted by the Los Angeles County Office of Education (LACOE), will feature a powerful live mural activation by internationally acclaimed artist Kyle Holbrook, whose socially driven work has spanned nearly 50 countries and every major U.S. city. Holbrook’s participation brings a dynamic, visual dimension to the launch of the Coalition 4 Access, a statewide initiative to advance inclusive education and equitable access for students with disabilities across California.

The Inclusion Conference, held June 30, 2025, at the California Endowment Center in downtown Los Angeles, is a free, one-day event designed to empower K–12 leaders with practical tools to build inclusive environments rooted in diversity, equity, and belonging. The event brings together educators, advocates, policymakers, and students to address the urgent need for systemic change, as only 57.7% of students with disabilities in LA County are currently included in general education settings 80% or more of the day—well below the national average of 66%.

Holbrook will paint a large-scale mural live throughout the conference day, creating a community-driven piece that embodies the event’s themes of access, inclusion, unity, and belonging. Drawing inspiration from the sunflower, a global symbol of hidden disabilities—and from the energy of live participation, attendees will be invited to contribute to the mural, leaving their own mark on a collective statement of visibility and acceptance.

In light of ongoing ICE raids and systemic challenges impacting immigrant and disabled communities in Los Angeles, Holbrook emphasized the deeper urgency of the work:

"This is about more than a mural—this is about creating a safe and visible space for every child, regardless of disability, immigration status, or background. In a city where too many are marginalized, public art becomes a mirror and a megaphone. I’m honored to support LACOE and the Coalition 4 Access in using creativity as a catalyst for justice and belonging."
— Kyle Holbrook, Artist & Founder, MLK Mural Project

The final three-panel mural will be permanently installed in the administrative offices throughout the Los Angeles school district. Serving as a lasting tribute to inclusion and equity, the artwork will be visible not only to district staff but also to all visitors—creating an ongoing visual reminder of the district’s commitment to access, belonging, and the power of community collaboration.

Artist Kyle Holbrook’s Mural in the Arts District featured in Up magazine 2020

“AKU” mural partnership between Micah Johnson, Will Bumpus and Kyle Holbrook at Sawubona, a co-working space where underrepresented artists and entrepreneurs can see themselves reflected and supported in a physical space on Venice Beach. Sawubona Offices- **155 Washington Blvd Marina Del Rey, CA 90292**

Kyle Holbrook and Will Bumpus infront of the AKU mural at Sawubona, a co-working space where underrepresented artists and entrepreneurs can see themselves reflected and supported in a physical space on Venice Beach.
In the late summer of 2022, Kyle began developing a piece that would be bold and empowering for the high traffic that exists along Washington Boulevard. At the genesis of the piece, he began by inquiring how onlookers should feel when observing the mural. It needed to be bold. It needed to be empowering. Essentially, the mural had to align well with the intention of the co-working space on the top floor of the building- Sawubona. For several months, Kyle worked with the team on iterating through different designs. However, it quickly became apparent that featuring Aku - an NFT launched by Micah Johnson - would be most suited to help embody the essence of the office and its purpose to empower young black professionals to accomplish their dreams and goals.
Featuring a Black boy astronaut, Aku was named the “2020 NFT of the Year”. It all started after Micah Johnson, a former MLB player, heard a young Black boy ask his mother if astronauts can be Black. Since then Micah has received several notable mentions, including Fortune’s “Top 50 Most Influential People in NFTs” and one of the Most Innovative Companies of 2022 by Fast Company. Aku has garnered over $24 MM in sales-to-date. As an underrepresented founder in a budding industry, both Micah and his work made a strong case for featuring Aku to inspire empowerment. “The mural and partnership between Sawubona founder, Will Bumpus, and myself is a perfect visual depiction of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s dream in anticipation of his day and Black History Month, " says Holbrook. “To me, this young black astronaut is symbolic that our possibilities are endless as a country and Dr. King’s Dream is still alive.”
The mural helps boldly speak for Sawubona, a co-working space where underrepresented artists and entrepreneurs can see themselves reflected and supported in a physical space. Sawubona is named after a popular greeting amongst the Zulu tribe in South Africa: “I see you”. As the name suggests, the focus is on creating community and connection for underrepresented business owners and to inspire the celebration of diversity, our cultures, and the wealth of our ideas. To complete the mural’s message, both Kyle and the Sawubona team feel strongly aligned with the featured James Baldwin quote, "Those who say it can't be done are usually interrupted by others doing it."

155 Washington Blvd, ***Marina Del Rey***

International Executive Artist Kyle Holbrook in the Arts District Los Angelos, CA, USA 2021.

Kyle Holbrook selfie at KTLA News Coverage 2/18/21.

MLK Mural Project

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MLK Mural Project 〰️

Mask Up LA Mural

Reminder to residents & Visitors to wear masks

What: a 8’ x 12’ Mural reminder to wear masks and bring attention to disabled Black Veterans during Black History Month.

When: February 18, 2021 @ 1pm Were: Arts District, 450 Seaton St.

Los Angelos, CA 90013

Why: Black History Month: the most Under-represented population in American; Black Disabled Veterans. The problem this Mural addresses is racial differences in veteran service connection disability, specifically for the African American Veteran community.

As the Vaccine is rolled out there continues to be outbreaks, many peoples guards have been let down, therefore it’s important to remind residents and visitors to wear masks in solidarity against Covid-19.

Black History Month: Mask on Disabled Veterans, Page 2

info@mlkmural.com February 17, 2021

How: International Executive Artist Kyle Holbrook hand painted the mural with acrylic paints utilizing Ed Ruscha inspired shapes. The Images show a Black Disabled veteran in the background, being ignored, unnoticed, although the pandemic effects all Americans, we are all in this together.

Who: International Executive Artist Kyle Holbrook, The Mural is sponsored by Moving Lives of Kids Arts Center (MLKmural.com).

“As a muralists its important to use public art to draw attention to important social messages pertinent to society. The imagery becomes a commentary on society and more than enhancing life aesthetically.”

-Kyle Holbrook

NBC Los Angelos Story