New mural unveiled at Brownsville’s Marcus Garvey Apartments

The artwork was designed and created by Brownsville youth

October 4, 2023 Brooklyn Eagle Staff

The megaphone portion of the mural at Marcus Garvey Apartments. Photo courtesy of Emma Brownstein

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BROWNSVILLE — The Brownsville Community Justice Center, Groundswell NYC and L+M Development Partners recently unveiled a mural on the corner of Rockaway Boulevard and Dumont Avenues at the Marcus Garvey Apartments — at 353 Chester St. — in Brownsville, designed and created in collaboration with local youth.

The mural, titled “We Are, I Am,” depicts a crowd raising signs proclaiming, “We are Brownsville,” a young woman passionately speaking into a megaphone, and a man holding a long planted vine in the palm of his hands, all surrounded by a deep purple and gold backdrop.

The Marcus Garvey Apartments were selected as the mural’s installation site when Groundswell, an organization that brings together artists, youth, and local partners to use art as a tool for social change, received a grant from the Department of Criminal Justice Services to produce a community-driven art project that would galvanize and beautify the neighborhood.

The “I Am” portion of the mural at Marcus Garvey Apartments, created with community input. Photo courtesy of Emma Brownstein

“At L+M Development Partners, we strive to create environments that represent and empower the neighborhoods we are a part of,” said Gingi Pica, senior director of community investment of L+M Development Partners.

“This mural not only beautifies the Marcus Garvey Apartments but also serves as a representation of the community by encouraging local youth to be creative and use art as a medium to reflect on their experiences and resiliency. We are grateful to Groundswell and BCJC for selecting Marcus Garvey Apartments as the home for this mural and for engaging our team to help bring this project to fruition.”