Ten homeless Chicago Public Schools' students spent eight weeks this summer painting a mural that depicted their goals and dreams, all while living at a shelter.
The students, ages 5-14, worked with a Chicago artist hired by the Homeless Education Program at CPS to help uplift their spirits and to give them a sense of pride and hope. They painted the mural at the Great Hope Family Center, 2622 W. Cermak Road, a non-profit organization that provides housing to the homeless. Students also received tutoring as part of their summer program.
“This was my first time working with CPS children and they were so loving and patient yet easy to work with and fast learners,” said Augustina Droze, 26, the artist who worked with the students. “These kids have skills and this mural shows that, and hopefully it encouraged them to always work hard despite your circumstances.”
The students named the mural Garden of Hope, and it consists of a flower each student painted that shows what they want to be when they grow up.
“There were paintings of a basketball player because one student wanted to become a professional athlete. There was also a painting of a microphone because this student had aspirations about becoming a singer,” Droze said. “One kid even drew his mother because he said she was his hero and that’s who he wants to be like when he grows up.”
There were 10,600 homeless students in CPS last school year. On average, there are 10,000 homeless students a year in the city’s public school system, said Ana Vargas, a spokeswoman for CPS.
With the help of volunteers, the Homeless Education Program provides educational support, cultural opportunities and personal guidance that otherwise would be missed, said Madeline Keller, program coordinator at Chicago HOPES.
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