Baltimore Mural Collaboration Brings Deep-Rooted Messaging to Community

Baltimore, MD — March 2026 — A major public art transformation has taken place in Dundalk as Projectivity Group and Thrive Collective, two non-profit organizations, completed a month-long mural installation on the exterior of the new Hope Outlet. Over the course of November, three large-scale murals—covering approximately 1,200 square feet—were painted at the prominent intersection of Dundalk Avenue and Holabird Avenue, turning a once ordinary building into a bold symbol of hope, service, and neighborhood pride. There will be a ribbon-cutting ceremony to commemorate the space and the murals on April 15th from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Hope Outlet at 1725 Dundalk Ave, Baltimore, MD 21222.

The project represents a powerful collaboration between Projectivity Group, Thrive Collective, and Somebody Cares Baltimore, uniting art, education, and direct community service in one highly visible location. For more than 20 years, founders Jeremy Del Rio and Matt Stevens have built national networks of service rooted in Baltimore and New York City. Through Thrive Collective, Del Rio works to eliminate artless education by providing mentorship and creative access in schools and community centers. Somebody Cares Baltimore, led by Stevens, meets immediate needs by distributing food, essential goods, and services through both donation-based relief and a deeply discounted retail model operated through the Hope Outlet.

Three artists—Ryan Mizta, Shani Shih, and Projectivity Director Christian Penn—were selected to create murals grounded in the identity of Dundalk, the mission of the Hope Outlet, and the lived experiences of the surrounding community. Over the span of a month, the artists worked on-site, engaging with residents, staff, and passersby as the walls evolved into story-rich works of public art.

Shani Shih’s mural centers the people of the Hope Outlet itself, featuring portraits of staff and family members woven into a neighborhood landscape. A reimagined Dundalk water tower anchors the scene, while seedlings, flowers, and birds animate the space—symbolizing care, growth, and the life-giving role the Hope Outlet plays in the community.

Ryan Mizta’s mural, titled “Boyz II Men,” reflects personal growth, mentorship, and the journey from youth to adulthood. Using surreal imagery such as floating chess pieces, clouds, and symbolic figures at different stages of life, the piece emphasizes transformation through learning, discipline, and vision—highlighting the responsibility to rise, to teach, and to continue growing – all shared values among the organizations and artists.

Christian Penn’s mural features a dove in flight carrying an olive branch, a timeless image of peace and renewal. Known for his use of birds as symbolic messengers, Penn’s work reinforces the broader theme of hope taking root and spreading outward from the site.

Beyond the visual transformation, the project also created paid employment for artists at living wages, affirming the shared values of Projectivity and Thrive Collective: to use creative placemaking as both an economic and social investment in neighborhoods. The murals now stand as a permanent public testament to what is possible when artists, service organizations, and communities work together.

“This was more than just painting walls—it was about activating a space that already serves people every day and giving it a visual voice that reflects dignity, resilience, and future possibility,” says Projectivity Director Christian Penn.

The completed murals are now open to the public and serve as a new cultural landmark for Dundalk—visible to thousands of residents and commuters each day.

New Projects, Old Partners

Jeremy Del Rio and Matt Stevens have been friends and collaborators since 2000. They’ve each cemented themselves as integral members of their respective communities and have spent valuable time in the other’s city. Stevens joined Del Rio at Ground Zero after 9/11, and later they built the 88 Step Theater in the East Village. Artist volunteers with Chain Reaction helped paint Thrive’s first Dream Walls murals in the Lower East Side in 2007, which would — unknowingly at the time — be the foundation of Thrive’s extensive mural program.

Hope Outlet established through Somebody Cares Baltimore, which Stevens founded in 2009. Hope Outlet buys overstock and returned items of name-brand tools and residential renovation materials at a discounted price. Those funds are then devoted to giving hundreds of vulnerable neighbors food, clothing, cleaning supplies, and hygiene products every week through their Food Access Coalition.

Projectivity’s co-founder, Christian Penn — also the Operations Manager at Thrive Collective — returned to his native Maryland in 2023 and expanded the organization into Washington, D.C. Since 2019, Thrive Collective and Projectivity have collaborated on scores of citywide arts initiatives, and in 2021 joined as strategic partners for public art murals and arts education in New York City. At Thrive Collective, Penn has directed the production of over 100 public art murals and music projects that provide mentoring to underserved communities and students in New York City public schools.