Signs to a Creative Future: National Painting Week Mural Project Led By Teens in Juvenile Court

Montgomery County Juvenile Court and Keep Montgomery County Beautiful are pleased to announce that the Helping Adolescents Achieve Long-term Objectives (HAALO) mural project is ahead of schedule and taking shape in the east end of Dayton. HAALO is a program that connects young people involved with Montgomery County Juvenile Court to arts programming through a partnership with K12 Gallery.

During the entire month of June, kids from the Montgomery County Juvenile Court’s HAALO Program will be transforming the Wilson Sign Company building. This structure, located at 300 Hamilton Ave, has been the target of graffiti vandals for many years. However, the youth in the HAALO program have spent the last five months planning and conceptualizing a mural that will replace the graffiti with beautiful artwork that pays homage to the history of innovation and creativity here in the Miami Valley.

“Judge Kuntz and I are proud supporters of the great work being taken on by our court staff to not only help beautify the local community, but to also engage our youth in prosocial programming while doing so,” said Montgomery County Juvenile Court Judge Anthony Capizzi. “Our staff is continuously looking for ways our court-involved youth can give back to our local communities and this is just another example of their work.”

The project, titled the “Signs to a Creative Future” Mural, is the result of numerous community partnerships and support, including a grant from Keep Ohio Beautiful and Sherwin Williams through their National Painting Week program.

Designed to provide community groups with paint and painting supplies, the National Painting Week program enables community groups to renew a local structure in need into something beautiful through the application of fresh paint and a lot of elbow grease.

“Through our partnership with the Sherwin-Williams Company, National Painting Week empowers community groups to take a direct role in community revitalization efforts,” explains Brian Fowls, Executive Director of Keep Montgomery County Beautiful. “Something as simple as a fresh coat of paint on a public library or community center sends a strong message that we care about our communities. Brittini and her team from Montgomery County Juvenile Court exemplify the notion that a small number of caring individuals can truly make a difference.”