RTG North: Peace Builds Community

Bronx Connect partnered with the Mary Mitchell Community Center near its RTG North site to donate the “Peace Builds Community” mural as part of its “I Want to Grow Up” campaign. Artist Kenneth Tooley collaborated with students from Mary Mitchell’s summer program to design and produce the mural in the center’s playground.

The mural revolves around RTG and Mary Mitchell’s shared mission of violence reduction and urban youth empowerment. Ten core students interpreted this theme by reflecting on what it means to “Release the Grip” and build a future where young people are supported, protected, and empowered.

At the mural’s heart, the Mary Mitchell Center stands tall and bright under a golden sky with the words “Blessed Are the Peacemakers” unfurling above it, reminding passersby of the value of compassion and reconciliation. Street signs for “Heidi Hynes Way” and “Release the Grip” anchor the scene in its community roots. Around the center, vibrant portraits depict moments of care and leadership: a young man holding a basketball in a gesture of focus and determination, one youth leader pointing toward the future, and another gathering greenery symbolizing growth and guardianship. A vivid orange RTG van reads “Don’t Shoot, I Want to Grow Up,” carrying a powerful plea for safety and gun free living. In the lower corner, an elder embraces a child in a gesture of wisdom and protection, while nearby, community members work together, sharing space and resources. Across the mural, blooming pink flowers at the base speak to resilience and renewal, while the warm gradients of color create an atmosphere of hope.

Now, residents walking by Mary Mitchell Center pause to take in this vibrant, collaborative artwork to see and feel how art can both reflect and strengthen a neighborhood’s shared commitment to reducing violence and uplifting one another.