North Stars YMCA Youth Institute Teen Tech Center Mural

Design and Marketing

The YMCA Youth Institute in Long Beach recently unveiled its brand-new Teen Tech Center, a vibrant space designed to spark creativity and innovation among local youth. I was honored to play a part in this incredible milestone by helping to create a mural that now proudly adorns the center. For me, this project was about more than adding color to the walls—it was an opportunity to capture the essence of the program itself and reflect the spirit of the young people it serves.

I wanted the mural to represent the program's mission and allow the youth to see themselves within the art, which is why their handprints are incorporated into the painting. These handprints symbolize their individual contributions, unique identities, and shared ownership of this space. Watching their excitement as they added their marks to the mural was deeply moving, as it transformed the artwork into a collective expression of pride, belonging, and creativity. This project not only enhanced the physical environment of the Teen Tech Center but also reinforced its role as a space where young people can feel seen, valued, and inspired.