Some of the best and brightest artists the world has to offer have participated in the Moving the Lives of Kids Community Mural Project (MLK Mural). Their objectives are to work with the youth artists by educating them on the basics of drawing and painting, artistic styles, and work with the youth to unlock the rich history of their community. The Artists are leaders and coaches there to provide a safe environment for the youth.
Together the youth and professional Artists go through creative experience to learn and work together. They learn the power of teamwork, civic responsibility, and activism by working as a team to accomplish a common goal. After spending time as a group, friendships are born, and positive peer groups are formed. The murals become the place where it all happens and the Artists make it fun and rewarding.
The ultimate goal is to empower youth through art education. By arming them with the skills and knowledge to create public art they become leaders in their community. Their voices are heard by the images they create. The community is there every day to watch their progress and lend their encouragement.
Key ideas revolve around teamwork, community involvement, respect for community history, and most importantly respect for themselves and their peers. Under the staff’s guidance the students will discover not only the history, but also the future of their neighborhoods.
Both the professional and youth artists create the public art together. This is a large group effort, requiring teamwork, coordination, and hard work. The results are magnificent and rewarding to all who participate.
MLK Mural has an ongoing open call for Artists through its website www.mlkmural.com. All Artists are prescreened and trained before participating in the Mural Process.
MLK Mural Staff: Anji Corley, Ashley Hoder, Michele Gregio, and Kyle Holbrook
Kyle Holbrook - Executive Artist
Kyle Holbrook - Executive Artist
Kyle Holbrook is what happens when a graffiti kid grows up and decides to change the world — with a paintbrush. Founder of Moving Lives of Kids (MLK Mural Project), Kyle has created over 800 murals in 49 U.S. states and 43 countries, often with a ladder in one hand and 30 teenagers in tow. A graduate of the Art Institute of Pittsburgh, Kyle’s murals aren't just pretty walls — they’re tools for justice, peace, and youth empowerment.
He’s worked with schools, governments, and even the United Nations. (No pressure.) He’s the first American to paint on the Israeli-Palestinian separation wall to promote PEACE, and he’s also painted for Art Basel, the MLB All-Star Game, and on historic buildings from New York to New Zealand.
Off the wall, Kyle is a filmmaker, author, and sculptor. But his favorite role? Mentor. Through MLK, he’s employed over 9,000 young people, many from underserved communities, helping them turn creativity into career skills. He’s also lost 45 friends and family members to gun violence — the reason behind his nationwide Stop Gun Violence Mural Tour.
Kyle is deeply committed to working with children and adults with special needs, creating inclusive art spaces where every voice is seen and celebrated. He also uses his work to shine a light on urgent issues like climate change, gun violence, systemic racism, disability rights, and economic inequality — often involving the very communities most impacted in the creative process.
🌍 Meet the Dream Team Behind the MLK Mural Project
We're more than just staff – we're a global crew of artists, organizers, designers, and dreamers who believe in justice, color, and community. From moving hundreds of kids to painting justice on walls and serving warm meals with love, meet the brilliant hearts behind it all.
🎨 L.I. (Li Jiawen)
Program Manager & Youth Logistics Queen
📍Origin: Shanghai, China 🇨🇳
🖼️ Photo: L with a walkie-talkie in one hand and clipboard in the other, smiling in front of the mural-in-progress.
L.I. (everyone calls her “L”) moves 200 kids like it’s a dance. Sharp, fast, and always smiling, L keeps every MLK Day event flowing with joy and precision. She speaks 3 languages and is the heart of our logistics magic.
🧑🏻💼 Edward Rawson
Volunteer Coordinator
📍Origin: Pittsburgh USA 🇺🇸
He’s the reason our MLK mural project runs like clockwork. Want to volunteer? You’re going to love his 6 a.m. pep talks.
Eli Schnitzelman
Lives in: Brooklyn & Tel Aviv
If there's paint on his shoes and a clipboard in his hand, Shlomo’s in his happy place. Born and raised in Brooklyn with deep roots in community organizing (and bagel quality control), Shlomo brings humor, heart, and hustle to the MLK Mural Project. Whether he’s coordinating artists across five boroughs or making sure there are enough snacks for volunteers (don’t worry — he brought extra rugelach), Shlomo keeps the energy high and the mission moving forward. He says, “Tikkun olam meets spray paint — what’s not to love?”
🎤 Alix Douyon
Community Outreach & Vibes Manager
📍Origin: Port-au-Prince, Haiti to Miami 🇭🇹
🖼️ Photo: Alix leading a drumming circle while kids paint behind him.
Alix builds bridges with sound, rhythm, and storytelling. When he’s not organizing art nights or rallying block captains, he’s freestyle rapping about justice and handing out hugs.
🍚 Mariela Cruz
Cultural Food Curator & Mural Assistant
📍Origin: Oaxaca, Mexico 🇲🇽
🖼️ Photo: Mariela tossing rice into a skillet while pointing to mural sketches on the wall.
Mariela believes flavor is resistance. Her recipes tell stories of community and courage, and her bold colors now live on our mural walls. Come hungry — and leave inspired.
🎨 Neeraj Sharma
Lead Artist & Global Education Liaison
📍Origin: Delhi, India 🇮🇳
🖼️ Photo: Neeraj holding a paintbrush dipped in gold, explaining the symbolism of doves to a circle of kids.
With murals in six countries, Neeraj’s art lights up schools, temples, and now MLK centers. He brings a global lens to every wall we paint, and a spiritual calm to every brushstroke.
Here’s a “Meet the Team” section for the MLK Mural Project featuring five new fictional team members, as requested—diverse in personality, background, and flavor, while keeping it short, engaging, and suited for a community mural initiative with a serious mission and creative spirit:
New Team Members
1. Jenny Cartwright – Community Faith Liaison (Nashville, TN)
A powerhouse in sneakers and scripture, Jenny brings her roots in youth ministry and community organizing to every brushstroke. She’s known for painting AND praying with kids on-site, reminding everyone that hope is an act of creation.
2. Marcus “Gunny” O’Shea – Logistics & Veterans Outreach (Columbus, OH)
A retired Marine with a heart for service and an eye for detail, Gunny makes sure every lift, ladder, and timeline runs smoother than a boot camp drill. He believes public art is a new kind of mission—and the paint is freedom.
3. Claire von Hohenfeld – Art Historian & Europe Projects Lead (Vienna, Austria)
Claire traded her museum curator gloves for mural paints. When she’s not helping guide cultural projects in European cities, she’s sipping espresso and quoting MLK in five languages.
4. Tyler Quinn – Digital Media & Outreach (Boise, ID)
Tyler is the team’s tech whiz and meme whisperer. He helps take the MLK Mural message viral with creative videos, heartwarming stories, and just enough Gen Z chaos to keep it real.
5. Emily Thatcher – Public Engagement & School Programs (Manchester, UK)
A former drama teacher turned community arts coordinator, Emily is the team’s queen of laughter and learning. She runs workshops with students across the UK, turning schoolyards into spaces of peace, pride, and color.
Xenia – Manager, Wynwood Paint-a-Mural Experience (Russia & Miami)
Originally from Russia and now holding it down in the heart of Miami’s art scene, Xena runs the Wynwood Paint-a-Mural Experience with military precision and artistic flair. She’s the reason your brushes are clean, your paint is ready, and your group photo actually happens on time. Equal parts tour guide, art wrangler, and hype woman, Xena makes sure every visitor gets a real taste of Wynwood — with a splash of color and a whole lot of fun. Don’t let the accent fool you — she runs this wall. She is also an amazing realistic artist that can copy masterpieces from Rembrandt exactly,
💼 Additional Team Members (International Vibe Squad)
Here’s a snapshot of some of the many team members who make this project pop:
Amina Bakari
Youth Workshop Leader
Nairobi, Kenya 🇰🇪
Rafael "Rafa" Ortega
Music & Movement Coordinator
San Juan, Puerto Rico 🇵🇷
Yuki Sato
Art Therapy Intern
Osaka, Japan 🇯🇵
Tamara Ivanova
Logistics & Transport Lead
Sofia, Bulgaria 🇧🇬
Bashir Al-Masri
Tech & Projection Mapping
Amman, Jordan 🇯🇴
Celine Dumont
Social Media & Docu-Storyteller
Marseille, France 🇫🇷
Lwazi Nkosi
Safety & Site Crew Captain
Durban, South Africa 🇿🇦
Martina DeLuca
Event Flow Designer
Naples, Italy 🇮🇹
💬 Why We Do It
We believe MLK’s dream was global. Every brush stroke, meal served, and busload of kids we move is powered by hope, art, and humanity — across cultures and continents.
Join us. Let’s paint the dream
Micci Hunterer- MLK Teacher manager since 2005.
Fred Moline- Artist Manager
Fred has always had a vivid vision and strong passion for art. Fred began drawing at 3 years old, shortly after his sister, Claudina, taught him about the true meaning of art coming from within. Fred’s sister taught him to draw what he felt and what he saw. Fred’s artwork manifests a lot of emotions, such as happiness, sadness, and being angry. His art transcends what is happening in his state of mind to real life.
To him, the unintentional colors brighten up the dull areas to keep the work alive. So many emotions are described in colors and placed in his work to amplify the nature of the story. Due to depressing moments in Fred’s life, he took his pain and incorporated different style
periods into his collection. The collection is a series in which Fred breaks down the struggles he went through during the hard times in his life
Joy Taylor -Operations Director, Youth Fashion, Female empowerment (2007-2012)
Joy Allison Taylor is a sports commentator and television host who recently left Fox Sports 1 after nearly a decade.Taylor co-hosted Speak and was known for her sharp wit and deep understanding of sports. She was a prominent female voice in a male-dominated industry, inspiring many fans and setting a high standard for sports commentary.Taylor is from Pittsburgh and has a bachelor's degree in broadcasting from Barry University.
Eugene Ojeda- Curriculum Teacher Trainer, Artist, Rapper. BZE's nickname, "The Cuban Cruise Missile," makes a little more sense once you learn that although he grew up in Northern California, he was born in Hawaii as Gene Ojeda, a child of Cuban immigrants.
Merceda Gomez, EDU Director -
MLK Mural Site Education Coordinator, Manager since 2007
“I feel fulfilled when I am helping others and I never want to come across as, well sometimes when you say that word — helping — the receiver is feeling enabled or like they’re below the other person,” Gomez said. “I approach help as like, ok, I’m here to be a thought partner, I’m here to be a counterpart, I’m here to be a side-by-side twin in a way. We are growing together because every time I lend myself out to help someone, I do learn in the process. It’s fulfilling internally to me.”
Samantha Davis - Community Organizer
Samantha Davis - Community Organizer 2010-2014
Samantha Davis is the Community Organizer for Moving Lives of Kids. She began her work with MLK Mural in 2010 as the Program Director for the “Broken Window’s project”. This project engaged over 100 youth and volunteers teaching them the basics of art and promoting teamwork, community pride and goal setting. Through this project, over 150 boards illustrating positive images and influential figures of Pittsburgh were installed on the abandoned homes in low-income communities.
Samantha stands strong in her belief that everyone has the innate ability to succeed in life; all they need is the opportunity to do so. She has been working with the at-risk youth of Pittsburgh through mentoring and teaching for eight years.
She attended American University where she obtained her Master’s in Public Policy and graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor’s of Science in Business Administration. When not working with MLK Mural Samantha works on policies impacting low-income and homeless populations through the Advocacy and Social Justice Department of SOME (So Other’s Might Eat) in our Nation’s Capital Washington DC.
Samantha enjoys the engaging the Youth Artists with the community to promote their leadership skills. She has an uncanny ability to bridge the gaps between the MLK Mural Program and the Community. She does a great job of promoting the core mission of empowering youth through public art and community engagement.
Lil Baby Artworld - Street Artist and Educator
Artworld plays a pivotal role in all public murals and street art, he focuses on art with a social cause, “meaning”. often times facilitating the ‘Community paint days’ using art to unite people.
Artworld is instrumental in developing the MLK Mural patented curriculum.