Collaborative Mural with South Street Ministries and First Serve

As the saying goes, many hands make light work. The “Bike Unites Us All” shipping container mural was a collaborative partnership between the nonprofit organizations of South Street Ministries and First Serve at 915 North Main Community Connection Center in Akron, Ohio. This community mural was created to embody the people and cultures that make North Hill such a vibrant neighborhood.

Artist Grace Nestor-Louie with Lilly From Nonprofit South Street Ministries and Lozee, a helper.

South Street Ministries runs a beloved local program called the Bike Shop. They take donated bikes and help individuals in need “earn” their bikes by teaching them how to repair and restore them. The shipping container that was painted houses these bikes and serves as the program’s location.

Lilly, a burgeoning artist with South Street Ministries, wanted to transform the simple white shipping container into a culturally significant landmark. Drawing inspiration from Akron’s North Hill neighborhood, one of the city’s most culturally diverse communities, she envisioned a mural that would reflect the many cultures while conveying a message of unity. Her guiding idea was simple yet powerful: “Even though we may come from different places and speak different languages, the bike unites us all.”

She had a vision for the design but requested my expertise in bringing her ideas to life. I was invited to serve as the lead mural artist, helping develop Lilly’s vision into a large scale community mural while mentoring the students who participated in its creation. Together, we worked from the ground up, creating the structure of the design, developing the color palette, and finally putting brush to wall. South Street Ministries provided several young adult helpers to paint as part of a short summer job project. One student worked alongside us throughout the entire project, while several others hopped in along the way.

Over a two week period, I taught the students the skills required to create a mural while directing the artistic process to keep the project running smoothly. By the end, the shipping container had become far more than a place to store bicycles. It had become a reflection of the North Hill community, a beloved piece of public art, and a lasting example of how a community mural can bring people together through creativity, collaboration, and a shared purpose.

Looking for a mural artist for your nonprofit, school, community organization, or public art project? I partner with organizations across Ohio to create murals that engage communities, tell meaningful stories, and leave a lasting impact. Call 419-554-4478 to start your project.