Mural Dedication Attracts Community Support for Reclaiming Futures

The Reclaiming Futures program in Montgomery County, Ohio, has been using arts programming to build assets in our young people since 2010. More than 110 youth have benefited from the Helping Adolescents Achieve Long-term Objectives (HAALO) program since that time.

On June 30, 2015 Montgomery County Juvenile Court hosted a Community Mural Dedication to celebrate the amazing work of the HAALO Program. The “Signs to a Creative Future” mural was dedicated to the youth artists who spent countless hours conceptualizing and creating the mural. Judge Nick Kuntz welcomed over 150 community leaders, residents, youth artists and their families to the event. Judge Anthony Capizzi thanked the plethora of sponsors, volunteers, staff, families and youth artists who made this mural a reality. Dayton’s City Manager, Warren Price, was also on hand to highlight the importance of making our community a better place though graffiti abatement projects like this one. Guests enjoyed refreshments and educational coloring books were given to all the youth in attendance.

This special event was a huge success for us, and a great opportunity to engage the wider community in supporting the youth and families we serve. We look forward to expanding our program to include restorative justice circles, music programming, theatre, and culinary arts. Look for more stories from the HAALO program in the near future!