PS 371 Lillian Rashkis: Pathways

The mural project at Lillian Rashkis School was a collaborative, school-wide effort that highlighted the creativity, voice, and dreams of the students. Created at a District 75 school serving students with autism, the process was built on care, patience, and meaningful inclusion. From start to finish, the school’s administrators and staff were deeply supportive, ensuring that our team had the resources and flexibility needed to make the experience as impactful as possible.

In our initial sessions, students were invited to reflect on their personal goals, identities, and sense of community. Through guided activities, conversations, and sketching, students shared powerful ideas; some about becoming engineers or designers, others about traveling the world, and many about staying true to themselves. These concepts became the heart of the mural’s theme: pathways of growth, cultural pride, and future aspirations.

The mural imagery reflects this beautifully. A sweeping landscape inspired by Sunset Park sets the stage, with roads, city buildings, and bold natural elements weaving through the space. Traditional Taino symbols flow along the walls, representing cleverness, freedom, individuality, and determination. Students are depicted as active participants in building and shaping their environment, showing their potential to contribute to the world in meaningful ways. Personal symbols created by the students—like a butterfly with eyes in its wings or a clock on a reptile’s side—bring their ideas to life visually.

The painting sessions were filled with energy and joy. Students were thrilled to take part, often asking to extend their time just to keep working on the mural. Teachers jumped in with enthusiasm, helping with both the painting and encouragement. Despite early challenges during the design phase, the students’ engagement only grew as the project progressed, showing how powerful and motivating creative expression can be. This mural stands not only as a visual transformation of the school’s entrance, but also as a record of collaboration, student voice, and the power of shared imagination.