Murals with such themes as “change” and “silence the violence, increase the peace” were unveiled by Neighborhood Housing Services of Chicago’s Art Forward program at a community celebration and barbecue on the 1500 block of S. Christiana on Friday, June 25. The murals designed and painted by 100 students and community members at eight sites in North Lawndale, South Lawndale and East Garfield are being used to safely secure a vacant home rehabbed and for sale by NHS. “This is a first for NHS. We have never used art to create interest in one of our homes,” said NHS of Chicago Executive Director Ed Jacob in his welcoming remarks. “These murals create a positive impact on this block and represent hard work and amazing creativity on the part of so many people. Thank you.”

This year, Art Forward was piloted at several sites including Family Focus, Lawndale Center After-School Program, North Lawndale College Prep/Lawndale Christian Development Corporation, Lena Washington Food and Shelter, and Urban Art Retreat in North Lawndale; SER Central States Poder Program/Corkery Elementary in South Lawndale; and Beidler Elementary, Breakthrough Urban Ministries, Marshall High School and Melody Elementary in East Garfield. Next year, 15 communities, including Englewood and Back of the Yards, have expressed interested in the program. The NHS Redevelopment Corporation has affordable homes for sale and rent, including the home where the murals are displayed at 1528 S. Christiana. For more information, visit www.nhschicago.org.